When you find purpose for a fun but random activity… you stand up, do a happy dance and make a dozen more! Our simple afternoon painting craft turned into handmade wrapping paper this weekend. It is toddler made and toddler approved!
Toddler at Play shared a heart-shaped toilet paper tube stamping activity that I KNEW we had to try. So after nap one day I gathered the supplies for a little crafternoon delight.
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The only paper I had on hand was our pads of Crayola Fingerpaint Paper. I purchased them on Amazon without really reading through the description. When they arrived, I was pretty bummed by the slick shiny finish – not too great for crayons and markers as I had intended.
But it’s what we had, so it’s what we used! So we got to painting with our heart folded paper tube and a few colors. Little Man loved it! He did great stamping in the paint and transferring to the paper to makes lots of hearts.
He stayed engaged for 15 or so minutes… and then momma wanted to take a turn! After the first sheet, my mind start turning… what other patterns could I make?!
30 minutes and 8 sheets later, the kitchen table was covered with our creations. But what in the world would we do with all them??
EUREKA!
That thick, slick, shiny paper? IT’S THE SAME MATERIAL AS WRAPPING PAPER!!
Now that’s what I call a happy accident! So what did we have scattered across the kitchen table? Darling, precious sheets of festive wrapping paper!
I feel like I’ve used a lot of exclamation points so far… but it was truly an exciting discovery. (!!!)
DIY Handmade Stamped Wrapping Paper
Supplies
- Pad of Crayola Fingerpaint Paper
- Craft Paint in several colors
- Paper Plate
- Recycled Paper Tube
- Old {expired} Credit Card
Add paint to the paper plate (large enough to stamp the paper tube or credit card. Then, get painting! Set aside to dry for 5-10 minutes.
We shaped one tube into a heart and kept the other a circle for lots of patterns!
Love the modified chevron using the plastic card!
Now get wrapping! We just used simple twine as ribbon to let the colors remain the focus.
The results are truly endless!!
I even cut one sheet in half at an angle and used as filler in a gift bag – LOVE!
Happy Crafting!
Note: Less is more with this process. Stick with thin lines, aka less paint, so the paper does not get too stiff as it dries.
