How to Wrap a Present
A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Gifts Beautiful
Don't be overwhelmed by the task of wrapping a present. It's really quite straightforward if you take it step by step. Start by choosing your paper.
Wrapping Paper
Avoid budget paper because it is thinner and will tear at the corners. If you need a budget option, plain brown parcel paper can look stylish when enhanced with Christmas or birthday stamps or tied with pretty ribbon. Metallic paper is attractive but can be hard to stick shut with tape. It is a good option for wrapping bottles, however (see below).
Measure how much paper you need before you cut it: Place the present on the paper, pull the paper over it until it is completely covered, and then cut about two inches further along the paper, to leave a margin for sticking. For the sides of the present, make sure the margin is more than half the thickness of the present. For example, for a present four inches thick cut the paper two and a half or three inches wider than the parcel on each side. If your gift is an irregular shape consider putting it in a box before wrapping to make the finished gift more attractive.
Place the present face down in the middle of the paper. Prepare a piece of tape and stick it to a non-damageable surface within easy reach. Draw together the two ends of the paper that are furthest apart (the ends rather than the sides) until they fit snugly around the present, and use the piece of tape to stick one on top of the other. Add more pieces of tape for larger gifts.
Prepare two more pieces of tape. Take one side of the parcel and smooth the margin of paper down until it sits flush against the side of the gift. This will leave you with a margin at the bottom and two sloping "walls" at the sides. Fold the walls in until they are also flush with the parcel, and smooth the creases which are left at the bottom. You should now have a triangle or flat-topped triangle at the bottom of the parcel. Fold this up, tucking it over the top of the parcel if it reaches that far, and stick it with the tape. Repeat the process on the other side.
Adding Ribbons to Gift Wrapping
Ribbons can enhance a gift. Start with the gift face up. Wrap the ribbon over the top of the gift then carefully turn it over. Pass the ends by each other then pull one right and the other left so that they are hooked round each other. Turn the parcel over again, bring the ribbons back to the top. Slide both ends under the first line of ribbon, then bring them back together and tie.
To curl the ribbons, leave three or four inches spare after tying. Take a pair of scissors, open them wide and place one blade against end of the ribbon closest to the parcel. Hold the ribbon firmly against the blade with your thumb as you run the scissors along the ribbon to the end. The ribbon should now have curled. Repeat for the other loose ribbon, and tie in other pieces of ribbon if you want, to increase the impact. If the ribbon is thick enough, tear the curled sections lengthways to create a lovely frothy effect.
How to Wrap Bottles
For a dramatic way to wrap bottles, don't go for a shop-bought bottle bag. Instead, cut a piece of paper that it two and a half times as long as the bottle and about four times as wide. Crepe paper or metallic paper is best because of the volume of paper being used. Stand the bottle exactly in the centre and draw up the long sides. Now twist the paper, starting from the bottom, until the sides are completely concealed. Cinch the paper in at the neck and tie with ribbon or, for security, stick a piece of tape right round the neck and then add ribbon. Don't trim the dramatic spikes of paper sticking up above the neck. Curl the ribbon as described above and you should end up with a bottle that looks so good, its recipient won't want to unwrap it!
Stage 1
|
Stage 2
|
Stage 3
|
Stage 4
|
A wrapped present
|
What do you think about this article?
Comments
More in Home & Style
Latest Articles