As a child I loved wrapping gifts—sometimes I even wrapped my own presents. My mother would pre-wrap mine in plain paper so I couldn’t peek, and I would wrap over it. That early habit turned into a lifelong love of creative gift presentation. Each year I enjoy dreaming up special ways to wrap gifts, from hand-painted paper to custom toppers. This season I’m experimenting with DIY fabric gift wrap that you can personalize for each recipient.
I teamed up with Martha Stewart and Plaid Crafts to develop simple, stylish fabric-wrapping ideas that even beginners can pull off.
Fabric is an unexpected and sustainable alternative to paper, and stenciled fabrics make a polished, personal presentation. One great advantage: a larger piece of fabric can double as part of the gift itself—for example, a tea towel for someone who loves to cook, or a handkerchief-style cloth for a friend with an eye for fashion.
The patterns shown here are made using Martha Stewart stencils, which makes customization easy. With over 100 stencil designs available, you can choose motifs that reflect the recipient’s interests or even hint at what’s inside the package. The adhesive-backed stencils stick to fabric so you get clean lines and repeatable patterns that are simple to create.
Materials to Create Fabric Gift Wrap
- Martha Stewart stencils
- Martha Stewart foam pouncers or daubers
- Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic paint
- Fabric drawstring bags or scrap fabric
How to Create Fabric Gift Wrap
1. The adhesive stencils are very user-friendly: peel the stencil from its backing and press it onto the fabric. Make sure to press down along the edges so the stencil adheres firmly and paint won’t bleed underneath.
2. Pour a small amount of paint onto a paper plate or palette. I used Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic in a rich shade; this paint works well on fabric as well as wood and glass. Load your foam pouncer, dauber, or stencil brush lightly—too much paint will seep under the stencil and blur the edges. Dab off excess paint on the plate, then gently pounce or tap the paint over the stencil in thin layers. If needed, apply a second thin coat for fuller coverage.
3. While the paint is still wet, carefully peel the stencil away to reveal a crisp design.
4. If you want a repeating pattern, reposition and repeat the process. Clean the stencil with soap and water while the paint is wet so it’s ready for storage and the adhesive backing can be reattached.
Once the painted fabric is fully dry, use it to wrap gifts of various shapes and sizes. Drawstring bags work especially well for small items and irregular shapes, while larger fabric pieces are perfect for boxes. Finish the look with natural accents like evergreen sprigs, small ornaments, twine, or a handmade gift tag for a thoughtful final touch.
You can find Martha Stewart products exclusively at Michaels.
Are you a gift-wrapping fanatic like me, or do you prefer to leave wrapping to someone else? Share your approach and favorite wrapping tips in the comments.
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I partnered with the Martha Stewart team and Plaid Crafts for this post. All opinions and experiences expressed here are my own.