DIY Leaf Print Christmas Wrapping Paper

This time of the year can be expensive, and wasteful. After a while, everything can look a little generic and same-same. Make your gifts stand out under the tree by wrapping them in unique paper made with love. It is super easy, and you can be as simple or as fancy as you like.

Don't use the same old store-bought wrapping paper when you can have fun hand-making it yourself. The added bonus is that it can be eco-friendly if you are re-using materials that would otherwise be thrown away. And best of all, this project can potentially keep the kids occupied for hours!

What you will need:

• Paper – try butcher’s paper, brown paper, or text-heavy newspaper pages. The amount you need    depends on the number and size of the gifts you plant to wrap.
• Craft paint in Christmas-themed colors (but this is up to you – if you want to use pink, go for it!)
• Aerosol spray paint (or alternatively craft paint can be mixed with water and added to a spray bottle with nozzle)
•  Interestingly shaped leaves of your choosing
• Drop sheets or newspaper
• Bowl of clean water or access to tap
• Clothesline or clothes drying rack

Preparation:

This could get a little messy, so outdoors might be your best bet. If not, a large flat table covered in newspaper or drop sheets will work.
Gather all of your materials together and make sure you have everything you need before you get started. Have your paints poured into nice flat dishes. Have a bowl of water or tap close-by for rinsing off leaves to be re-used.
Now you are ready to start painting!

Instructions:

1. Lay your paper out flat and ready for painting
2. Dip your leaf/ leaves into paint and gently press the leaf onto the paper. Your design can be monochrome, using just the one colour or multi-coloured. If you are going for more than one colour – it can be a good idea to wait for each colour to dry before printing the next to avoid colour-mix. But, if you don’t mind mixing your colours – just go for it!
3. Rinse leaf in clean water between uses
4. Alternatively lay your leaves out across the paper and gently spray the paper with your spray paint. Carefully remove leaves and your paper will have a white void in the shape of your leaves.
5. Gently peg finished paper up on a clothesline to dry. Allow paint to dry completely before use.
6. Wrap gifts and coordinate with matching ribbons, or use old-fashioned twine.