Potato Stamp Christmas Wrapping Paper and Tags

December 9, 2025

Make your own Christmas wrapping paper with simple potato stamps and a quick spacing guide that keeps the pattern looking intentional.
Kids can stamp while adults handle carving and layout.
Finish with matching gift tags, twine, and optional metallic highlights for a polished look.

Printmaking Supplies Stickers & Washi Tape Paper and Pads

Beginner - Family - 6+ (adult help for carving) -

Estimated Project Cost: Under $25 / Estimated Time: 75 minutes / Christmas

Project At-a-Glance

What you will make: Custom stamped Christmas wrapping paper plus a batch of matching gift tags.

Why it works: A simple spacing guide keeps your pattern looking tidy, and a quick test print helps you dial in the right amount of paint or ink.

Best for: Family crafting, assembly-line style, with enough drying time to wrap without smudges.

What to expect

Space Required: Medium table
Project Category: Printmaking
Project Type:

Block Printing Projects

Topics Covered:

How thick to cut potatoes for clean stamps
Easy spacing guides for repeating patterns
How to load a stamp for crisp prints
Drying cues to prevent smears while wrapping
Matching stamped gift tags and finishing touches
Core Techniques: potato stamping, basic pattern layout, brayer inking, test printing, batch gift tag making
Tools:butter knife or paring knife, cutting board, pencil, ruler, foam plate or tray, brayer (optional), scissors, hole punch (optional)
Safety Notes:
Adult help recommended for carving stamps and using knives

Keep inks and paints away from mouths, wash hands before snacking

Cut on a stable cutting board, keep fingers behind the blade

Materials and Tools

Required

Paper to stamp (kraft paper, brown paper bags cut flat, or a sketch roll)
Potatoes (1–2 medium potatoes makes several stamps)
Paint or ink (acrylic paint works, block printing ink works even better)
Scrap paper for test prints
Cardstock for tags
Twine, ribbon, or string

Optional

Brayer (roller) for smoother ink coverage
Metallic ink or metallic marker for stars and highlights
Washi tape or stickers for quick “ornament” accents
Hole punch for neat tag holes

Substitutions

No kraft paper: use the back of old shipping paper, plain white sketch paper, or flattened paper bags.
No brayer: use a foam brush, makeup sponge, or the flat side of a dish sponge to dab on paint evenly.
No tag cardstock: cut tags from cereal boxes, then glue a nice paper layer on top after stamping.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Cut your wrapping paper to size first, for example 24x36 inches (61x91 cm) for a medium box, then tape the corners down so it stays flat. Lightly pencil two guide lines across the top and left edges, about 2 inches (5 cm) in from the edge, and you should see a faint “L” that helps you keep the first row straight.

Step 2: Slice a potato into a 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick round, pat the cut face dry, then draw a simple shape (tree, star, or circle) about 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm) wide. Carefully cut away the background about 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep so the shape is raised, and you should see a clear “stamp face” that stands proud like a little platform.
Tip: If the potato gets wet as you work, blot again so the stamp does not turn mushy.

Step 3: Put a nickel-sized blob of paint or ink on a foam plate and spread it into a thin patch about 4x6 inches (10x15 cm). Roll or dab until the surface looks evenly coated with a soft sheen, then press the stamp lightly into it, and you should see the raised shape fully covered but not puddling in the carved areas.

Step 4: Make 2–3 test prints on scrap paper, pressing straight down for about 2 seconds with firm, even pressure. If your edges look fuzzy, use less paint and try again, and if they look patchy, add one more light roll or dab of ink, then wait about 2 minutes so the test print stops looking wet and shiny.

Step 5: Stamp your first row along the pencil guide, spacing motifs about 2.5 inches (6 cm) apart by eye or with small pencil dots. Work left to right, re-inking every 1–2 stamps, and you should see the row stay level when you step back and look at it from arm’s length, then let the row dry about 10 minutes before adding a second colour on top.

Step 6: Cut gift tags to about 2x3.5 inches (5x9 cm), stamp one motif centred on each, and let them dry 15–20 minutes until the surface feels dry to a gentle fingertip tap. Punch a hole about 3/8 inch (1 cm) from the top edge, thread twine, and avoid wrapping gifts until the printed paper is fully dry, because trapped damp ink can smudge when you crease the corners.
Tip: A tiny metallic dot or star on each tag makes the whole set look extra finished.