How to wrap a gift, my top four tips

If gifts weren't wrapped, most of the fun of receiving it would be gone. Part of the fun of receiving a gift is the anticipation and curiosity that builds up the wonder of what the gift is. If the recipient could see what the gift was immediately, the anticipation and surprise would be lost.

Here are my four tips;

Two pairs of scissors

When wrapping, use two pairs of super sharp scissors, one for cutting paper and one for cutting ribbon.

Why? Is this an urban myth? No, cutting paper somehow dulls scissors, it makes them less sharp and less able to cut fabric ribbon.

Buy in sheets

Buy gift wrap in sheets rather than rolls so that it’s easier to lie flat on a worktable, and preferably use thicker, matte wrapping paper, as glossy paper shows every imperfection, and if it’s too thin, it will rip on a sharp edge.

Use double sided tape

One rule that almost all professional gift wrappers abide by is to only use double-sided tape so that no tape is visible. When wrapping a box, set it on the paper and fold the paper’s edges along the length of the box, bringing the side on top all the way to the box’s edge. Make a seam (fold the edge of the paper under), put the double-sided tape underneath, and press down. Same goes for the shorter sides: After folding into that triangular flap, seal it down with the double-sided tape underneath.

Boxes and bags

Wrapping your gift in a box looks the nicest and shows an extra degree of thoughtfulness, so recycle gift boxes from last year with stickers.

If the gift is weirdly shaped, or if there’s no time to wrap, I recommend buying gift bags, tie them with ribbon, and stick on a sprig of greenery.

I hope these tips will help you wrap and bow up your presents with a healthy dose of perfectionism this year.

But, if you’d like your Bianca Elgar gift wrapped by me in my wrapping paper, let me know via my contact page.