This holiday season I have been making a point to create and use alternatives to wrapping paper. When we moved to Iowa, I gave away much of the wrapping paper, deciding it was one thing that did not need to make the 1,000 mile journey. I bought a roll for the kids’ paper, but for adults I have opted to make my own unique paper.
This first paper was made by attaching a small section of bubble wrap to a small cardboard box. The bubble wrap stamp was then dipped in green paint and stamped on a large section of newspaper. My paint was a little on the thin side, so the stamped designs could have been clearer had I opted for a thicker paint.
The next alternative to wrapping paper uses everyday tissue paper. I laid it out on glossy newspaper ads for protection of the surface underneath and then splattered with drawing ink. You could also use water color paints, which is also less permanent if you miss.
The finished wrapped present has a few splashes of color – I like the deep blue for a cool wintry look.
I got out the brown paper bags and cut them up for the stamped wrapping paper. The snowflake designs are a rubber stamp from a craft store and the squares are the actual silver stamp pad itself. I added red ends to the package to cover my sloppy tape job and to add a pop of festive red color.
The blue-gray printed fabric ribbon adds even more class to a simple brown paper package.
For this package, I used a watercolor painting of Greta’s. She makes such lovely abstract paintings with minimal lines and colors. This wrapping method works better with thinner paper, so you can bend, fold, tape it together.
Lastly, my favorite alternative to wrapping gifts – the simple Sunday comics page. If you don’t subscribe to the newspaper, look for other every papers – catalogs, mailings, lined paper, etc.
Bluebird Hill Art 