Wrapping Paper Wrap-Up

Alex Brower

Information Services Director

Are you in need of an easy program for your library? Do you have an MLC card? If so, try out the DIY Painted Gift Wrap class on Creativebug. In this class, instructor Courtney Cerruti gives creators tips for creating unique gift wrap patterns using drawing paper, paint, and acrylic inks. She also gives you some ideas for how to use the wrapping paper for wrapping gifts. 

I used this class to have a practice program here at the Commission, and it went very well! It requires only a few supplies (I took out the acrylic inks and just used paint), the video is very short while providing several ideas, and it can be adapted for all ages and skill levels.

For my program, I invited MLC staff to stop by our main meeting room for a 1-hour program. Here are the supplies that I used:

• 2 boxes of various colors of acrylic paint
• Chip, foam, and regular paint brushes
• Paper and Styrofoam bowls for mixing paint, watering it down, or rinsing brushes

You can also use paper plates as a palette. To set up, I lined the meeting room tables with newspaper, spread out the paintbrushes along the tables, and set up boxes of paints at either end.

As participants came in, everyone grabbed some 12x18 inch 60 lb sketching paper and a bowl for holding or mixing paint. We watched the video, which is only about five and a half minutes long, and then we got to painting! Each participant was able to do two sheets of wrapping paper in the hour timeslot, and there was a separate area for drying that was also lined with paper. Set-up took about 20 minutes, mostly because there was a technical issue with the computer, and cleanup only took about 15 minutes. Everyone was incredibly pleased with their paper, and with good reason! Have a look at these beautiful creations: 

This program can easily be paired with other classes on Creativebug, like Stamped and Embossed Christmas Gift Tags, How to Fold a Paper Box, Gift Wrapping Techniques, and DIY Gift Bags. Creativebug can be accessed here: https://www.creativebug.com/lib/mlc with a Mississippi Library Commission library card. For more information about creating an account with us, call the Reference Desk at 601-432-4492, text 601-208-0868, or email mlcref@mlc.lib.ms.us.