YEP.

It’s officially that time of year, so let’s talk about wrapping paper and cards for a minute, shall we?

The way I see it, there’s just no reason you, such a fabulous creative being, need to purchase store-bought wrapping paper or cards.

Because here’s the thing. What you can CREATE with your own beautiful hands is way more interesting, meaningful, and probably more environmentally friendly than anything you can buy.

In fact, I’m guessing you might already have stacks upon stacks of half-finished art projects, “studies,” sketches, and collage material that would all make fabulous wrapping paper and cards. If so, you’ve already got what you need, no work required, except maybe a little cutting and taping.

If you’re not already stocked with ready-to-use art, or you’re in the mood to create something new, here are ten fun and easy ways to make your very own one-of-a-kind wrapping paper and cards…let’s do this.

First things first, upcycle your paper!

Before you reach for your new, fancy art paper, consider creating on brown grocery bags, old gift bags, crossword puzzles, cereal boxes, newspapers, magazines, butcher paper, old maps, letters, paintings, or pages from your sketchbooks. You can always add gesso or paint to simplify the surface before you begin. Second, use any art materials your heart (and budget) desires. I love acrylic paints, watercolors, pens, charcoal (although it’s a bit messy) inks, and oil pastels.

Remember, ANYTHING goes with homemade wrapping paper and cards, but here are some prompts to get you going:

1. Paint out a poem or letter to the person receiving the gift. Water down your paint to help with the flow. The drippier and artier, the better.

2. Close your eyes and draw with both hands to a favorite song. Pick out favorite shapes to fill in or develop…or just go with the wild, abstract lines.

3. Create a mandala.

4. Do an abstract color study.

5. Catch the drips from your larger paintings by taping your “wrapping paper” to the wall beneath your canvas.

6. Finger paint.

7. Play with blind-contour drawing by only looking at the thing you’re drawing and not at all at your paper. Let it be funky!

8. Doodle.

9. Spill some ink and tilt the paper around to let it flow.

10. Make “stamps” with vegetables, flowers, leaves, or things you find around your house (how about holiday cookie cutters?). Use fluid or watered-down paint for easier stamping.