Make animal wrapping paper by decorating plain paper with a few original animal shapes and repeating colors. Test the tools on a scrap, keep the design dry and flat, and let an adult handle wrapping and trimming. Use a separate tag if the picture is too special to fold.
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A small gift can have wrapping paper made by a child rather than a store-bought pattern. The project works best when you begin with the gift’s size and a simple repeated doodle, not an entire roll of paper that needs filling.
Measure before decorating
Place the gift on plain paper and have an adult check how much is needed to cover it. Leave a little extra for folding and fastening. Then remove the gift before the child starts drawing.
For a first attempt, choose a small box or a book-shaped package. An irregular object is harder to wrap and may hide most of the drawing. If the item is awkward, use a plain bag and attach a handmade animal tag instead.
Choose a repeatable original shape
- A bear face: a circle with two smaller ears.
- A fish: an oval with a triangle tail.
- A pretend paw print: one large rounded mark and three smaller marks.
- A bird-like doodle: a simple body, a beak, and two feet.
The shapes can be playful rather than realistic. Draw them from your own ideas instead of copying a published page for gift-wrap production. Let the child decide whether to use the same animal repeatedly or alternate two shapes.
A four-part decorating plan
- Make a small test on an offcut of the same paper.
- Choose two or three colors that show up clearly.
- Place a few large animal doodles across the sheet.
- Add small spaces of color between them, leaving some paper blank.
You do not need to cover every inch. The folds will already change the way the pattern appears. If the child draws one detailed animal in the center, make a note of where you want that picture to sit on the finished package.
Keep the important drawing out of a hidden fold
Hold the dry decorated sheet loosely around the gift and check which areas will be visible. An adult can choose where to fold while the child points to the animal they want on top. If keeping the whole picture intact matters, turn it into a separate card instead of wrapping with it.
Match the medium to the paper
| If you notice | Try |
|---|---|
| The paper wrinkles with wet color | Use dry tools or a different paper. |
| Color rubs onto a test scrap | Let it dry longer or change materials. |
| The drawing is difficult to fold | Use it as a card and decorate a simpler wrap. |
| The child wants to keep the artwork | Make a fresh tag for the gift. |
Finish with a short personal tag
On a separate sturdy scrap, draw one matching animal and write the recipient’s name. A child can dictate a message such as “This bear is bringing your present.” The adult can attach the tag and handle scissors or other fastening materials.
Ask before using a treasured drawing as disposable wrapping. The child’s decision about their own art matters more than completing the gift exactly as planned. A plain package with a small original tag can still feel personal.
Frequently asked questions
Can we decorate brown packing paper?
Yes, if it is clean and suitable for your tools. Test first because the paper’s color and surface will affect how the marks appear.
What if the child wants to keep the wrapping picture?
Keep it. Use plain wrapping paper and make a separate small tag, or draw another simple pattern together.
Choose your next small activity
Explore the Baby Animals paperback
For a separate coloring choice, Wild Little Wonders: Baby Animals is an English paperback for ages 4–8 with 40 baby animals, large coloring pages, and short animal facts. Preview real inside pages and check the book details, then view the paperback on Amazon for current price and delivery. The activities above also work with your own original drawings; no purchase is needed.
Explore Baby Animals
See the actual inside pages before deciding whether the book fits your child.
Check the paperback on Amazon