Crafty ideas: Make your own unique gifts
Create these five festive presents with your computer
By Tara Nolan
If you’re hoping to present family and friends with truly unique and memorable gifts this season, make them by hand. All you need are a few craft supplies, some specialty paper, designs from our template gallery and a printer.
Wrap it up with your own creation
Add a personal touch to small gifts, such as a book or CD, by designing your own wrapping paper on the computer. You can use a word-processing program such as Word to lay out your pattern on an 8½” × 11” page.
Repeat a colourful Clip Art illustration all over the page or go for contrast by printing black text or images on silver, gold or Kraft paper.
Step 1: Download giftwrap instructions; then select a paper design:
- Solid red tree pattern
- Black tree outline (good for black and white printer)
- Red-and-white stripe pattern
- Red polka dots on white background
- White polka dots on red background
Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF files.
Step 2: Load the paper into the printer, following your printer’s directions. Make sure your printer is set to minimize the margins so the entire template is printed. Print a test page first if you are using special paper.
Step 3: Trim the edges of the wrapping paper if needed.
Step 4: Wrap your gift.
To design your own paper, open a blank Word document. To insert a Clip Art image, go to Insert > Clip Art. A box will appear along the right-hand side of the page. Enter a key word in the search box to find an image.
Lay out colourful coasters
Place mugs of hot apple cider or holiday martinis on fun and funky coasters featuring holiday-themed Clip Art, family photos or drawings. Or, tie a ribbon around a set of four coasters and bring them as a hostess gift to holiday parties.
Supplies
- photo paper or sturdy cardstock
- scissors
- craft glue (optional)
- self-laminating sheets, found at office supply stores; adhesive vinyl, found at Canadian Tire in the storage section; or Krylon’s Preserve It!, found at craft stores (all optional)
- cork, found at IKEA (optional)
Click here to download our rocking red designs.
Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF files.
Step 1: Load the cardstock into the printer, following the printer’s directions. Print the coaster sheet.
Step 2: Cut out the coasters.
Step 3: Glue each coaster to a piece of cork backing with craft glue.
Step 4: Let the coasters dry; then spray each one with a paper protectant (such as Krylon’s Preserve It!).
To design your own coasters, download our coaster template in Word and follow the instructions on the right-hand side. Print the images in colour, trim around the edges, laminate or coat them to protect from spills, and add a cork bottom.
Gather ingredients in a recipe kit
Layer dry ingredients for a traditional holiday recipe, such as Grandma’s shortbread, in a vibrant box or tin.
Supplies
- sturdy cardstock in the colour of your choice or full-sheet labels
- scissors
- craft glue (optional)
- ribbon (optional)
Step 1: Open our recipe card template in Word. Select View > Print Layout to see the entire template.
Step 2: Delete any tags or labels you do not wish to use. Copy and paste any extra tags or labels if desired.
Step 3: Click on the text boxes to replace the text. Highlight text to adjust the size and colour of the font.
Step 4: Print the tags on the paper product of your choice, following your printer’s directions. Use the best-quality setting to print.
Step 5: Cut out the tags using a sharp utility knife or scissors; then affix the labels/tags to your gifts. Attach simple accessories, such as cookie cutters or a wooden spoon, for a decorative touch.
Liven up wintry windows with stained glass art
Take some vibrant photographs or hand-drawn designs and turn them into fantastic works of art. Frame your images and hang them in the window to catch the sun or sparkling holiday lights.
Supplies
- inkjet transparencies
- tape
- picture frames
Step 1: Download our stained glass instruction sheet. Open the peace template or the dove template or both.
Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF files.
Step 2: Select File > Print. Load a transparency into your printer, following your printer’s directions for printing transparencies. Print.
Step 3: Cut out your image using a sharp utility knife.
Step 4: Insert the trimmed image into a deep photo frame and tape it in place. Do not replace the backing.
You can also print your own “stained glass” image. Just import it into Word and print on transparency paper.
Wine labels and cards
Embellish a bottle of homemade wine, gourmet olive oil or your famous preserves with snappy, personalized labels. Play with colours and fonts to suit the gift and style; then print the text onto sticker paper and loop some ribbon through a small, matching tag.
Supplies
- sturdy cardstock in the colour of your choice or full-sheet labels
- scissors
- tape
- ribbon (optional)
Step 1: Open our festive labels and tags in Word. Select View > Print Layout to see the entire template.
Step 2: Delete any tags or labels you do not wish to use. Copy and paste any extra tags or labels if desired.
Step 3: Click on the text boxes to replace the text. Highlight text to adjust the size and colour of the fonts.
Step 4: Print tags on the paper product of your choice, following your printer’s directions. We recommend full-sheet sticker paper for the wine labels and cardstock for the tags. Print at the best-quality setting.
Step 5: Cut out the tags using a sharp utility knife or scissors; then affix the labels/tags to gifts.
Photography by Shun Sasabuchi. All crafts on this page were created by Julie Stoyka and printed with the HP PHOTOSMART printer. See www.hp.ca for more details.
