Gift Wrapping 101

When I was in high school, our youth choir at church went on several tours each year. To raise money for the tours, we held numerous fund raisers, one of which was wrapping gifts at a jewelry store during Christmas holidays. My mother always helped at all the events and I have very fond memories of the many things we did together during these fund raisers. Learning to wrap gifts turned out to be one of those "great life lessons" that I had no idea would mean so much to me. This year, my daughter and I sat side by side and we captured some of the "gift wrapping lessons 101" in a few pictures so that I could share them on this blog:

1. It's important to be sure that your paper will reach around the entire box (guesstimate before cutting). Tape one end of the paper to the box and pull the paper tightly around the box. Folding the side of the paper before taping it will help make the wrapping look extra "nice". Hint: Pulling the paper tightly is one of the secrets for beautiful packages.

2. This next step is very important. To ensure the ends of the box wrap nicely, it's important not to have too much paper left to fold. This is the Goldilocks Principle---not too much...not too little....but just the right amount.... If there is "excess" you will want to cut it off. Fold the paper down gently, making sure the paper covers the end "at least" half way down. Trim the excess paper away.

 3. The above picture shows that there isn't nearly as much paper on the ends as in the previous picture.

 4. The next most important hint is to crease each fold "crisply". Look carefully in the above picture and you can see that that paper has been creased and the angles are very sharp.Run your hand along the edge of the box, and pinch the paper between your fingers...pressing tightly, forming a crease. Next, pull the paper down towards the bottom of the box and tape securely to box, being careful to place the tape in such a way that it doesn't "show" so much. You'll want to press the paper flat to the box, and make right angles of the paper. Look in the above picture very carefully and you should be able to see this.

 The above picture is a close up of what I'm trying to explain---folding edges and creasing them tightly....folding paper down towards the bottom of the box.

 5. The next step is to fold each of the sides towards the middle, creasing the folds carefully before taping. Once again, remember to use enough tape to secure the paper to the box, but try to be careful about where the tape is placed.

 Here's a picture of placing the tape carefully about mid ways down the box.

 6. Fold the remaining side towards the middle, press your finger along each fold...pressing firmly to get a "crisp" crease.

 Place the tape carefully in the center.

7. Look carefully at the point. When you lift the paper and get ready for the final piece of tape, if the paper on the point doesn't line up perfectly, it may be necessary to fold a little bit back/under as indicated in the below picture...fold just a little....and then the paper will make a perfect point.

                                                                        Like this:

8. Repeat the process with the other end of the box......the next lesson will be bow-making.....until next time....hope all your packages are wrapped perfectly! Thanks for dropping by!