Wrapping Paper Folk Art
Leftover Christmas wrapping paper is perfect for creating whimsical or primitive folk art. The colors and patterns naturally complement one another, making it easy to design stylish master boards. Simply vary your pattern choices to create a base for your focal point, then add a few hand-drawn doodles. For a nostalgic keepsake, showcase your favorite vintage wrapping paper.
For this project, gather wrapping paper cut into both large pieces and thin strips, along with a sturdy base for gluing—recycled packaging works beautifully. You’ll also need glue.
Create two master boards: one for your background and one for die cutting or cutting your focal shapes. For the background board, use your largest paper pieces and arrange them randomly on the base, overlapping as you go.
On the second board, arrange the thin paper strips in rows and glue them down. Once dry, die cut or hand-cut these patterned strips into shapes to use as your focal elements.
Some shape ideas include:
- hearts
- cups
- stars
- wreaths
- birds
- ornaments
- mittens
To frame your artwork, trim the background master board to fit your frame. Glue the focal shape in place and add doodles if desired, then pop it into a frame for instant Christmas décor. Old metal frames are also suitable.
These folk art designs also work beautifully for cards, tags, or postcards.
Christmas wrapping paper makes folk and primitive-style art both approachable and fun—especially when using cherished vintage designs. Enjoy turning those leftovers into something meaningful.
Happy paper crafting!