finger painted wrapping paper

If you've followed me for a while, you will know that I love making handmade wrapping paper during the holidays. And I REALLY love finding simple ways to create that paper. I thought it would be fun to kick off the holiday season with one of my favorite ways to make simple and colorful floral wrapping paper- using your fingers! The best part is that this project is easy and fun for all ages.

I like to use craft paper, white wrapping paper or butcher paper when I am creating my own wrapping paper. I used a roll of white butcher paper and smaller sheets of craft paper for this project.

To begin, select a few colors of acrylic paint.

Dip a finger into one color and begin creating simple and messy flowers. There is no need to get perfect or worry about details- this process is all about capturing the basic shape of a flower.

Keep in mind, the more you move those fingers around, the more expressive the flowers will be.

Add a few simple stems or leaves around those flowers- this will really complete any simple flower.

And then begin filling that surface. Lucy went wild with all kinds of colorful rose inspired shapes on a smaller pieces of craft paper.

And I filled large pieces of butcher paper with colorful flowers.

An afternoon of messy fun and a little collection of really pretty paper!

Looking for more inspiration for handmade wrapping?

1. stitched gift wrap  2. gingerbread present toppers  3. puff paint wrapping  4. wrapping with nature  5.marbleized wrapping  6. holiday wrapping with paper bags  7. using beads in your gift wrapping  8. using book pages in our wrapping 9. black and white wrapping paper 10. gift wrap from the hardware store 11. wood grain wrapping paper 12. ways to recycle your wrapping paper 

13. doodle ribbon  14. gingerbread wrapping paper 15. gelli print wrapping paper

peace wreath

A long time ago, I had a job making wreaths during the holidays. I learned really fast that making your own wreath from greenery (any kind of greenery is super easy). Every year I like to make all kinds of wreaths and this year I wanted to make a big green peace wreath but instead of all the typical holiday greens I wanted to just use the plants we have in our yard.

1. There are all kind of wreath forms that you can use (styrofoam, metal, wire, grapevine) but these days I tend to use embroidery hoops for my wreath making. You can find wooden embroidery hoops in all kinds of sizes from tiny to really big! I went with really big. Using heavy duty glue, I glued sticks to the inside of my hoop to create a peace sign and let the glue dry overnight.

2. Next I gathered greenery- while we have pine trees in our backyard I wanted some different greens so I picked lots of rosemary, wild salal, ferns and some branches from other shrubs and bushes. 

3. Then I got busy wrapping the greenery around the hoop. I like to grab a small bunch of greens, hold them against the hoop and then wrap floral wire around the greens until they are secure. 

4. I work my way around the entire wreath until it is filled. The last step it fluff and trim the greenery.

I love the way the peace sign turned out- it's a fun way to put a boho twist on holiday decor!

Don't have the time or patience to make a big wreath? Try making tiny peace wreaths! 

I used wire to create my form and then wrapped it with rosemary. It makes a fun and fragrant present topper, ornament or little place setting.

paper bag gift bags

Truth be told, when it comes to wrapping gifts I am lazy and I am cheap! While I love creating unique handmade wrapping, I'd rather just throw my gifts into a bag and call it good but gift bags are not that cheap. So during the holidays I always end up using all of my favorite creative techniques to make my own gift bags out of paper bags! 

Doodling and drawing is a great way to instantly transform just about anything! 

I use my favorite pens and watercolors and treat a paper bag just like a sketchbook page. Yes, it it more time consuming than going out and buying wrapping but it transforms a gift into something really special!

I'm a "use whatever I have on hand" kind of gal and you will often catch me using nail polish in my mixed media projects!

Stamping is just about the easiest way to create surfaces with pattern! I used my rubber stamps to create some pretty gift bags.

I love using all kinds of simple printmaking techniques (I even teach a class on my favorites)! It is a really creative way to quickly transform any surface into something colorful! 

I used one of my favorite techniques- plastic bag printmaking (you can read all about it HERE) to create a messy and colorful surface.

With a toddler around I find myself creating things that are whimsical and fun. These house gift bags are a cute way to wrap a gift!

When I am making wrapping paper and gift bags, Lucy loves to get in on the action and getting painting messy with watercolors (for any age) is a really simple way to make a colorful gift bag.

Note: I rarely if ever use traditional holiday colors when I am creating wrapping paper and bags- instead I select colors the same way I do when I am working on art...with my heart :)

black and white wrapping paper

As I have mentioned in the past, I never buy wrapping paper- in fact, it has been over 15 years since I purchased a roll of wrapping paper from the store! Instead, it has become a holiday tradition for me to make my own and over the years I have come up with all kinds of really fun, easy and FAST ways to create one of a kind wrapping. While black and white is not the first color combo you think of at the holidays, it is a really graphic and dynamic scheme especially for wrapping.

I always keep a couple of rolls of butcher paper on hand (especially during the holidays). You can find my favorite black butcher paper HERE it has a nice glossy finish that looks like traditional wrapping paper. 

Anything white will work on the surface- acrylic paint, paint pens, correction pens, 3-D paint, etc.

If you have the time filling the surface with pattern is a beautiful way to create artistic wrapping paper. I like to use a paint pen and simply draw all over the surface filling all of the space.

If you don't have lots of time using paint and simple marks or even stamping is a fast and effective way to fill the surface.

The result is really BOLD, dynamic and one of a kind wrapping that is certain to add a handmade touch to any gift!

check out more wrapping inspiration!

1. stitched gift wrap  2. gingerbread present toppers  3. puff paint wrapping  4. wrapping with nature  5. marbleized wrapping  6. holiday wrapping with paper bags  7. using beads in your gift wrapping  8. using book pages in our wrapping