| Got a gift or box that needs wrapping? Sometimes it's | | | | especially foreign language along with sports and |
| hard to know which paper is right for the job. Papers | | | | comic pages, can give an unusual effect. Add your |
| that can be used to give a natural look to gift wrapping | | | | own word balloons or translations for fun. |
| are so called because of their natural color. Common | | | | Craft paper can be useful for wrapping gifts. Similar in |
| looking and inexpensive papers like newsprint, butcher | | | | texture to newsprint but a heavier weight, it can create |
| and craft papers are usually thought of as protective | | | | a nice effect. You are probably familiar with this |
| rather than decorative. But these utilitarian papers work | | | | brownish colored paper used to wrap postal packages |
| very well with certain art techniques and may be the | | | | including bulk mailings. More sturdy than newsprint, it |
| answer for gift as well as bulk wrapping. | | | | works well for fall and winter wraps. Some |
| There are countless ways to transform this type of | | | | embellishments just naturally work with this type of |
| utility paper into wrapping paper and can be the | | | | paper. Pine cones, acorns and fall leaves are a natural. |
| answer for large, bulky gifts. Stamping and stenciling | | | | Leaves can be traced on colored paper and lightly |
| are two that will work very well with this type of | | | | shaded with spray paint or colored pencil for a nice |
| paper. Mix some colors and go to work, experimenting | | | | effect. Orange, green and burgundy make nice accent |
| first on scrap paper until you are satisfied. Earth colors | | | | colors. Look around for other possibilities. Nature offers |
| like reds, greens and burnt oranges will do just fine. Pull | | | | many opportunities for being creative. Take advantage |
| out some drawers and start looking for things suitable | | | | of these abundant, low-cost offerings. |
| for stamping. Try a piece of corrugated cardboard or | | | | Or, be your own postal carrier and embellish your gift |
| other patterns that can be used. Handy potatoes and | | | | with exotic handmade stamps and cancellations. |
| erasers, of course, can be used to make your own | | | | Abundant images of imaginary birds, colorful seashells, |
| shapes. If you are new to this, try cutting shapes with | | | | ocean-bound steamships and planes can be used to |
| open areas in your stamped creations that can be | | | | suggest the exotic and make your wrap a fun project. |
| later hand tinted or filled in with colored pencil. Making a | | | | Butcher paper, in tan and white is another fall natural |
| two-part stamp is another nice technique. Printing say, | | | | that is sturdy and usually sold in wide rolls for large |
| adjoining flower and leaf in different colors. | | | | bulky boxes. Sometimes found in individual sheets or |
| Newsprint is rather delicate and you will find that it | | | | bundles. A favorite of retailers of glass ware and |
| tears easily- so handle gently when wrapping. It's not | | | | china, it's relative smooth surface takes many |
| good with water either. Chalk will do well but will need | | | | techniques like stencil and stamping. Be creative - go |
| a coat of clear fix to prevent smudging. Newspapers, | | | | natural. |