We’ve been using brown paper to wrap presents for the last few Christmas’ but I decided to jazz it up a bit this year with a Scandinavian inspired snowflake print. If you want to make your own, here’s how you do it.
You will need:
- Brown paper
- Block printing ink
- Ink roller (optional)
- Lino
- Lino cutter with attachments
- Pencil
- Plain paper
- Acetate or old chopping board to put ink on
1. Sketch your design onto lino
The easiest way to do this is to sketch your snowflakes straight onto the lino with a pencil. Alternatively you can sketch your graphic onto paper then turn the paper over and rub onto the lino using a pencil.
2. Cut your design into the lino
Use your lino cutting tool to slice away the lino. Watch your fingers, the blade is really sharp!
3. Print your paper – the fun bit!
Squeeze a small amount of block printing ink onto your acetate or old chopping board and roll it with the roller until it whispers rather than sounds sticky. If the ink sounds sticky it will not roll smoothly onto your lino and you will end up with a patchy print. Ink that sounds like a whisper when roller will glide on smoothly and give you a nice even print without any bleed.
Once you’ve inked up your lino, press it down firmly onto your brown paper. Press down on the back of the lino with your fist rather than the palm of your hand as this can cause the lino to slide around.
My living room was turned into a wrapping paper factory as I printed 25m of Christmas wrap by hand!
And that’s how to make your own Christmas paper…
Featured on Apartment Therapy: Holiday Decorating Ideas – 10 Snowflake Projects for Winter
Notes
Most shop bought Christmas paper has metallic foiling which means it can’t be recycled. Brown paper is cheaper and more eco friendly than traditional gift wrap because it’s made from recycled materials (and is fully recyclable).
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