Artisan | Typographic Newsprint DIY Handmade Gift Wrap
This year, I made a promise to only give handmade gifts to my friends and family—and so far, I’ve stuck to it! But wrapping these unique presents in store-bought wrapping paper didn’t feel right. I wanted something handmade to match the thoughtfulness of the gifts themselves.
I’ve always liked the look of newsprint on wrapped packages, but I wanted to take it up a notch. So, I came up with a stylish, typography-inspired wrapping idea that’s clean, slightly masculine, and eliminates the need for gift tags—since the recipient’s name is right there on the package!
Once I figured it out, the process was surprisingly simple and took less than ten minutes per gift. The materials were incredibly affordable: a roll of unbleached brown craft paper cost just $1.25, and I picked up an old war novel for 25¢ at a secondhand store. Compared to mass-produced holiday wrapping paper, this approach wins in both price and style!
Materials & Tools
- Brown craft paper or any solid-colored wrapping paper
- A used book (preferably with interesting text)
- Utility knife
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Alphabet templates (available in four typefaces—free printable download below)
- Tracing setup (light source and clear glass/plastic)
- Glue stick
Instructions
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Prepare the Book Pages
Use a utility knife to carefully remove the pages from the book’s spine. -
Wrap the Gift
Wrap the present as usual, making note of its size. If you’re detail-oriented (or a little obsessive, like me), you can measure it precisely to plan your letter placement. -
Choose & Print Your Alphabet
Pick a typeface from the downloadable alphabet templates at ManMadeDIY.com/downloads, or create your own. The PDFs are fully scalable, so print them at the size that best fits your gift. -
Trace the Letters
- Best method: Use a tracing setup. If you don’t have a lightbox, a simple clamp light under a clear plastic surface (like a turntable cover) works great. A flashlight and a glass frame or even a sunny window will also do the trick. Trace the recipient’s name onto the book pages with a pencil.
- Alternative method: If tracing isn’t an option, print the alphabet on cardstock, cut out each letter, and use them as stencils to transfer the shapes onto the book pages.
- Best method: Use a tracing setup. If you don’t have a lightbox, a simple clamp light under a clear plastic surface (like a turntable cover) works great. A flashlight and a glass frame or even a sunny window will also do the trick. Trace the recipient’s name onto the book pages with a pencil.
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Cut & Attach the Letters
Carefully cut out the letters and glue them onto the wrapped package using a glue stick. Make sure to cover all edges with glue to prevent curling. I aligned the name along the bottom right corner, but feel free to experiment with placement. -
Repeat & Customize
Simply repeat steps 4 and 5 for each gift. I found that printing the alphabet template in just two sizes worked for all my presents.
And that’s it! A quick, budget-friendly way to add a handmade, personalized touch to your holiday gifts.
Happy Holidays!
Create unique, handmade gift wrap with this easy DIY project! Using brown craft paper, book pages, and stylish typography, you can design personalized wrapping that eliminates the need for gift tags. This budget-friendly, creative alternative to store-bought paper adds a thoughtful touch to your holiday gifts. Perfect for Christmas, birthdays, and special occasions!