How to Disguise Presents and Gifts

If you want to keep your kids' presents a surprise, learn some basic techniques for disguising presents and gifts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Marker
• Tape
• Wrapping paper
• Newspaper
• Heavy things
• Things that make noise when you shake them

1. Put the present in a larger box. This is the simplest way to disguise a present. Wrap the present as you normally would, put it in the center of the larger box, and tape it in place. Wrap the larger box, and no one will know the real size until the box is opened.

2. Create a false bottom. A technique that works best with flat, thin gifts like video games, CDs, and DVDs, start by wrapping the gift and taping it to the bottom of a larger box. Cut out a piece of cardboard the same size as the bottom of the larger box, and place it inside. Tape it in place. To hide the cut out edges, take some newspaper or wrapping paper, and tape it to the inside of the larger box until it's completely covered. Wrap and place a less-desired present inside. Wrap the larger box.

3. Rattling sounds coming from a present can instantly give it away (Legos, for example), or can serve to confuse someone even more. Add things like nuts, bolts, or anything that makes a lot of sound when shaken.

4. Change the weight. If the weight or position of weight in a package would give it away, place rocks or heavier small presents throughout the box so it becomes impossible to know what the present is.

5. Add protrusions, angles, and indents to the present. Cut out rectangles and squares and tape them to the package. Add an indent by cutting a hole out of the middle of a piece of cardboard. When covered in wrapping paper, the indent is seen and felt, which eliminates a lot of possible presents. Combined with protrusions and angles, it will become impossible to guess by look and feel alone.

6. Combine some or all or some of the above to create the ultimate in unguessable presents.

Tips & Warnings

• If you only want to be partially evil, don't disguise all the presents.
• For a selection of gift wrapping supplies from Amazon, check the resources below.
• Overdoing the disguise of a single present may cause your kids to question whether any present isn't disguised, making them give up on guessing, resulting in a very sad time :-(

Resources

• Amazon -- Gift Wrapping Supplies

[jenng]

on 4/22/2009 Great ideas on how to disguise gifts 5*

[tachic]

on 4/16/2009 fun to disguise gifts.

[sonni57]

on 3/27/2009 Good article fun to read I love disguising presents.

[bethandlee]

on 3/24/2009 You've got to be tricky with kids being so smart these days! Thanks for the great tips on wrapping to disguise. 5*

[emuman1]

on 3/18/2009 This will come in handy. Thanks!