Create your own potato stamp wrapping paper with these 3 delightful designs — quilt-block, diamond, and star prints — perfect for giving your gifts a handmade touch!

This page contains affiliate links, which earn me a little bit of commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my little corner of the internet!

Everyone has those childhood memories that stay bright in your mind, no matter how many years have passed.

For me, one of those memories is sitting around the kitchen table, bits of potato scattered everywhere, my mum carving little shapes into them while we watched in awe.

She made a holly leaf, an orange slice, and a tiny Christmas tree.

Then she set out pots of paint — bright reds, deep greens, and a shimmery gold — and we stamped to our hearts’ content, covering every inch of paper.

The smell of poster paint, the sound of laughter, the satisfying thunk of potato meeting paper — it’s one of those activities that has never left me.

Three gift boxes wrapped in brown potato stamp wrapping paper with various patterns and ribbons are arranged on a wooden surface; one has a green-striped bow, another a spool of blue ribbon, and others have red and blue ribbon accents.

And all these years later, I’ve found myself doing it again. Except now, I’m the one cutting the potatoes. And my kids are the ones making glorious messes all over the kitchen table.

But potato stamping doesn’t have to end in childhood — it’s still just as fun, only now it comes with the joy of creating something beautiful and personal to give to someone you love.

So that’s why I’m showing you three ways I love to create potato stamp wrapping paper, so you can create some of that magic for yourself.

Watch the Video Tutorial

Sometimes you just need to see the process, so here’s a little video tutorial showing you how to make your potato stamp wrapping paper!

Here’s Why You’ll Love Making Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper

If you’ve ever tried wrapping 25 Christmas gifts in beautiful Italian paper, you’ll know — it adds up fast!

Making your own wrapping paper is a lovely way to keep things manageable and meaningful. But that’s not the only reason I love it.

Potato stamp wrapping paper is:

Sustainable: Try using recycled packing paper, brown paper, or even old maps and sheet music.
Personal: You can create any shapes or colour palette you like to suit the recipient.
Joyful: It’s impossible not to smile when you’re potato stamping — trust me!

Two sheets of brown kraft potato stamp wrapping paper—one with blue stars, the other with checkerboard squares—lie on a carpeted floor next to a woven rug.

Ink or Paint: Which Works Best for Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper?

When I first revisited this craft, I couldn’t decide whether to use ink pads or paint. So I tried both — and discovered each has its upsides.

Here’s what I found:

Paint gives you endless colour options (I couldn’t find a pale blue ink I liked, so I just mixed my own paint)
Paint is also cheaper — especially handy when you’re doing big sheets
Ink gives a cleaner, more precise print — ideal if you want a neater, minimalist look
Paint is less effort for large areas. Ink stamping looks crisp, but your arm will ache after a few big rolls of paper!

Here’s a quick comparison of paint (left) vs ink (right):

A sheet of brown potato stamp wrapping paper displays star patterns in blue, green, and navy. Nearby are a blue VersaCraft ink pad, two potato stamps, and vintage-style scissors on a wooden surface.

Which is the Best Ink or Paint to use?

My favourite ink: Tsukineko VersaColor (for paper) and VersaCraft (for fabric and wood)

My favourite paint: Use washable poster paint if you’re doing this with kids, otherwise, use acrylic paint for bright and long-lasting colour

A stamp pad, potato stamps with blue ink, scissors, and kraft paper decorated with blue star patterns on a wooden table.

BONUS: How to Make Stamp Wrapping Paper Without the Potatoes

If you’re out of potatoes, or you just want your stamp wrapping paper to look a little more professional, you can try using rubber stamps instead.

I’ve listed some of my favourite places to buy stamps below.

In my experience the best ink is Tsukineko VersaColor (just for paper) or VersaCraft (can be used on fabric and wood too).

SHOP THE PROJECT

My Favourite Places to Buy Stamps

Shop the supplies I love for making stamp wrapping paper

Three rubber stamps—two of ships and one of waves—are placed over a drawing of swirling blue waves and clouds, with stamped ship and wave images blending into the illustrated scene, reminiscent of potato stamp wrapping paper designs.

noolibird stamps

A wooden stamp with a purple rubber design of a bugle, perfect for creating unique stamp wrapping paper, placed on a light background.

sostrene grene stamps

tsukineko versacolor ink

How to Make Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper

SUPPLIES

A few potatoes
Craft knife or any sharp knife
Ink pads or paint in the colours of your choice
A tray or paper plate to mix paint
Sponge or paintbrush
A roll of paper
Pencil and ruler (optional, for marking lines)
Cloth or kitchen paper

Step 1: Cut Your stamp

Cut your potatoes in half. Cut the shape of your chosen design into the top of the potato, and then slice into each side about a 1cm (1/2″) down to remove the bits you don’t need.

