Up-cycling Gift Wrap Idea: Building or Robots Present

We love gifts with a theme and while the last time we gave a robot themed gift, we sewed a robot face onto a re-useable bag with felt pieces, sometimes you need something fast and easy!   We tried to re-use materials and provide suggestions accessible for children.

Materials

• Kraft paper or newsprint (You can re-purpose these from packing materials as we did or re-use the interior of paper grocery bags)
• Black ink (you can buy this at art supply stores where it is often labeled “Chinese Ink” or “India Ink”)
• Shallow dish
• Smock
• Craft tray or plastic table cloth
• Milk and/or juice jug caps
• Wet cloth for clean-up
• Washers, nuts (that go with bolts) or similar circular hardware that can be re-used or purchased inexpensively from a hardware store.
• Twine (we dyed ours using food colouring diluted with water in a small container)
• Crepe or tissue (optional)
• Scissors
• Clear tape
• Cardboard box (We re-used a packing box)
• Print-out of birthday tag AMostHappyBirthday (With spots for names and multiple copies for future use)

Directions

• After donning your smock and covering your work space, carefully pour some ink into a shallow dish.

• Dip your caps carefully into the ink and create patterns on the paper.  Allow to dry overnight.

• Put your robot themed gift (puzzles, games, magnet sets, books etc.) or building themed gift (building sets, blocks, play tools, construction worker costumes etc.) into a box, cover it with the paper.  We layered it with various other types of paper (such as crepe).   Take two long pieces of twine and loop them through opposite sides of the nuts or washers.  Fold in half and make even.  Tie at the bottom of the present.  Repeat should you like.

• We provided a gift tag or make your own!

Purpose

• Fine motor skill development, using various materials, re-using materials for another purpose.

Safety Notes

• Be sure to wear a smock and cover your space as this medium tends to splatter and spill with its thin consistency.
• Use scissors with adult supervision.
• Washers and nuts can be choking hazards.  Be sure to keep them out of reach from small children.