Video:How to Make Gift Wrap With a Child

Transcript:How to Make Gift Wrap With a Child

Hi I'm Chris Davis for About.com.

About Making Gift Wrap With a Child

Have you ever needed to wrap a gift and realized you were out of wrapping paper? Instead of using store bought wrapping paper gather your children and create your own. Homemade wrapping paper is unique and special as well as a lot of fun to make. There are several different ways to decorate your paper.

Decorating Gift Wrap With a Child

Here are a few. You will need the following for all of these techniques. White craft paper or Brown Craft Paper. Scissors Newspaper Art supplies Stamping. Stamping shapes onto paper is pretty straight forward. You can use just about anything as a stamp. We're using potatoes, however, carrots, sea sponges, rocks, and even old shoe souls create a unique look. Spread your paper out on your work surface. Squirt your paint onto a paper plate.

Shapes for Decorating Gift Wrap

Cut a potato in half. Assist your children in dipping the potato in the paint than stamping it on the paper. Let them create their own designs. If you would like you can also cut shapes out of the potato to make special designs. Cardboard combs are another fun and easy way to decorate your paper, however, it can get a little messy so you may want to do this technique with older children or assist your little ones. Cut a piece of cardboard into a rectangle. Cut notches on one side. Vary the notches however you like. They will create your pattern.

More Tips for Making Wrapping Paper With Kids

Spread paint over a section of your paper. Holding firmly slide the cardboard across the paper to create your design. Remember not to cover to much at once. You don't want the paint to dry before using your cardboard comb. Hand prints are also another technique that add that special touch. Paint your child's hand. Try to spread an even amount over the entire surface. Place their hand down on the paper and have them press firmly.

Depending on the age of your child you may want to assist at this step. Younger kids sometimes slide their hand around or close their hands squeezing paint between their fingers. This leads to very uneven prints. With your guidance press on the back of their open hand and fingers to create the print. Continue changing colors until you have the desired look. And of course you can always have the kids pull out the markers and crayons and do what they do best, color.

To learn more check us out on the web at About.com. Thanks for watching.