You can make your own wrapping paper by spattering thinned paint onto plain paper with a brush or an old toothbrush. Change the colors to match any holiday or occasion.
This craft gets messy, so plan for it with newspaper on the floor and old clothes on the kids. It pairs well with our holidays section if you want to match colors to a season, and you can find more paint projects on our crafts page.
What you need
- Acrylic or tempera paint, in your chosen colors
- A cheap paintbrush, about a half-inch wide, or an old toothbrush
- Small containers for paint, such as an egg carton or clean yogurt cups
- Paper to decorate, such as brown craft paper, newsprint, or butcher paper
- Newspaper to cover the work surface, plus water for rinsing brushes
Steps
- Cover your work surface with newspaper and have paper towels and rinse water ready.
- Pour a small amount of one paint color into a container and thin it slightly with water, stirring well. Repeat for each color you want to use.
- Cut your paper to the size you need.
- Dip the brush into the paint, hold it above the paper, and tap it sharply with your other hand so the paint spatters across the surface. With a toothbrush, younger kids can flick a thumb across the bristles instead.
- Cover the paper with one color before switching, and let each layer dry fully before adding another color on top.
Safety
An adult should cut the paper to size, or supervise closely if a child uses scissors. Paint can spatter toward faces as well as paper, so have kids wear a smock and keep the brush pointed away from anyone’s eyes. Wash hands after the project, since acrylic paint is not meant to be eaten.
Once your paper is dry, add a matching bow, or try sponge painting for a different texture on your next batch. Browse more ideas on our crafts page.