Remember singing the spirited holiday song “Deck the Halls”? Did you ever wonder what exactly it meant? “Deck” originates from the 15c Middle Dutch word “dekken” which means “to cover.” Over time it has evolved into the more festive “adorn” or “decorate” that we think of today. We say, why not both cover and adorn with some DIY holiday wall art?
The holiday season is full of creative ways to add warmth and seasonal cheer to your home or office. The sheer presence of shiny lights and brightly colored packages encourages the spirit of giving and mirth. So for this DIY holiday art project, it’s time to capture and frame the essence of presents!
Follow the instructions below to design wall art that looks like Christmas gifts:
- Gather Materials – Taking stock of your Christmas supplies, you realize that there are a bunch of little pieces that probably can’t be recycled for gifts this year. Leftover wrapping paper. Broken ribbons. Well, good news! This project can utilize both and turn them into something beautiful. You will need:
- Various wrapping paper prints, ribbons, bows, tags, etc.
- 4-6 flat board canvases (sizes do not need to match)
- Glue, tape, or stapler
- Frames to fit the canvases
- Choose Paper and Bows – The most exciting part of wrapping gifts is choosing wrapping paper, bows, and tags. It’s no different with this gift-inspired DIY wall art project. Go crazy and have fun! Mismatched, bright prints will catch the eye and warm the heart! Don’t forget to keep in mind where you will be hanging the final pieces. You may opt for a more limited color palette depending on the color tones already in the space.
- That’s a Wrap! – Now that you’ve collected the necessary components and chosen your wrapping paper designs, it’s time to get down to business!
Wrap each canvas with wrapping paper. Just think of it as warming up for the real thing; the only difference is that the wrapping paper needs to only extend an inch or so onto the back of the canvas. Use glue, tape, or staples to adhere the edge of the wrapping paper on the back side. We recommend tape; it’s a tried and true method, after all! Tape also allows the wrapping paper to be removed and reused without tearing, as well as leaving the canvases intact and unaffected.
- Matching Frames – For the best effect, we recommend matching black or white frames. You can measure your canvases or take them into Frame Warehouse to get sizing help from a store representative.
- Finishing Touches – No present is complete without a bow or ribbon and a tag! In this case, your bow or ribbon will go on the outside of the frame, thus creating a more 3-dimensional gift. Of course, you can add a fancy tag with a name hanging off of the frame, too! Let your imagination dream up inventive gift-themed additions!
While this DIY art project has a definite holiday-theme, it can also be utilized for a year-round decoration. Simply use scrap book paper instead of wrapping paper and leave off the bows! Of course, you will still need frames to really set and striking opposition to the wall. Take a trip to Frame Warehouse to find quality frames to fit your project needs!
