I haven’t bought all the presents yet, but I’m getting there. I’m going to wrap as I go along, it’s easier that way. This year, as usual, I’m not going for sparkly paper. Pretty though it is, it can’t be recycled and that’s a no for me. At this point, there’s no time to make anything too elaborate, but I have some dead simple ideas to customise rolls of brown parcel paper. Are you in?
Snow flakes, Christmas trees and natural trims.
To make snow storm paper, it could not be easier. Take a pencil with an eraser on the end and a tube of white paint (Flying Tiger does some lovely acrylics for about £3 for a set). Squeeze some white paint on to a flat surface – a saucer will do. Spread it out evenly. Take the pencil and, using the eraser end, dip it into the white paint. Stamp the paper with white spots.
Christmas trees
These are made with a potato and some brown paint.
Take a small potato and cut it in half. Draw on a Christmas tree shape with a pen. Cut round it with a sharp knife (I use a craft knife). Blot away the excess moisture.
Your stamp will look something like this.
Squeeze the brown paint on to a flat surface and even it out with a palette knife. Using the potato stamp, repeat the print as many times as you like onto sheets of brown parcel paper.
Allow to dry and it will look something like this.
That beautiful red sprig paper in the background is by Mark Hearld, one of my favourite artists. You can buy this from a wonderful website. http://www.penfoldpress.co.uk
Ivy leaves are good for cutting into shapes. I went to the woods this week and gathered a big bundle for decorating my fireplace. I saved a few to cut into hearts and stars.
I found some red berries too.
