Wrapping it All Up

Warning: Although these projects are intended to be made by children, some may require the use of a stove, microwave, sewing machine or other equipment or materials that might require help. Please check with an adult before starting any project you find on this site.

Marble Painted Holiday Cards

Materials:
shallow plastic containers such as styrofoam, aluminum or plastic trays in which you can fit your sheet to be marble painted (you can cut your sheet in half if necessary)
small plastic tubs for coating the marbles in paint
spoons
several marbles
tempera paint
card stock paper of your choice of colour for the main card
construction or copy paper you will marble paint
school or white glue
any embellishments you may choose

Place your sheet of paper into the tray. Spoon some tempera paint into a tub and roll the marble around in it until it is well coated. Use the spoon to place the marble on the sheet in the tray. Roll the marble around to make a web-like pattern (makes great tree garland effects!). Let dry slightly, then repeat with another colour as desires. Once the paint is dry, cut out marble painted sheet into the shape(s) you wish. Cut the sheet of cardstock in half to create two card blanks. Fold each into cards and glue the marbled paper into place. Add any embellishments desired. We added a gold mini-bow to the top of tree-shaped marbled cut-outs to form a star.

Snowflake Card

Materials:
white copy paper, or white, silver or iridescent wrapping paper, about 10 cm square or round
dark coloured cardstock
glue stick or school glue
optional: white silver or irisdescent glitter

Fold the white paper in half, then into thirds again. When unfolded, you should have six sections just like a real snowflake. Refold, and plan a symmetrical pattern of cuts on either side. Be sure not to cut straight through to the other side or you will end up with confetti. cut out the pattern and unfold.

Cut out cardstock and fold to desired size. Glue the snoflake onto the card, and decorate with glitter if desired.

Melted Crayon Art Card

Materials:
an assortment of old, peeled crayons
copy paper or paper of similar weight
cardstock
glue stick
small hotplate
adult

This requires adult supervision. Cut and fold a card out of the cardstock.

Cut a piece of white paper to fit as you would like on the front of your card stock. Choose your crayons and pattern and place your paper on the hotplate. Turn on the heat and test until the crayon melts a bit as you write. You may wish to use a test paper for this part. Once it has heated, turn it off and continue colouring on the paper. The colours will flow and blend. Once you have finished, let the wax set, then glue to the cardstock.

With appropriate adult instructions and supervision, we've been able to do this safely with kids as young as 4. Be careful to turn off the hotplate once it has heated enough to melt the wax.

Paper Gift Bag

Materials:
small tray for spreading out paint (old pie plates or clean styrofoam food trays work well)
tempera paint
cookie cutters of suitable shape
paper lunch bag
a length of ribbon or yarn about 12" or 30 cm long
a single hole punch

Fold over the top of your lunch bag and punch two holes, about 3 cm apart at the top centre of the bag. Decide whether you want the flap on the front or back of the bag. Press your choice of cookie cutter shape into the paint and stamp the shape onto the bag. Repeat using various shapes and or colours (being careful to wash the cutters before changing colours), as desired. Let dry, then insert gift and thread ribbon or yarn through the holes and tie into a bow. You may wish to decorate both sides, but be sure to let the first side dry before painting the second side.

Easy-Sew Gift Bags

Materials:
fabric that is twice as wide plus 6 cm and 1.5 times as long as you wish your finished bag to be
sewing machine
matching thread
ribbon, the width of the fabric plus 4 cm

Fold the fabric right sides together so that the crease is vertical. Pin (if desired), and sew together from the fold along the bottom, turning at the corner and continuing up the outer edge. Finish seam 4 cm from the top edge. Clip corners.

Press outer seam back, then fold the top down 1.5 cm. Press folded edge.

Sew top edge 1 cm from fold. Tie a knot in each end of the ribbon and thread through top seam. Turn bag inside out and press entire bag if necessary. Fill with your gift and tie the ribbon ends together in a bow.

Pillowcase Gift Bags

Materials:
inexpensive cotton or cotton blend pillowcase (try a dollar store)
fabric, tempera or acrylic craft paint (acrylic paints work best on fabric when mixed with a fabric medium)
water
about 36" of ribbon or yarn for drawstring
scissors
your choice of paint applicators
a sheet of newspaper folded to the size of your pillowcase
optional: masking tap
               freezer paper
               fabric markers
               sequins, rickrack, pom poms, tiny bells, scraps of felt etc.

Decide on how you wish to decorate your gift bag. Try stamping a pattern using sponge shapes, thick fun foam cut into interesting patterns, or vegetable stamps. Or paint a suitable scene. You can use masking tape or iron-on freezer paper to keep areas clear from paint for snow scenes etc., then peel them off when the paint is dry.
When you have decided on your design, slip the newspaper inside the pillowcase to ensure the paint won't seep through to the other side. Now paint your design, and let it dry. Tempera paint will set on cotton fabric if ironed once dry.
Once your design is dry, carefully pull a few stitches from the seam at the top of the bag. Tie a knot in your ribbon or yarn, and feed it through the seam along the top of the bag. A pencil or knitting needle can help with this part. Once both ends of the ribbon or yarn are through the seam hole, hand stitch a few stitches around the holes to secure them and keep the threads you loosened from unravelling. Now it is ready to be used to close your bag. Simply fill your gift bag and tie the ribbon or yarn in a bow.

Decoupage Photo Box

This wrapping also serves as the gift itself and is sure to be treasured by every grandparent.

Materials:
assorted photos
access to a photocopier
a shoebox
decoupage medium: try paper mache paste or use non-toxic wallpaper paste or a commercial decoupage medium
paintbrush
optional: acrylic varnish

First make photocopies of your chosen photos. Don't be shy about cropping, enlarging and shrinking the images. We use black and white copies, but colour can also be effective. Make enough copies that you will have enough material, when trimmed, to cover both the box and lid.
Cut out and trim your photocopies.

Mix your chosen decoupage medium, and coat your copies one at a time and apply to the box. Overlap the images slightly. Continue until the box is covered, being sure to cover the rim of the box, then repeat with the lid. Let dry, then apply an extra thin coat of your medium to the entire project. Let dry, then if desired, add a coat of acrylic varnish.

Once dry, fill with photos of the previous year and tie with a colourful ribbon and bow.

Decorated Cookie Tube

This handy little tube re-uses a cardboard chip tube to safely package stacks of round cookies, such as these spiral cookies (made without the lollipop sticks). You can also use these for narrower bottles (flavoured oils and vinegars, or narrow wine bottles) or small posters or calendars.

Needed:
an empty cylindrical chip tube
wrapping paper
scissors
white glue (school glue works well)
optional: ribbon or bow for the top