Handmade Christmas wrap

With the end of November drawing closer, it’s finally acceptable to start mentioning Christmas. I’ve been bearing away on printed Christmas cards and wrap. The design is based on festive stamps printed onto brown paper with white and copper acyrlic. I’ve been hooked on brown paper since I made snowflake wrapping a few years ago.

The stamps weren’t very sophisticated. Each one was carved from a piece of lino (hessian backed) and glued onto card. The card is actually a cheese and onion sausage roll packet! A backing makes the stamps easier to hold and apply even pressure to. You could even use potato if you don’t have a lino sheet. If you do, cut the potato and let it dry out a bit before carving.

I’ve used a water based block printing paint in the past but acrylic sits smooth and flat on the paper in a thin layer. It just feels a bit nicer than rough paint.

Paint was brushed on and although it looks streaky, it didn’t print that way.

I made three styles of wrapping paper. Printing the shapes fairly close together takes longer but it means you’ll have more pattern on smaller presents — they can look a bit sparse otherwise. I printed metres and metres of paper while watching Quantum Leap and eating chocolate. It was a good day.

Here is the final paper!

I love the sparkle from the copper paint. Scott pointed out I’m going through a “glittery phase” as I’ve developed a liking for metallic or shiny ojects, which is very unlike me. I would argue it’s Scandinavian style though 😉

I made a few cards too. They don’t match the wrapping paper exactly but they look nice all the same. Seeing them all lined up made me not want to give them away but I really don’t need a whole pile of cards for myself. I always find it hard to part with things I’ve put a lot of time and efford in to.

I’ll probably cry inside when I see people ripping it open in a frenzy! I hope this post inspires some of you to make your own wrap and cards too.