Here are instructions for the three different designs I did.

Brown paper sheets decorated with geometric patterns: red diamonds with yellow dots, white star shapes, and a white zigzag with yellow stars—perfect for DIY potato stamp wrapping paper—are displayed on a wooden surface.

1. Quilt Block Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper

You’ll need two different stamps. Start by cutting two 3cm (1 ⅛”) squares. Leave one as a square, then cut the other diagonally into a triangle shape.

You can use these two stamps to create all kinds of quilt designs!

I find these look best if you leave a tiny little gap between each shape so it actually looks like patchwork.

A person creates potato stamp wrapping paper, using white paint to print star shapes on brown kraft paper. A paintbrush and a bowl of paint sit nearby on a wooden surface.

Three sheets of brown potato stamp wrapping paper display stamped geometric patterns: white stars, red zigzags, and black pinwheel shapes. Two carved potato stamps with paint rest on the patterned sheets.

2. Harlequin Diamond Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper

This one is as simple as cutting a diamond in the size you’d like!

Before stamping, it helps to draw a faint pencil line to guide where your stamps will go, otherwise it can have a tendency to go a bit wonky. Align the top and bottom points of your diamond along the line as you go.

A person holds a potato stamp and an ink pad above brown potato stamp wrapping paper adorned with a red diamond pattern. Scissors, ink pads, and potato pieces are scattered on the wooden table.

On one of my designs I also used a small round sponge to add dots between each diamond.

Two wrapped gifts with patterned paper—one with red diamonds and blue ribbon, the other with blue triangles and green ribbon—rest on star-patterned brown potato stamp wrapping paper.

3. Star Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper

Cut small triangles all around the edge of the potato to create a star shape.

If you want it to be very even, you can press a cookie cutter into the potato first, but honestly I prefer the perfectly imperfect look of a hand-cut star.

Step 3: Start Stamping

Before stamping, dab with a cloth or kitchen paper to remove some of the moisture. This makes your stamp less slippery and gives you a sharper print.

A person wipes a potato stamp, using a paper towel over brown kraft paper on a wooden surface.

Unroll your paper on a flat surface, ready to print.

If you’re using ink, press the potato onto the pad and stamp straight onto the paper.

If you’re using paint, brush a thin layer onto the surface with a sponge or paintbrush, before pressing onto the paper.

It’s a good idea to test your potato stamps on a scrap first.

Let each section dry before rolling or cutting the paper, and then admire your handiwork!

You can also try making a matching gift tag with your stamps.

A green and white striped fabric bow sits on stamp wrapping paper, featuring red diamond shapes on the left and blue pinwheel designs on the right.

Wrapping It Up (Pun-Intended!)

If you make your own potato stamp wrapping paper, I’d love to see it! Tag me @aboderie so I can cheer you on. 🤍

And if you’re thinking about Christmas wrapping paper, you’ll love these:

How to Wrap Gifts with Fabric (Furoshiki-Style)
How to Make Fabric Bows (Easy Tutorial!)

(Because once you start wrapping with homemade wrapping paper, you might just never go back!)

Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper

Create your own potato stamp wrapping paper with three delightful designs — quilt-block, diamond, and star prints. This easy, nostalgic craft is perfect for making your gifts feel handmade, personal, and beautifully sustainable.

Active Time30

Yield: 1 wrapping paper

Cost: $2

Equipment

Craft knife
Tray or plate for mixing paint
Sponge or paintbrush
Pencil (for marking lines, optional)
Ruler (for marking lines, optional)

Materials

3 large potatoes
Ink pads or paint in the colours of your choice
Roll of recycled, kraft, or brown parcel paper
Cloth or kitchen paper

Instructions

Cut your potato in half and carve your chosen design into the flat surface of the potato.
Cut around the edges about 1 cm deep, removing the excess pieces so the design stands raised.
If using paint, brush or sponge a thin, even layer onto the potato. If using ink, press the potato lightly onto the pad until covered.
Do a quick test print on scrap paper. Press firmly and lift straight up each time. Repeat in your chosen pattern, reapplying paint or ink as needed.
Leave the paper to dry completely before rolling or cutting. Then wrap your gifts and admire your handmade creation!

Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper (3 Delightful Designs You’ll Want to Try!)

Watch the Video Tutorial

Here’s Why You’ll Love Making Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper