Simple Handmade Holiday Wrap Ideas

Simple Holiday Wrapping Made Easy - The Entertaining House
Image via

With the thought that less is more, that simple still reigns supreme, that handmade really is best and doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming at all, let's stop for a moment and take a look at how easy it is to make your own beautiful holiday paper. As we rush rush rush to get everything done in time - presents bought and wrapped, homes ready to welcome friends and family, food bought, prepped and cooked... we must remember to take time to slow down and make some time for ourselves... Why not make your holiday wrapping part of your slowing down and de-stressing process? In the same way that coloring books have become so popular for their ability to instill calm, creating your own wrapping paper and holiday wrap can do the same. Below I share all sorts of very simple ideas, many of which can be done by the youngest members of your family. Why not carve out some family time, gather everyone around the craft, kitchen or dining room table and create some simple holiday wrapping together? 

What you'll need to make your own holiday wrap

• Craft Paper - Plain craft paper in white, brown and black. Most can be purchased at craft stores such as Michael's, and the black can be purchased at Terrain.
• Simple stickers such as gold foil stars and dots.
• Foam stickers 
• String, twine and baker's twine 
• Ink pads, paints, paint brushes
• Rolling pins/lint brushes
• Lollipops and candy canes
• Potatoes
• Metallic paint marker or Sharpie
• Black Sharpie
• White paint pen
• Velvet and grosgrain ribbon of varying colors and patterns
• Washi tape
• Assorted paints (Acrylic or children's safe tempera paints)
• Post cards, photographs, gift cards
• Jingle bells
• Assorted miniature dollar store toys

Don't discard those old lint rollers! A few foam stickers and you have the recipe to make beautiful wrapping paper, note and gift cards! (Why didn't I think of that?!) For more visit Handmade Charlotte.

A sugary treat turns ordinary craft paper into something delightfully sweet! Image via HGTV

A nostalgic trip down memory lane will having digging through your refrigerator drawer for a couple of potatoes. You can either draw and image freehand and cut it out with a sharp vegetable knife or you can use a small cookie cutter. Roll out and pre-cut large sheets of paper and have your teens and young ones start stamping away! Image via

Write simple notes, words, messages on pre-cut pieces of craft paper. This can be doe with white or metallic pens, on white and black paper as well. Dress it up with a pretty bow. How to from Boxwood Avenue.

Black on black. Sublime. Don't you think? Even though this isn't technically homemade, I thought it was just too elegant and sophisticated not to share.... the LBD of all wrapping! This and more from Decoration Avenue.

Think of this as the LBD with a splash of color. Take the guess work out of wrapping this year. Idea found on Pinterest. Original source not found. 

Give your resident Doodlebug a project! These are so charming. Put your mini Picasso to work! Issuu

Pass the paint brushes and the paints! Pre-cut your paper and lay it flat on the table and splatter, splash, tap, drag and paint away. Don't these simply painted packages look so elegant? Image via Lay baby Lay

Washi and foil tape will add a pop of color and personality to all your pretty packages. Image and tutorial here.

Genius. This works well with colored stamps and on white or black paper as well. This is a fun one for the younger set. Dots do not have to be perfectly aligned for your holiday wrap.

Put handmade photographs, postcards, and last year's greeting cards to (re-newed) use. I love Artifact Uprising for printing out the images on my phone. Idea via LizMarie blog

I hope you've found some inspiration for your own holiday wrapping and perhaps even a fun activity for the younger ones who have such a fondness for this time of year!

All images were curated through pinterest