How to Create Your Own Christmas-Wrapping Paper

Create your own gift-wrapping paper with any large sheet of paper and pictures of things that remind you of Christmas.

I am using a piece of paper that was used for packing items that my husband purchased and pictures of items that remind me of Christmas for this project.

Materials Needed

* Paper - The paper is used for the base of your gift-wrapping project.
* Christmas style pictures - The Christmas pictures that you will collect is for decorating your wrapping paper.
* Glue sticks - These will be used for gluing your pictures onto the base paper.
* Scissors - You will need a pair of scissors to cut out your pictures.
* Christmas cookie cutters - The cookie cutters will be used for the gift tags.
* Hole Punch - A hole punch for making the eyes of santa, gingerbread men or other characters that you will want to add eyes to.
* Pen or Pencil - Writing utensil for tracing out your gift tags.
* Construction paper - Construction paper is for the gift tags.
* Crayons or markers - Crayons or markers for adding character to your gift tags.
* Embellishments - Embellishments for your gift wrap and tags. (Optional)

Creating Your Gift Wrap

* Lay the paper flat on a table or other flat surface.
* Prearrange your pictures in away that are creative, fun, and suitable for a festive wrap.
* Begin gluing the pictures onto the wrapping sheet of paper and make sure to smooth the pictures out so there are not any air bubbles. By not having air bubbles this will prevent the pictures from tearing.
* Let the paper set for twenty to thirty minutes to make sure that the glue is completely dried and the pictures won't come off.
* Continue creating your gift wrap in the manner that you did the first piece.
* Begin wrapping your gifts in the style that you would with a store purchased wrapping paper.

Creating Your Gift Cards

* Lay your construction paper on a flat hard surface so that you can trace around your cookie cutters.
* Trace around your chosen cookie cutters with a pencil, pen or marker.
* Cut out your cookie cutter patterns.
* Decorate your gift cards, but make sure that you leave a place for the "to and from" areas on the front if you wish to place it there or you can write the "to and from" area on the back of the gift card.
* If you have a santa, reindeer or gingerbread men, use the hole punch to create eyes, noses (except on the reindeer) and a mouth for each. You will also want to punch a hole so that you can run a ribbon through this for the gifts if you plan on using the backside of the gift card to place the "to and from" area.

You can also use this method on your own gift bags, gift tags, and Christmas cards. This will give your gift a unique style along with a thoughtful and caring gesture from you to your loved ones and friends.

If you are feeling a bit more creative once you have prepared your gift-wrapping paper, you can add more embellishments with stamping, stenciling, bows or other types of items to make your handmade Christmas gift wrap more spectacular.

Finding Your Supplies

You can find various Christmas styled pictures in your local newspaper, store ads, and magazines. For paper to use for making your own gift wrap, you can find sheets large enough at craft stores, restaurant supply stores, floral supply stores, and party supply stores.

You can find embellishments at any retail store that has an art and crafts area, Scrapbooking stores or fabric stores.

With this craft project, like any other, you are only limited to your imagination.