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DIY Leaf Wrapping Paper Out Of Brown Paper Bags

ByErin Nutter Updated on
To Tutorial

Do you hate spending money on buying wrapping paper to only then have a trash bag full at the end of your holiday gathering? We hate how wasteful wrapping paper is and thought why not repurpose items we already have this holiday season? There are many different ways to make DIY wrapping paper, but here is a fun leaf print wrapping paper idea for the whole family.

green leaf print DIY wrapping paper out of old brown paper bag

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How To Make DIY Leaf Print Wrapping Paper

brown bags with handpainted and printed leaves to make cheap homemade wrapping paper

You could purchase butcher block paper or cut-up old brown bags to use. We chose to cut up the brown bags in order to be as eco-friendly as we could when dealing with DIY wrapping paper.

How To Turn A Brown Paper Bag Into Wrapping Paper

  1. Cut down the seam on the side of the bag.
  2. Then begin to cut the bottom off. 
  3. Once you make it all the way around, you will be able to open up the brown bag to create a flat butcher paper. 
  4. Decorate with the designs of your choice.

Other Considerations

There will be wrinkles and seams. Consider putting better designs on the flat and best spots. When you are wrapping your presents you will end up using the best paper. This brown paper gift wrap idea can use any colors of paints you like to either be Fall gift-wrapping or DIY Christmas gift wrapping.

leaves, gold paint, paintbrush and brown paper bag used for eco-friendly DIY wrapping paper

Recommended Supplies

  • Leaves (preferably fresher ones, not ones that are curled up and brown)
  • Acrylic Paint (Cheap student-grade paint will do the trick) 
  • Paintbrush
  • Extra white paper
  • Brown bag or large craft roll
  • Scissors

How To Make DIY Leaf Print Wrapping Paper

Step 1: Cut Bag

Cut a brown bag or lay out the butcher paper.

How to cut a brown bag for wrapping paper

Step 2: Paint The Textured Side Of The Leaf

Find the textured side of the leaf. Paint the side with the veins. We first wanted to gold but realized the color didn’t give us enough contrast on the paper. Therefore we used green and red with a little gold mixed in to give it a metallic look.

paint brush painting textured side of leaf for leaf print

Step 3: Print Leaf On Brown Paper Bag

Flip the leaf over with the paint side down.

Paint leaf flipped over to create print for DIY wrapping paper

Step 4: Press Whole The Whole Leaf On

Put the white paper on top and rub the area where the leaf is.

fingers rubbing white paper on top of leaf

Step 5: Remove White Paper and Leaf

Carefully pull up the leaf. 

leaf being pulled up after printing on brown paper bag

If it appears there is enough paint on the leaf, you can try to print it again. You may get more of a “ghost” print, but I like that look.

Step 6: Repeat The Steps To Create a Pattern

Step 7: Let Dry

Let dry and wrap those presents with your DIY brown bag wrapping paper.

present wrapped with DIY homemade painted wrapping paper

What if I wanted to make more precise leaf art prints for DIY artwork?

You could use a brayer with ink if you want a more precise print. However, I liked getting different textures to show with the leaves and didn’t need them to all be the exact same because honestly, this is just a fun DIY wrapping paper craft to do with your family.

For one of our brown paper bag wrapping papers, we just stamped a foam brush to create a handpainted pattern. There are so many different simple ways you can use acrylic paint and brown paper bags to create eco-friendly DIY wrapping paper.

Looking For Craft Projects Using Brown Bags?

Follow us on Pinterest, YouTube or Facebook for more DIY inspiration!

cute DIY wrapping paper insanely easy with leaf prints on brown paper bag

Most importantly, have fun creating DIY wrapping paper with your family and love that you are helping the environment using what you already have.

DIY Leaf Print Wrapping Paper

Learn how to print leaves on old brown bags to make unqiue DIY wrapping paper.
Print Tutorial
green leaf print DIY wrapping paper out of old brown paper bag
Prep:5 minutes
Active Time:2 minutes
Dry Time:17 minutes
Total Time:24 minutes

Equipment

  • Scissors
  • Piece Of White Paper
  • Small Paint Brush

Supplies

  • Brown Bag or Large Craft Roll preferably fresher ones, not ones that are curled up and brown
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Leaves

Instructions

  • Cut the brown bag down the seams to get a flat paper.
  • Paint the textured side of the leaf with paint.
  • Flip the leaf over and put it on the brown paper.
  • Use a piece of white paper on top of the leaf and rub the whole leaf.
  • Remove paper and leaf.
  • Continue printing leaves until you like your pattern.
  • Let dry and wrap your gifts.

Notes

  • Use white paper to help keep your hands clean when printing.
  • You can use brown butcher paper if you want a flat surface to start with.
  • Make sure you are choosing paint colors that will show up on brown butcher paper. We tried gold paint and there was not enough contrast.
Author: Erin Nutter
Cost: under $5

Erin Nutter is the DIY enthusiast, writer and photographer behind TheDIYNuts.com. She loves sharing her passion for do-it-yourself projects along with her husband, Eric. As an artist, mother, and lover of all things DIY she hopes to inspire you to be creative to make a life and home you love.

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