How to Easily Wrap a Present

After months of saving up your money, you go shopping and find the quintessential gift for someone special in your life. Nothing will personalize that gift more than wrapping the gift yourself. With the right materials, you can easily wrap a present to look as special as the gift itself. You can do this by using alternatives to the traditional gift wrap on a tube.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Present
• Gift Bag
• Tissue Paper
• Tape
• Scissors

1. 
    
   gift bags

   Is there anything as simple and elegant as a gift bag? Gift bags come in all shapes, sizes and designs. Pick an appropriate size bag - one not too small nor too big in comparison to your gift. Don't forget to purchase tissue paper to match your gift bag. Wrap your gift in tissue paper and place some tissue paper into the gift bag as filler. Place the wrapped gift into the gift bag. Place more tissue paper into the gift bag, with some of the tissue paper left sticking up out of the bag. The filler tissue paper will protect your gift and makes the gift appear as they it is "floating" in the gift bag.

2. 
    
   tissue paper

   While we are discussing tissue paper, let's not forget that tissue paper may very well be the simplest wrap there is. Reasons I avoid the traditional gift wrap on a roll is because I never seem to be able to measure the wrap correctly, cutting the wrap never seems to go straight and storing the gift wrap can be an inconvenience.
   
   Tissue paper is decorative, comes in different colors and is very pliable to use for wrap. Tissue paper is very forgiving, unlike traditional wrap that creases easily. The thin layers that make up tissue paper make it easy to mold around a gift that may normally be hard to wrap. Storing tissue paper is easier than storing rolls of wrap.
   
   Today's tissue paper comes glittered, polka-dotted and sometimes edged with a special design. Use white tissue paper as a first wrap on a gift and use the special design edged tissue paper on top of the white tissue paper. Using more than one color or texture tissue paper makes wrapping your gift easily elegant.

3. 
    
   cellophane

   Cellophane wrap is a form of transparent wrap and comes in many colors.
   
   Using cellophane is a very easy way to wrap an awkward-sized gift. You can unroll the cellophane, place the gift onto the unrolled cellophane and cut the roll accordingly, making sure to leave plenty of extra cellophane before cut. Once you have cut the roll, gather the cellophane at the top of your gift and twist around the gift. Tape to secure and then tie a ribbon or bow around the gathered part of the cellophane.

4. 
    
   gift boxes

   Gift boxes are also an easy option for your gift-wrapping needs.
   
   Today's gift wrap centers carry a full line of gift boxes. You can acquire the cheaper ones - you know the kind I mean, the ones where the corners fold down easily. But you can also buy the extra strong boxes that are already decorated. Buy some tissue paper and a nice bow to match the box, and wrapping your gift will be as easy as buying the box, putting tissue paper in the box, placing your gift in that box, and tying it all up with the matching bow.

5. 
    
   sunday comics

   Need to wrap a present for a Sports Fan? Baker? Cook? Kid? Instead of throwing away today's newspaper, take the Sports Page, the Food Section Cover or the Sunday Comics and use that for gift wrap. Wanna do this wrap really well? Make sure that Sports Page has a favorite player featured, Food Section Cover contains the cook's favorite food or that those Sunday Comics feature Peanuts.

6. 
    
   dollar store

   Dollar Stores across the country carry quality gift bags, tissue paper and cellophane wrap. Stock up on gift-wrap items the next time you visit a Dollar Store. You will appreciate stocking up on those items and having them on hand for the next time you need to easily wrap a present.

7. 
    
   complimentary gift wrap

   Last but certainly not least is complimentary gift wrapping of your present done at the place where you purchased your gift. Many department stores and specialty shops offer a free gift wrap at the time you buy your gift. You can certainly use this service in lieu of wrapping the gift yourself. Many malls offer free gift wrap or $1.00 gift wrapping done at a location in the mall for the holidays. These gift wrapping centers are usually offered in support of a charity, i.e. for P.A.W.S group of your county, with all proceeds going to that charity.
   
   So feel free to leave your gift with them, and go to the local coffee shop and sip some latte while your gift is being wrapped.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to stock up on birthday, anniversary and Chrirstmas cards at your favorite Dollar Store. Many offer cards at 2 for $1 prices.
• Remember that newspaper print contains ink and the ink can rub off the paper. If you are wrapping anything light-colored or extremely special, you may wish to wrap your gift into tissue paper first and then use the newprint.
• Cellophane wrap comes on rolls, but you can buy precut versions of this wrap. The rolls are not thick and are easier to store than traditional gift wrap on the roll.
• I try to not put tags on my gift bags nor gift boxes. That way they can be used by the gift receiver another time for someone else's gift. Or I put a string gift tag on the item, for easy removal.

[walker7]

on 11/10/2009 Great information...thanks!

[MariM]

on 3/2/2009 I love wrapping in comics. Good tips here.5*recmd

[Sidhartha]

on 11/14/2008 I never thought about step five thats a great idea

[mil102]

on 11/13/2008 You have put it as simple as you know how. But the one I like the most is the gift bag. Buy your tissues and wrap the gift and stick it in the bag. Simple! Good Advice! 5*s
http://www.milsopportunity4successbusinessideas.blogspot.com/

[PABechko]

on 11/12/2008 Great tips.