Wax Paper Gift Wrap

With just a few sheets of waxed paper, the kind that one usually uses to wrap sandwiches in, or to line a baking tin with, one can give a personal touch to presents and make them look quite exceptional, without spending much money on gift wrap.

Adding stencilled images to the wax paper works well when making gift-wrap for a present such as a bath treat.

Materials:

• a sheet of waxed paper
• pair of scissors
• white acrylic paint for the stenciling
• old small plate to pour the paint into
• one small sponge
• one sheet of old newspaper
• one sheet of X-ray film (for stencil)
• a sharp knife to cut out the design on the X-ray film
• decorative silver string
• few small beads
• transparent sticky tape

Instructions

Cut the waxed paper to the desired size. Lay it flat onto a table. You may want to stick the corners lightly to the table with sticky tape, so that the paper doesn't roll up while you are busy.

Now use the white paint and the stencil. For this example, I used the design of a rose for the stencil, but any other design will be suitable. One could even use two different designs, or four different ones, if so desired.

Decide if you would like to print stenciled designs onto the paper in rows, or at random. Then, place the stencil on the appropriate place. Hold it down with one hand while painting, so that it will not move while applying the paint.

Dip the sponge into the white paint and remove excess paint from the sponge by dabbing it on the sheet of newspaper. Then paint the stencil design onto the paper by repeatedly dabbing all over the design.

Carefully, lift up the stencil and move it to the next appropriate place. Continue until the page has been filled with the stenciled design. Leave to dry thoroughly.

Cover the present with the waxed stenciled paper. Tie a decorative silver string around it. Add the finishing touches by adding small beads to the ends of the silver string. Remember to tie a small knot once you've strung the beads, so that the beads won't come off again.

By Benetta from Pretoria, Gauteng