How to Wrap Gifts Perfectly

Have you completed your shopping – but now have no idea where to begin with the wrapping? Well look no further – we have you covered! No matter how big, how small or awkwardly shaped your gifts are – there will be a technique here for you to perfectly wrap your presents.

Gift wrap can be fun, (we promise!) we will take you step-by-step through a variety of shaped gifts to try and help provide solutions.

There will be tips and tricks along the way to make things easier for you and provide you with the confidence to get creative. In addition to the standard materials list – we will later provide useful suggestions for alternative gift wrap solutions.

So let’s grab a cuppa, gather our materials, put some festive tunes on – and get wrapping!

You will need:

• PAPER: We are mainly using thicker kraft style papers here in a variety of bright colours. Thicker papers are useful for folding, pleating and creating crisp, clean wrapping lines. Thinner papers – as we use in our round gift later – are useful for moulding around awkwardly shaped gifts. TIP: When cutting papers – use the roll as a guide to help you keep a straight line! Or some wrapping papers have printed lines to cut along.
• SCISSORS: If your scissors are sharp – you can try gently sliding your scissors along through the paper, which also helps to keep your cutting line straight. This can be particularly effective with thicker wrapping paper. Be careful trying this on thinner paper in case it tears. Why not test this trick on a small piece?
• TAPE: We are using standard sticky tape, but any tape you have can work! Washi, brown, even masking!

Allow yourself plenty of space to wrap your gift, ideally on a smooth flat surface.

How To Wrap A Present In A Box

You will need: Wrapping paper, tape, scissors.

• Step 1: Gather your materials and lay your box shaped present down flat on your open roll of wrapping paper.
• Step 2: Gently pull the paper around your present to ensure there is enough paper to completely go around your gift. Allow slight extra paper for the edges to have some overlap.
• Step 3: Trim your paper along the length of the roll using sharp scissors.
• Step 4: On one of the edges – fold inwards by 1 or 2 cm and crease until smooth. We will keep this edge on top when we overlap in the wrapping, making a neater finish.
• Step 5: Pull your paper up around the side of your gift to measure there will be enough wrapping. You will need to make sure the paper goes over halfway on each side to overlap.
• Step 6: Trim your paper accordingly. Make sure to keep any spare paper for other smaller gifts!
• Step 7: Pull your paper around your gift, and crease along the box edges – this will help when wrapping to keep things nice and crisp.
• Step 8: Fold both sides of your paper around your gift – with the folded and creased edge on top.
• Step 9: Secure with a small piece of tape. Make sure to use scissors to cut the tape for a neat finish.
• Step 10: Now move on to the open present sides. Push the paper gently inwards from left, and right – and crease at both the top and bottom edges as far as you can. Use the box to help crease the paper into position.
• Step 11: Fold the top flap downwards.
• Step 12: Fold the bottom flap inwards slightly by around 1cm. This will allow for a smooth and neat finish to your wrapping.
• Step 13: Bring the bottom flap upwards so the wrapped sides now overlap.
• Step 14: Secure everything into position with a small piece of tape, before repeating steps 10-14 on the other side.

And your wrapping is done! You could now add a tag or decorations if desired.

How To Wrap A Cylinder Present

Thicker kraft style wrapping papers help to create neat, crisp folds in this simple but effective technique.

You will need: Wrapping paper, tape, scissors, and ribbon(s) optional.

• Step 1: Gather your materials and lay your cylinder shaped present down flat on your open roll of wrapping paper.
• Step 2: Gently roll your cylinder into the wrapping roll and pull the paper up around your present. Ensure there is enough paper to completely go around your gift – allowing slight extra paper for the edges to have some overlap.
• Step 3: Trim your paper as required along the length of the roll using sharp scissors.
• Step 4: Gently fold the paper up the flat sides of your cylinder to measure. You will need to ensure that the paper goes to just under halfway of your flat circle edges. It is important you don’t have more than this otherwise when we are folding, if any more than this you can end up with quite a crumpled centre point!
• Step 5: Trim your paper accordingly. Make sure to keep any spare paper for other smaller gifts!
• Step 6: On one of the shorter edges – fold inwards by 1 or 2 cm and crease until smooth. We will keep this edge on top when we overlap in the wrapping, making a neater finish.
• Step 7: Gentle roll your paper up around your gift – with the folded and creased edge on top before securing with a small piece of tape. Make sure to use scissors to cut the tape for a neat finish.
• Step 8: Take one of the open sides of your gift wrap and gently push downwards towards the centre of your flat circle sides.
• Step 9: Continue to fold your paper inwards at repeating small incremental points creating small pleats. In the example, I have pushed the paper towards the centre every 2-3cm but this will of course depend on the size of your cylinder.
• Step 10: Continue to work your way around the circle edge – pushing the paper gently inwards, folding and pressing to create a pleated circle effect.
• Step 11: As you near the end of the circle, you may notice a small gap at the centre of your wrapping – but this is important, as if there was extra paper – it makes it quite difficult for the folding stages! Don’t worry, we will conceal this in the final steps.
• Step 12: Once completely folded, secure into position with a small piece of tape before repeating steps 8-12 on the other side.
• Step 13: To conceal any small gap in the wrapping and the tape – a small bow could be placed on top, or you could wrap the gift with a suitably wide ribbon for extra decorative effect. Or – you could use a contrasting strip of coloured paper instead of ribbon!
• Step 14: If you are using – tie your ribbon up around the gift.
• Step 15: Trim the ribbon if required.

