How to DIY Hand-Painted Christmas Gift Wrap: Easy Watercolour Tutorial

December 20, 2025

Want to make your holiday gifts extra special this year? Skip the store-bought gift wrap and try creating your own hand-painted designs! In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to turn simple kraft paper into beautiful, personalised Christmas gift wrap using watercolours. It’s easier than you think, and the results are truly festive.

Materials You’ll Need

For this project, we’re keeping it simple yet effective:

Kraft paper
Safari of Ideas x Craftamo Brush Set (perfect for illustration-style painting)
Watercolours
Clean water
Paper towels
White acrylic paint or a gel pen for details

Once you have everything ready, it’s time to get creative!

Step 1: Plan Your Elements

Before you start painting, decide on a few key elements. Think simple shapes like:

Snowmen
Santa hats
Christmas ornaments
Leaves

Stick to three or four elements to keep your design cohesive. You can sketch ideas on scrap paper if it helps!

Step 2: Start With Main Shapes

Grab a medium round brush and paint your main shapes directly onto the kraft paper. Use flat colour without blending to keep the design clean and graphic. Don’t worry about making it perfect—once wrapped, only parts of the design will show anyway.

Step 3: Repeat and Rotate

Repeat your shapes across the paper, varying the size and orientation. Imperfections add charm, so don’t stress about symmetry! Repetition helps your design look intentional and professional.

Step 4: Add Secondary Details

Switch to a smaller brush to add simple features:

Eyes on snowmen
Lines on ornaments
Stems on leaves

Keep details minimal—just enough to bring the shapes to life.

Step 5: Add White Accents

Use white paint or a gel pen to add small highlights and decorative marks:

Tiny dots for snow
Highlights on ornaments
Small accent lines around shapes

Evenly scatter them to balance the design and make it feel festive.

Step 6: Let It Dry Completely

Wait until your paper is fully dry before handling. Quick-drying layers ensure no smudges or transfers when wrapping your gifts.

Step 7: Optional Tags and Lettering

Add a personal touch by painting matching gift tags or writing names/messages directly on the paper. This makes each gift feel thoughtful and unique.

Step 8: Wrap the Gift

Carefully fold your hand-painted paper around your gift. Kraft paper folds easily and holds paint beautifully. Finish with twine, ribbon, or a simple tag for a clean, natural look.

Step 9: Final Reveal

And there you have it—a festive, hand-painted gift wrap that’s completely your own! This is a fun way to slow down, get creative, and make your holiday gifts extra meaningful.

If you try this tutorial, don’t forget to tag us @craftamo—we’d love to see your creations!

Watch the Full Tutorial on YouTube

Prefer to follow along in a video? The full step-by-step Christmas gift wrap tutorial is available on Craftamo’s YouTube channel. Watch every brushstroke in action—from painting the main shapes to adding festive white accents.

🎥 Watch the video on YouTube and create your hand-painted gift wrap at your own pace.