Make some fast track wrap

When a preschooler gets his hands on a toy car, his imaginary racetrack has no limits. With some screeching-tires sound effects, the race is on. But this race is far from over. Now say to your driver: “OK! Let’s dip the wheels in paint and make some real tracks for holiday fast track gift-wrap.”

Here’s How:

•Pull out those big paper bags you’ve been saving from the grocery store and cut them open along the sides and base to make flat sheets. Lay two or three pieces down side by side (be sure the unprinted sides are face-up) over some newspaper and smooth with your hands. Or, use a roll of brown packing paper if you prefer.

•Ask your child to dip into his collection of little cars, trucks and even airplanes. Show him how to roll the wheels in some acrylic paint in a holiday color (put a little puddle on a paper plate), give him a practice run on newspaper, then point him toward the paper. Exclaim: “Go ahead! Let it roll!” Choose another car and use a different holiday paint color, and drive it in random patterns over and around the first color. He’ll love this traffic wrap!

•Rinse off the paint from the wheels and vehicles when you finish.

•Meanwhile, teach an older child how to carve a design on a sliced potato to make a stamp for printing more unique wrapping paper.

•Cut a potato in half. On the cut side, carve out everything you don’t want in the design. For beginners, you may want to make an “X” or a square. Dry off any moisture, then dip the stamp in acrylic paint and either print on recycled paper bags as described above, or try stamping on plain, bright tissue paper. For extra fun, mix primary colors to make your own eye-catching hues.