And your wrapping is done! You could now add a tag or decorations if desired.

How To Wrap A Round Present

We are using a thin kraft wrapping paper in the images above – but alternatively, tissue paper could work well for this. Remember, with thinner paper you may need more than one layer to ensure your lovely gift is hidden inside.

Follow our step-by-step guide to create a perfectly wrapped ‘sweetie/cracker’ style look.

You will need: Thinner wrapping paper, scissors, and ribbons.

• Step 1: Gather your materials and lay your round shaped present down flat on your open paper.
• Step 2: Gently pull the paper around your present to measure there is enough paper to completely go around your gift, allowing for a slight overlap. Also allow the paper to have slightly longer open sides – which we will use to create the ‘sweetie/cracker’ style wrapping shape.
• Step 3: Trim your paper as required.
• Step 4: Place your round gift in the middle of your paper.
• Step 5: Gently fold the paper up around your present allowing for the two sides to be left open.
• Step 6: Mould the paper around sides, gently squeezing the paper together.
• Step 7: Cut two lengths of ribbon ready to secure at either side.
• Step 8: Trim the ribbon if needed.
• Step 9: Repeat with the other piece of ribbon on the other side.
• Step 10: If wanted, you could cut into the edges to create a decorative edge. We have chosen to cut triangles into the edge for a ‘zig-zag’ effect.
• Step 11: Repeat this on the other side.

And your wrapping is done! You could now add a tag or further decorations if desired.

How To Wrap Irregular Gifts

Irregular shaped gifts can be awkward to wrap, and it can be difficult to know where to start.

Whilst our present is an awkward shape – it hopefully has a flat box style base which we can use to our wrapping advantage. However, if your gift has awkward edges all around – you could use a similar sized box to help create the bag shaped form. Even a cereal packet could work depending on the size of your gift!

You will need: Wrapping paper, tape and scissors. Optional, a similar sized box.

• Step 1: Gather your materials and lay your present down flat on your open roll of wrapping paper. Alternatively, if using a box to create the bag shape – place this down instead.
• Step 2: Pull your paper up around your gift to see how much paper you will need before trimming your paper. You will need enough for edges of the paper to have some slight overlap at the sides and the bottom of your box or gift. Leave extra paper at the top of your gift to construct the ‘bag’ shape – we can always trim this back if needed later.
• Step 3: Fold the paper upwards, with the edge at the middle of your of your box or gift.
• Step 4: Fold the other edge of your paper around your gift so the edges overlap and secure with a cut piece of sticky tape.
• Step 5: At the bottom of your box or gift, push the paper gently inwards from left, and right – and crease at both the top and bottom edges as far as you can. Use the box to help crease the paper into position.
• Step 6: Fold the top flap downwards, again using the box to help you crease the paper.
• Step 7: Pull the bottom flap upwards, creasing the paper before using a cut piece of sticky tape to secure into position. If using a box to create this bottom of the bag shape – now gently slide the box out of your wrapping, and pop your irregular shaped gift back inside.
• Step 8: Turn your present round so you are now at the open top part of your present. You may need an extra piece of sticky tape here to help secure everything together.
• Step 9: Gently push the side inwards and crease into position.
• Step 10: Fold the open top inwards slightly by a few centimetres.
• Step 11: Fold this over again for a neat finished edge.
• Step 12: Secure with a cut piece of sticky tape.

You could now add a tag or decorations if desired.

How To Wrap A Gift Without Tape

Maybe you have run out of tape… Maybe you would like the present to be easily opened, or maybe you just like the look of a gift without tape! Using less tape might be an environmental choice too.

If you have a hot or cold glue gun – this can create a quick way to wrap, and a neat and secure finish.

You will need: Wrapping paper, ribbons, scissors.

