How Do I Wrap Gifts?

Gifts wrapped in brightly colored paper inspire smiles in any recipient.

Birthdays, holidays and special occasions often involve giving a gift, and while what's inside the box or bag is what makes the gift receiver smile, a good wrapping job can be cherished as well. Whether it's a simple bow on top, custom-made wrapping paper or even wrapping the present in another present like dish towels or a t-shirt, a uniquely wrapped present can help make the gift inside extra special.

Paper and Bow

One of the easiest ways to wrap a gift is with wrapping paper and a stick-on bow or a simple ribbon. When using patterned paper, accent it with a simple bow that enhances the color rather than matches it. For instance, when using red and green Christmas paper to wrap a gift, consider using a gold bow, which will tie into the Christmas theme without adding to the red and green. For solidly colored wrapping paper, use a differently colored bow and ribbon. Enhance the present by adding more than one ribbon or bow in different colors.

Custom Paper

Instead of spending money on expensive wrapping paper, make your own custom wrapping paper from found objects. Newspaper funny pages, a map, old wallpaper, the inside of an old potato chip bag and a brown paper bag can all be used as free alternative wrapping paper. To custom-make decorative wrapping paper, buy plain paper, a stamp and some ink. Place a large sheet of paper flat on a hard service and stamp the design onto the paper evenly.

Fabric Paper

Wrapping presents in fabric is an interesting way to wrap a gift within a gift. For example, wrapping a t-shirt in a t-shirt is a fun gift for any teenage boy. Other ideas include wrapping kitchen supplies in a dish towel or bathroom soaps in a face cloth. A very easy yet creative fabric wrap is to place a small gift in a fabric jewelry pouch

Bags

Sometimes the easiest way to wrap a present is to simply put it in a gift bag. There are many options out there for the gift bag, including those in plain colors or decorated with patterns to help celebrate a holiday. Keep in mind that throwing the present into the bag and stuffing tissue paper on top might not be the best presentation. Instead, consider pairing a brightly colored bag with differently colored, but still bright, tissue paper. Instead of stuffing the paper in the bag, try fluffing the paper up so that a few edges of paper stick out of the top of the bag.

References

• "Real Simple": How to Wrap a Gift
• Martha Stewart: Punched Snowflake and Tree Gift Wrap
• "Good Housekeeping"; 7 Gift-Wrapping Tips & Tricks; Margaret Bristol