How to Professionally Wrap a Present

Beautiful packages tied up with bows or ribbons can be something that you can give to someone without the aid of the department store gift wrapping department. Your days of blaming the children for the mismatched, tape-mangled packages that raises the eyebrows of recipients are over. Now you can give fabulously wrapped presents that takes just a little longer to wrap. Rather than raised eyebrows, you will be showered with compliments on how "pretty" your packages are.

Things You'll Need

• Scotch tape
• Scissors
• Wrapping paper
• Ribbon or bow (optional)

Instructions

1. 

   Find a hard surface that you can easily wrap your gift on. Gather your wrapping paper, scissors, tape and gift.If your gift is in a box, it makes wrapping much easier.

2. 

   Unroll your wrapping paper and lay your gift upside down on the paper. Take the edge of the paper and bring it up to the top edge of your gift box.

3. 

   Bring the roll of paper up against the opposite side of you gift box and measure where the paper would come to the top edge of your gift box. Cut the paper off of the roll at that mark.

4. 

   Next, bring one side of the wrapping paper over the package.

5. 

   Bring the other side of the wrapping paper over the gift box. Fold the paper where the middle of the gift box is and place a piece of tape there to secure the wrapping paper.

6. 

   On one side of the gift, fold the wrapping paper down so that it is tight against the side of the box. You will have two corner "walls" on each side.

7. 

   Fold the corner "walls" in so that you now have a v-shape of wrapping paper on the bottom.

8. 

   Fold the v-shape section of wrapping so that the fold is in the middle of the side of your package. Place a piece of tape at both ends to secure the paper. If the paper sticks out at all in the middle, place a small piece of tape there as well.

9. Repeat Steps 6 through 8 for the other side of your gift.

10. Now flip your gift over so that the seam is on the bottom. Add a ribbon, bow, or gift card (or all of the above). Voila! You now have the perfect gift wrap for your perfect gift!

Tips & Warnings

• When you fold the edges of the wrapping paper, try to make the folds as straight as you can. This provides a crisp and clean look for the package.

• Try not to go overboard on the tape. Try to make a little go a long way. After all, remember how frustrating it is trying to open presents where the ribbon is tied to tight and the there is so much tape you are not sure you will ever get the package opened!

• When adding bows and ribbons, consider who your recipient is. Mom may appreciate the beauty in a large bow but Dad may find it just a bit too frivolous.