6 hints for using kids' artwork as gift wrapping

If you're like a lot of people, you put as much thoughtfulness and care into wrapping your gifts as you do into choosing what to give. Here are 6 hints for turning your kids’ original artwork into unique gift wrap.

Everyone loves a young child's chubby handprint and a quick online search will give you lots of clever ideas for turning a handprint into a holiday picture.

• Paint the fingers white, the palm pink, and the edge of the hand and thumb red to make a handprint Santa.
• Make a reindeer with a brown hand print and some googly eyes.
• Green hand prints can be turned into a Christmas tree or placed in a circular pattern to make a wreath. Decorate with fingerprint lights and glitter for a festive holiday package.

Thumbprints are just as versatile as handprints.

• Create a colourful string of lights, or alternate red and white thumbprints in a candy cane shape.
• Brown thumbprints can be turned into reindeer and green thumbprints can make a tree or a wreath.
• Finish the package by adding a gift card addressed "To Thumbody Special."

Children's handwriting is precious. It's almost like a snapshot of a special moment in time, so it makes a perfect decoration for gift wrap.

• Give your kids some colourful markers or crayons and have them write the ABCs.
• For a clever way to recreate the look of a blackboard, let them write with coloured chalk on black construction paper.
• Depending on their age and writing ability, you can also encourage them to write a special message to the recipient of the gift.

Have your children paint or draw wintry pictures.

• Paintings of snowmen, polar bears and penguins are easy for children to make with simple shapes.
• You can model the drawings for the children, give them pictures to use for inspiration or give them stencils to trace to get them started.
• Alternatively, you can let them draw freehand and express their own creative vision.

Some children don't want to be limited by your suggestions and very young children might not even be able to follow the directions.

• Simply give your children access to art supplies and let them create any picture they want.
• What makes the picture special is that it's child-created from their own imagination.
• If your children want to draw trucks instead of snowmen, the results will still make for an adorable holiday package.

When using your children's artwork as wrapping paper, be sure to let their creativity shine.

• Keep your embellishments simple so the children's artwork really stands out.
• A simple ribbon or some twine in coordinating colours can serve as an elegant finishing touch for a package without taking away from your children's creations.

Holiday gift wrapping made from children's art work is a creative and memorable way to make your holiday packages special.