Kid-Made Wrapping Paper with Rubbings

Add a personal touch to your Mother’s Day gift!

Materials

• Kraft paper (or re-use the inside of a cut open paper bag)
• Thick paper (we used poster/bristol board, but you could use thin cardboard, cardstock etc.)
• Scissors
• Tape
• Craft tray or plastic table cloth
• Crayons
• Watercolur paint
• Paint brushes
• Smock
• Glue stick (Optional, however we liked this method best!)

Optional: (to dilute your paint)

• Water
• Containers

Directions

• Cut out shapes from your poster paper and arrange them into a design on a flat surface such a table top (be sure to clear this with an adult first) or craft tray, taping them down with “tape donuts” (a loop with the sticky side facing outward.)  On our craft tray we used a spot of glue instead as we could wipe it off later and it wouldn’t possibly show the tape donut through the rubbing.  We found the glue stick worked best, but your need a washable surface for this method.  You could cut out any shape that you like.  We just used lines (strips of the paper), circles and triangles (cut off the corner of the paper), but you could be as elaborate as you like!

• Place your kraft paper over top of your design and rub over your design with your wax crayons.  We find it helpful to peel off the paper on the crayons and use them sideways.  You may also find it helpful to tape your paper in place.  If you are working on a large piece of wrapping paper simply move it over your design several times, repeating the rubbing process.

We also tried it on watercolour paper which works beautifully and could make a matching card!

• Don your smock.

• Dilute your watercolour paint with water to make a wash.

• Gently paint over your rubbings.

• Allow your work to dry overnight.

• Trim the edges of your paper if need be (where the tape was) and wrap up your gift, tying it with a bow.

Purpose

• Exploring resist techniques (this would be a great time to talk about how/why resists work)
• Re-using materials

Safety Notes

• Be sure to use scissors with care and adult supervision.