Now that our children and grandchildren are older, we tend to give fewer gifts during the holidays. I try to choose or make gifts that are meaningful and lasting. Hand-stamped gift wrap and matching tissue paper is a sure way to signal that you've put time and love into that extra-special gift.

    Plain white or colored paper

    Tissue paper

    Craft foam

    Craft knives and scissors

    Colored stamp pads

    Glue

    Holiday templates

In Asia, gift-giving is a serious business. This beautiful box of tea was a gift from a Chinese customer, and I will cherish it long after the tea is gone. 

I've always been inspired by the quality and beauty Asian gift-wrapping. This year, I'd like to wrap some of our gifts in original works of art.

1 - Using craft foam, glue and stamp-pad inks on plain or colored paper, you can create your own special gift wrap. Internet has loads of holiday templates that will make great wrapping paper patterns. Get the kids involved with this project...they'll have fun and their gift recipients will love the handmade touch. 

2 - Carefully cut and remove the details on the image that won't print, such as the little slice of light reflection on the bulb stamp and the lines on the bulb socket stamp. Glue the foam design to a larger piece of craft foam.

3 - Test your stamps on a piece of scrap paper first. TIP: don't forget to wash and dry your stamps before you change ink colors!

4 - To make the Lights design, roll out the plain white paper and line it up on a craft mat with grid lines. Use a black felt pen to draw the design for the cords, then use black ink to stamp the light sockets along the lines. The gold and silver lights give the paper an elegant look. Repeat the process on a piece of white tissue paper.

5 - Try stamping a pattern on a plain white shirt box to make a box you never have to wrap again. To stamp around the edges, support the edge of the box from underneath with one hand and carefully roll the stamp from top to bottom with the other hand.

6 - Or, start with a roll of plain colored wrapping paper and stamp a pattern with contrasting ink colors. You can even use the stamps to decorate your mailing boxes.

7 - Stamp a white cardboard takeaway container and make matching tissue paper for a small gift. TIP: Is your paper or container coated? If it has a sheen to it, it probably is. Coated paper smears easily, so test your stamp and ink on a scrap of paper or the bottom of the container first. Then stamp carefully and let the ink dry thoroughly before moving to the next step.

8 - Use your stamps to make matching gift tags.

9 - My holiday lights are always getting in a tangle, so I used craft tape to weave a random pattern of ribbon around the box, then topped it with a spring of evergreen.

10 - A candy cane hangs on the tip of the whimsical tree tag and brings some brightness to the rich colors on this gift box.

11 - The primitive look of the stamps against the white shirt box reminds me of tie-dye. A candy cane sweetens the deal.

12 - Good things come in small packages. You can be sure that this brightly patterned takeout container will draw many curious glances as it sits under the tree.

13 - Decorated with original artwork, these gifts are sure to bring exclamations of surprise and delight from their recipients. Who knows? One of these pretty boxes might even show up again under my tree next year, addressed to me!