How to Shrink Wrap a Present

Want to add that "something extra" to your next gift? Shrink wrapping a basket or gift gives it a more professional and finished look -- you'll be amazed how easy it is!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shrink Wrap (usually comes on a roll like wrapping paper)
• Hair Dryer
• Curling Ribbon
• Sharp Scissors

1. Unroll the shrink wrap onto a table and place your gift in the middle. Measure a length of shrink wrap (similar to what you would do for wrapping paper) and make sure you leave enough extra to gather together at the top and add a ribbon. See the picture for the finished product.

2. Shrink wrap is usually folded in half lengthwise before being place on the roll. Once you have your cut section of wrap, unfold it, then lay your gift in the center of the fold. This ensures it is centered from front-to-back. Lift up on the far edges of the wrap to ensure that it is centered from left-to- right. Now it's time to gather the wrap up and around the gift.

3. Begin on one side, let's say the right side. Bring the right edge of the wrap up and over the gift and hold it up with your left hand. With your right hand, gather the extra wrap on the right side, small sections at a time, to meet the wrap gathered and being held at the top with your left hand. Soon you will have half the gift surrounded by shrink wrap. Then with your left hand, bring the left edge of the wrap up to meet the already gathered wrap at the top. Complete the gathering of the wrap, section by section, with your left hand bringing the wrap up to meet what's being held by your right hand. When you have all the wrap surrounding the gift, squeeze the wrap tight and tie it with a section of curling ribbon. Tie the ribbon tightly in a bow, then adjust the bow and trim it so that it is easily untied by the recipient but not visible under the ribbon/bow that you will likely add.

4. Now that the gift is covered in shrink wrap, hold tight to the "neck" where you've tied the curling ribbon and pull up on the top of the wrap to smooth and tighten the wrap down and around the gift. Still holding tight to the neck, trim the top of the wrap using very sharp scissors -- you'll want to leave 3-4 inches above the curling ribbon. Fluff this section out after you've trimmed it. Grab onto the neck and pull up tightly, and begin to use your hair dryer to shrink the wrap. The hair dryer must be on the HIGH setting, and you will want to begin at the bottom and continually rotate the gift to go all the way around the bottom before you begin to move up towards the neck. Use this slow, rotating process and you will avoid over-shrinking in any one section. Continue to shrink until the package is secure or until it has the desired effect.

Tips & Warnings

• I like to go slowly and pause every few seconds to let the shrink "freeze" in place. It can always be unfrozen and shrunk some more, but going slowly lets you evaluate your progress and avoid over-shrinking.
• Be aware of the items you have in your gift. Sharp-edged objects can poke through the shrink wrap if you aren't careful. This could cause you to have to begin again with a new cutting of wrap.
• Be aware of chocolate items in your gift. If you train the hair dryer on one section for too long, it is possible to begin to melt the chocolate, so use care in those sections.