Materials
Large 1"-thick sponge
scissors
shallow containers such as jar lids or Styrofoam trays
poster paint
paper bags
tissue or easel paper
raffia or stick-on bows
Instructions
1. Draw simple shapes such as circles, triangles, and squares on the dry sponge
and cut them out.
2. Pour paint into the shallow containers.
3. Wet the sponge shapes and squeeze out most of the water.
4. Demonstrate how to dip the shapes into the paint and press them onto one
side of an unopened paper bag. Stamp one side of the bag at a time. Do not
paint the other side until the bag dries.
5. When dry on both sides, open the bags. If desired, let the children use pens
to embellish the shapes after the paint dries.
6. Encourage the children to wrap presents in tissue or easel paper and place
them into the bags.
7. Tie the bags with raffia or staple the tops closed and stick bows on them.
8. If desired, make cards to match the bags. Cut out small rectangles and fold
them in half. Print one shape on the outside and write the names on the inside.
9. Let the sponges dry and save them for re-use.
Tip: Instead of paper bags, use the sponges to stamp butcher or brown craft paper.