• Step 1: Gather your materials and lay your present down flat on your open roll of wrapping paper.
• Step 2: Pull your paper up around your gift to ensure you have enough to completely enclose your gift, allowing for the edges to overlap.
• Step 3: Trim your paper accordingly.
• Step 4: Fold the paper up around your gift.
• Step 5: Place something relatively heavy (that won’t cause damage) on to your gift. I have used the scissors above. This will help to secure everything in position whilst we fold up the sides of your wrapping.
• Step 6: Just like in the box how wrap – push the open sides of paper gently inwards from left, and right, creasing to set into position.
• Step 7: Push the top flap downwards and the bottom flap upwards and crease into position.
• Step 8: Repeat on the other side so both sides. Gently press the paper around the gift.
• Step 9: Take your ribbon, and place under your gift with the open sides trapped within the ribbon to secure. You will need quite a long length of ribbon to go completely round your present in both directions.
• Step 10: Cross your ribbons over one another and twist round each other before turning your gift and pulling your ribbons downwards in the other direction.
• Step 11: Turn your present over and secure your ribbons in a knot or a bow.

And your wrapping is done! You could now add a tag or decorations if desired.

Alternatives To Wrapping Paper

Fabric can be especially useful for wrapping irregular shaped gifts – the fabric is also something the recipient can keep and reuse!

We are using a larger roll of fabric in our example to wrap this skateboard – but smaller pieces of fabric could be useful for smaller gifts. You can pick up smaller ‘fat quarters’ or remnants of fabric from craft shops.

Follow our simple step-by-step guide using fabric to wrap this gift.

You will need: Fabric, scissors. Ribbon optional.

• Step 1: Gather your materials and lay your present down flat on your open piece of fabric.
• Step 2: Pull your fabric up around your gift to ensure you have enough to completely enclose your gift, allowing for the edges to overlap.
• Step 3: Trim your fabric accordingly.
• Step 4: Place your gift on to your fabric ready to be wrapped. TIP: If you need a larger size of fabric (or paper) to enclose your gift – try wrapping your gift diagonally which provides some ‘extra’ length!
• Step 5: Fold the fabric up around your gift.
• Step 6: Fold the other side of your fabric down, enclosing your gift inside. I have also folded the edge of my fabric inwards slightly for a neater finish.
• Step 7: Fold the open sides in – you could either secure with ribbon now at either side, or if you have enough fabric, we will do another method using knotting to secure.
• Step 8: Pull both open sides inwards towards the middle.
• Step 9: Knot the fabric together to secure. You may need to do a ‘double’ knot so that it does not untie easily. Trim the fabric back nearer to the knot if desired.
• Step 10: The wrapping is now done!
• Step 11: You could tie some ribbons over the knot if liked – or, if you have some spare contrasting fabric – you could tie some extra on here to create a ‘bow’.

Other alternative ideas for wrapping include:

Bags and Boxes

There are a wide range of paper gift bags and boxes available to purchase that will suit whatever shape and size of your gift. These are particularly useful for awkwardly shaped gifts, or last minute wrapping!

Papers

Whilst we often opt for traditional ‘wrapping paper’ or tissue paper for gifts – you could use any sort of paper you like! Classic brown postal paper, newspaper, perhaps a decorative page in a magazine. You could also upcycle things perhaps destined for recycling – old posters, old music sheets, old maps…

Stockings

You could buy, or even make a Christmas stocking for your gift(s).

Taking Your Gift Wrapping To The Next Level

Once you’ve wrapped the presents, you can now add additional details to really decorate and personalise your gift. How and what you decide to do will most certainly be based on what materials you have available – and what your recipient would like.

Decorating

Before wrapping – you could decorate your papers to include things such as drawings or ink stamping. Use pens, pencils, paints, inks, or even marbling to add colour and decoration. Create marks and patterns – you could add the gift recipient’s initials, names – or even a phrase! Or another way to make personal – you could add on stickers, stick on photocopied drawings – or even photocopied photographs of special moments.

Always allow your glue/ink/paints to fully dry before wrapping to ensure nothing transfers on to your gift.

Ribbons

We have included some ribbons in our step-by-step guides – but ‘ribbons’ don’t have to be bought ribbons. You could make them out of spare fabric such as lace, trims, garlands, wool – anything you like!

Tags

To add a coordinating gift tag, you could cut out a small square of coordinating paper before writing your message. However, you could also create tags from old greeting cards, or any other papers! You could also make little tags out of air-dry clay – or salt dough. You can stamp into airdry clay or salt dough with rubber stamps – perhaps to create a pattern or the recipient’s initial?

Additional Details

Why not add some additional decorations to your gift – how about things such as fresh, dried, or faux foliage, feathers, pompoms, sequins, buttons… You could tie on Christmas baubles or tree decorations – allowing the recipient to then keep this to hang on their own tree!

Summary

Do you think you will give some of these ideas a try? If you have learnt some new wrapping skills from this blog, and you decide to give them a go – we would love to see.

Please do share them with us on Instagram and Facebook (@entertainer_toys).

As much as there is a wealth of ideas here for you to try… remember that it is not all about perfect wrapping! Be sure to check out new in toys for the best deals this season.

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