Stenciled Gift Wrap

If you're a regular reader of Hello, New Day then you know by now that I love stencils and stenciling projects.  My latest stenciling project is this cute and colorful gift wrap that I created this week using the small Hollywood Squares Stencil from Royal Design Studios:

When I was at the Snap! Conference in April I received this free stencil from Royal Design Studios. 

I hadn't heard of them before, but once I started looking through their catalog, and after taking a hands-on class at Snap! from the company's president and creative director herself, Melanie Royals, I was hooked.  

They have an awesome collection of beautiful stencils and so many inspiring projects on their website.  There are also some fantastic resources on their website for learning how to stencil and learning different techniques.  

This gift wrap was easy to make and would be a fun project for the kids too!  The color possibilities are endless and the cost minimal.  I started with some packing paper that I had on hand.  Whenever I go to Tai Pan Trading here in Utah (a home decor store), I seem to bring home sheets and sheets of this paper.  They use it to wrap fragile items that you buy, and I've always hated just throwing it away.  Some time ago, I decided to start keeping it, thinking I could use it for packing paper myself someday or for shipping items.

Since the paper was wrinkled, I ironed it.  I didn't even know you could iron paper, but you can!  I set my iron to high and ironed directly on the paper.  I read that you should put a cloth or pillowcase over the paper before ironing, but for me it worked better without the cloth.

Before ironing:

  

After ironing:

Then I simply placed the stencil on the paper and taped it in a couple of places to hold it in place.

I wanted to use orange and pink for my gift wrap, but I didn't have any craft paint in the right colors, so I used my stamping ink and applied it with sponge wedges.  I used Stampin' Up's Classic Ink in Only Orange and Pink Passion (I know the supplies photo above shows Positively Pink, but I changed my mind after I took that photo and switched to Pink Passion).

To apply the ink, I just dabbed and rubbed the ink right on the paper over the stencil.

It took me an hour to stencil the whole paper (which measures 24" x 34"), and cleanup was a cinch.  The ink literally washed off under running water in the kitchen sink.  

I loved doing this project and I can't wait to give my sister her birthday gift that I wrapped in this colorful, fun gift wrap!

I love the pattern and color combination so much that I think I'll stencil a canvas tablecloth in this design that I can use outside for summer dining.  Or maybe a beach tote.  Or maybe both.  It's just too cute!

You can find the Hollywood Squares stencil that I used at Royal Design Studio by clicking here.  Thank you so much for stopping by!

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