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DIY Watercolor Christmas Wrapping Paper: A Simple Tutorial

ByMissy Kate

Let’s face it, wrapping paper that is high quality and for good reason, what if I told you, you could make your very own with plain kraft paper and some water colors. I created my own Christmas wrapping paper using just kraft paper and watercolors, and I’m excited to share how easy it is to make your own!

What You’ll Need

  • Kraft paper (brown wrapping paper works perfectly)
  • Watercolor paints
  • Paintbrushes in various sizes
  • Water container
  • A flat surface to work on

The Process

Choose Your Design

I decided to keep things simple and festive with two classic motifs: evergreen trees with yellow stars on top, and Santa hats. The beauty of this project is that simple designs often look the best and they’re quick to repeat across large sheets of paper.

Prepare Your Workspace

Lay out your kraft paper on a flat, protected surface. The natural brown tone of kraft paper provides a beautiful, rustic background that makes watercolor designs really pop, make sure the kraft paper is right side up.

Paint Your Pattern

For the evergreen trees, simple paint very loose triangles in green. Add layers of green when dry to add depth, it’s your choice. For the trunk, simply do a small brown rectangle. And for the star very loosely in yellow paint an upside down ‘V’ with a line through it.

For the Santa hats, I used red watercolor for the hat shape and added a white pom-pom and trim. The loose, painterly quality of watercolors gives each design character.

Let It Dry

Allow your wrapping paper to dry completely before using it. Watercolors dry relatively quickly, but give it ample time to ensure the colors won’t transfer to your gifts or so the designs don’t smudge.

Tips for Success

  • Don’t worry about perfection! The hand-painted, slightly imperfect quality is what makes this wrapping paper so unique.
  • Use slightly diluted watercolors for a softer look.
  • Space your designs evenly across the paper, but don’t stress about making them identical, I most certainly did not make mine identical. lol
  • Consider making extra sheets to have on hand for last-minute gifts.

Why I Love This Project

Creating your own wrapping paper is not only cost-effective, but it also adds a personal touch to your gift-giving. The recipients will appreciate the extra thought and creativity and perhaps even think it’s expensive store bought stuff. Plus, it’s a relaxing, meditative activity that gets you into the holiday spirit!

Have you tried making your own wrapping paper? I’d love to hear about your designs and techniques!

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