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Bingo
Do you have an eager toddler or two begging to get in on the gift wrapping action? Bingo dauber + brown paper bags + toddler hands = charming one-of-a-kind polka dot wrapping paper! If you don’t have bingo daubers, dot stickers work well, too. Head over to the blog Feeding the Soil to see the details of this project and to discover other simple and sensational DIY ideas.
Hang on to your rolls!
We love toilet paper roll projects! Have a small gift to wrap? This idea for merry pillow boxes featured on the blog by Gina Tepper is a perfect solution for wrapping up those smallest treasures. Simply cover the rolls in pieces of scrap paper and ribbon, stash your gift, and fold in the ends for an easy last-minute (and eco-friendly!) gift box. Check out crafty mom Gina’s blog for more budget-friendly ideas that use recycled finds.
Rudolph and friends
Now here’s a darling idea for finger-printed wrapping paper featured on Red Ted Art. The first step is getting the kids to help “print” Rudolph’s head onto white paper. Then they can give him two eyes, a bright red nose, and some antlers on top! So simple and cute!
Potato wheels
Here’s a fun idea for DIY wrapping paper featured on the blog Simply Sublime. This one you can whip up using objects you probably have around the house: potatoes, cookie cutters, a wooden dowel (or pencil), craft paper, stamp pads and a small carving knife (for adults to use only!). Once you’ve carved up the designs on the potatoes, thread the pieces onto a dowel, ink ‘em up, and let the kiddos roll away!
Reindeer feet
This idea for reindeer footprint wrapping paper featured at Skip To My Lou is fun to make and can be personalized to each giftee. Brown paper, sponges, Sharpies, paint and some nice clean feet — that’s all you’ll need! The kids will love making this paper and grandparents and loved ones will get some memorable gift wrap they might even want to keep.
Artsy bags
Check out this fun idea for abstract painted gift bags featured on the blog Aunt Peaches. Plain white bags are turned into holiday masterpieces with a little leftover paint, glitter and stickers. We love the idea of keeping stacks of plain white bags on hand for when a creative mood strikes! The blog is filled with tons of unique ideas like this one — table toppers, organization ideas, printables? So much beauty in one place!
Bags a-plenty
Store-bought gift bags sure are shiny, but so are their price tags! Check out this idea for homemade gift bags on the blog Mrs. Ricca’s Kindergarten. Your little helpers will be able to personalize their gift bags by decorating their own paper trees — functional art!
Stamp-ede
With this adorable idea for DIY stamps featured on No Time For Flashcards, you’ll never buy another roll of wrapping paper again! Let the kids draw shapes on colorful foam sheets, cut them out, and affix them to old jar lids using double-stick tape. Then, let the family stamp away! The kiddos will have fun dreaming up ideas for any and every holiday.
Chalk it up
We’ve always been enamored by chalkboard paint projects. This clever wrapping paper idea by PopCosmo goes to the top of our list this holiday season. The best part is that it only looks like a time-consuming paint project! While we’ve seen other tutorials that use paint, this version uses dark wrapping paper and charcoal white sticks to get the same effect. How is that for a less messy timesaver?!
Editor’s note: This article was originally published a few years ago and updated in December 2021.
