That’s a wrap

Christmas wrapping doesn’t have to be predictable – make your own wrapping creations that will be like gifts in themselves.

Christmas Day is fast approaching, and so is the inevitable pile of discarded red and green wrapping paper, torn and crumpled to bits in the corner of your lounge. You can never use it again, and it seems such a waste. This year, why not try making your Christmas wrap a gift worth keeping? Here are a few ideas for making your own unique gift packaging that can be kept and enjoyed all year round, using six bright and colourful Resene paint colours.

Christmas wrapping options Hand painted gift bags For this project you will need: Brown paper gift bags from your local dollar store, or similar Brown cardboard lidded boxes from your local dollar store, Resene paint test pots in Resene Gold, Resene Lucky, Resene Plum, Resene Allports, Resene Pale Rose and Resene Shiraz. Assorted small paintbrushes and painter’s tape.

Hand-painted paper gift bags To make:

Purchase as many brown paper gift bags as you need; these are very affordable from your local dollar store. Using painter’s tape, mask out some fun designs and apply your chosen paint colours. I used a combination of all six test pot colours, and painted horizontal stripes on one in varying widths, and a large geometric design on the other. You will need to give them a couple of coats of paint as the brown bags are quite dark. Fill with chocolates, homemade rocky road, or whatever takes your fancy!

Paint a cane box
For this project you will need: A woven basket in the size and shape of your choice from your local dollar store, Resene paint test pots in Resene Gold, Resene Allports, Resene Pale Rose and Resene Lucky . Assorted small paintbrushes and painter’s tape.

Hand-painted storage basket To make:

Pick a few complementary colours and paint onto a woven storage basket in a fun, geometric-style pattern of your choice. Big and bold is your best bet, because getting a precise design is pretty hard on the uneven surface. I painted long shapes freehand along the top of mine in Resene Pale Rose, Gold, Allports and Lucky. A basket like this would make an ideal Christmas hamper filled with goodies, or, even better, holding a plant as a gift. And, of course, the basket itself is very useful on its own for home storage.

Paint a gift boxes For this project you will need: Brown cardboard lidded boxes from your local dollar store or similar Resene paint test pots in Resene Gold, Resene Lucky, Resene Plum, Resene Pale Roseassorted small paintbrushes and painter’s tape.

Hand-painted gift boxes To make:

Plain cardboard gift boxes look even better with a hand-painted makeover. Purchase the shapes and sizes you need and choose a fun design to paint on them. I chose to paint the bases of mine in Resene Gold, and then the lids in a contrasting colour and pattern. I used Resene Plum with hand-painted spots in Resene Pale Rose. Once Christmas is over, these would make great jewellery or trinket boxes.