5 slick tips to make your own wrapping paper

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It's December (I know. Already!) Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, The Winter Solstice, Brumalia, Yule, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Boxing Day, or anything else, it's likely you're wrapping presents in December. So this year, on the first three Saturdays of December, the Artdog's offering some creative gift-wrapping solutions.

1. Designer Marian Parsons used stamping to create this wrapping paper--but this only scratches the surface of the possibilities with kraft paper, butcher paper, newsprint, etc., and stamps. In this case Parsons used a wood block stamp and white paint, but those are more like guidelines. Your imagination is the limit.

The ideas in this post involve, as you see, some personal craft capabilities, and require some advance planning. That's why I'm running it first. Gives you more time to plan, and execute said plans.

2. Here's another brilliant idea from Marian Parsons: making decorations with stencils. Use butcher paper for this, so the paper won't pucker. Parsons uses diluted acrylic paint. You'll probably want to make some test runs on scraps of butcher paper before you take on a big piece, to get your mixture just right. Otherwise your stenciling efforts could get really smeary (voice of experience, here).

Don't hog the glory. Most of these ideas are easy enough that kids can do them. If you're going to make a mess anyway--and if you have the odd child rattling around the house--by all means, deal them in! (Even if they're not odd, they'll probably enjoy it).

3. Speaking of children, here's a project that's actually designed for them. First, wrap your boxes in plain blue construction paper.The uniform round circles are made from a pencil eraser, dipped in diluted white craft paint then stamped onto make the design--snowflakes, a snowman's body. Then add permanent-marker arms, eyes and mouth, and a wedge of orange paper glued on for a nose, and a snowman appears. Of course, it's okay for adults to do this project, too. Thank designer Morgan Levine for this one!

4. Here's another ultra-kid friendly idea from Marian Parsons: Potato prints! Never heard of them? It's not only easy, it's a lot of fun. Parsons offers step-by-step instructions for this project here. You've never had such brilliant wrapping paper! Give it a try--even if you don't have any kids around. Big people can excel at this, too.

5. Here's another stamping project, only this time you're using a wine cork, cut to make the oval shape of a Christmas light. Might want to make several, perhaps one for each color. Wrap your boxes in butcher paper or sheets of unprinted newsprint. Then brush the paint onto the cork stamp(s) and alternate colors in a row (maybe you could "cheat" and add a pencil line to follow). After they dry, go back and darken or draw in the line with a permanent marker. This genius idea is from Morgan Levine.

As you can see, these five ideas all require gathering things up in advance, and planning a work-space that can withstand a little wet paint. But with some advance planning and acquisitions, I think you'll find these are fun and easy creative ways to make wrapping paper that will most definitely impress. Have fun!

IMAGES: I must confess, all of these images and ideas were really easy to find--they're from a gallery of 50 Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas presented on HGTV's website. Many thanks for all the great ideas, and for rounding up all the bright-eyed designers!