If gift wrapping usually makes you feel like you should have paid someone else to do it, this one’s for you. These wraps look thoughtful and artsy, but they’re made with the most basic mark making imaginable. All you need is paper, paint, and about 5 minutes.
Start with a flat piece of kraft paper or literally any paper you have lying around (even a brown paper bag counts!). Then pick one (or all) of these four techniques. When you’re done, wrap the gift and tie a ribbon. That’s it. Spoiler alert: the ribbon does the heavy lifting.
What you'll need
- Kraft paper (or any misc paper)
- White paint or ink (or any contrasting color)
- A paintbrush
- Water
- Ribbon
- Optional but encouraged: a cup of tea and zero expectations
DIY Gift Wrap #1: Splatter wrap
This one looks intentional even if your hand slips. Especially if your hand slips.
Steps:
- Lay your paper flat on a protected surface (this is messy one)
- Water down your paint so it’s drippy, not thick.
- Load your brush and hold it about 8 inches above the paper.
- Gently tap the brush handle with your finger to splatter the paint.
- Move your brush around the paper and repeat until it feels balanced.
- Let it dry completely.
That’s it. Do not overthink it. Random is the goal!
DIY Gift Wrap #2: Wobbly lines
If you can draw a line that doesn’t go perfectly straight, you’re already qualified. This one is simple, graphic, and charmingly imperfect.
Steps:
- Load your brush with paint.
- Starting at the one end of the paper, pull a thin line all the way across to the other side.
- Let it wobble. Please let it wobble.
- Leave a small gap and repeat across the paper.
- Don’t try to space them evenly. Uneven looks better.
This one shines when you stop before it feels “done.”
DIY Gift Wrap #3: Brush strokes
Think of these as little paintbrush hugs scattered around the paper. It’s organic and super quick.
Steps
- Load your brush with paint.
- Press the brush onto the paper and pull a short stroke.
- Lift and move to a new spot.
- Leave breathing room between strokes.
- Repeat until the entire sheet is filled.
The beauty here is imperfection. The wisps from brush strokes add so much character.
DIY Gift Wrap #4: Hand lettered repeats
This one feels extra special and still doesn’t need perfect lettering (I promise! I’ve got a blog on hand lettered gift wrap right here).
Steps
- Choose a simple word like “joy,” “merry,” or even someone’s name.
- Write it directly onto the paper with your brush.
- Repeat it across the surface.
- Don’t worry about spacing in between words. Once wrapped, it looks great!
Listen, if a letter looks weird, congratulations. You’re doing it right.
Wrap it up (literally)
The ribbon is the grand finale. Once your paper is dry, wrap your gift like normal. Don’t fuss over the corners. Kraft paper is forgiving and so are you.
Finish with a bold ribbon. This is the grand finale.
Bold ribbon. Simple ribbon. Whatever you have. The contrast between the handmade paper and the ribbon is what makes the whole thing feel intentional.
Five minutes ago, this was just paper. Now it’s a gift someone will pause with sentiment before opening.
){kind=link}