When you give someone a neatly wrapped gift, it makes you look skilled and your gift looks carefully chosen. It's easy to make a good impression. All you have to do is be gentle and patient. There are also instructions for how to fold the rectangle the traditional way, as well as the Japanese way of folding diagonally which doesn't require any cutting. This method requires a very high level of skill, so be prepared beforehand.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Wrapping the Traditional Way
Step 1. Remove all price tags
There's nothing more irritating than spending time wrapping a gift as neatly as possible and then realizing that you forgot to take the price tag off. If you can't remove the sticker, use a black pen and black out the price. You can also use adhesive tape, by placing the end on the price tag and pulling it off, and usually the price tag will come off and stick to the tape. Of course you don't want the recipient of the gift to know that you bought the gift from a laundry sale, right?
Step 2. Put the gift in a box
This non-mandatory step will make the gift easier to wrap. If the box you are going to use is easy to tear/tear (for example, a cardboard box), be sure to use adhesive tape to hold it in place so it doesn't open during the packaging process. Use enough adhesive tape to prevent it from falling off, but not so much that the recipient has to use a knife to open it.
If necessary, you can almost always trim off the excess wrapping paper. You don't need to add more wrapping paper
Step 3. Mark the lines for cutting
If you find it difficult to cut a straight line, find common sense to do so. Use the straight side of an object (such as a ruler) or you can fold neatly along the line to be cut, unfold it, and then cut the paper along the crease line. Remove the rest of the paper roll.
Step 4. Place the gift or box upside down in the center of the paper
This will ensure that the recipient opens the top of the box rather than the bottom of the box.
Step 5. Fold the paper so that it wraps around the gift
In a horizontally elongated position, fold the top down. Repeat this on the other side. Now there is still paper left that can be used. Fold the longer part inward so you get a neat, smooth crease instead of cutting it off which can result in untidy edges. Place it over the other end and pull it with close. Then glue it with adhesive tape.
Step 6. Fold the sides of the box one by one
At one end of the square, fold the edges inward so you get a wing-like triangle shape. Fold the ends, then pull tightly and apply adhesive tape. Repeat on the other side.
If you wish, add creases to the triangular wing shape by folding the sides inward
Step 7. Add the ribbon
Make sure the ribbon used is long enough and can cover the gift according to whatever pattern you choose. For a "classic" look that crosses the top and bottom, the amount of ribbon required is twice the length, plus twice the width, plus twice the height, plus just enough length to tie it together and make a bowknot.
To tie the ribbon, place the ribbon over the gift in the center. Run the tape towards the bottom and cross the ends past each other and pull it tight. Rotate the gift 90 degrees, then extend the ribbon to the other two sides. Pass both ends down from the center of the ribbon and tie a knot on top. Then take the scissors. Pull one of the ribbons and roll it using scissors. Using the remaining ribbon, cut it and tie it under the bowknot, cut off the remaining ribbon and roll it up again. Keep doing this until there are no more unrolled ribbons
Step 8. Add cards
Use a piece of card or paper. Write "To" and "From", names, etc. If you're an expert in calligraphy, this will give you a lovely personal touch. But if you are not an expert in calligraphy, you can type or write it neatly.
- If your handwriting is poor, and you don't have cards/paper to write on the recipient and sender, you can cut a rectangle out of the wrapping paper, fold it into a "card", and glue it.
- You can also cut out parts of the wrapping paper designs (such as candles, balloons, etc.) and turn them into cards. Glue about a few centimeters from the end of the box.
Method 2 of 2: Wrapping Diagonals the Japanese Way
Step 1. Cut a rectangle shape from the roll of wrapping paper
Your wrapping paper should expand rather than extend.
Step 2. Place the wrapping paper diagonally in front of you, with the printed side facing down
Instead of a rectangle, the wrapping paper should be positioned like a diamond (diagonally).
Step 3. Place the gift box on top of the wrapping paper that has been positioned diagonally
Place the gift box upside down so that the bottom of the box is facing up.
Place the gift box so that there is only a small triangle at the bottom of the gift box that is not touching the wrapping paper
Step 4. Pull the bottom of the paper up to cover the bottom side of the box and fold it over the top
There should be a small piece of wrapping paper reaching the back side of the box.
If done correctly, this step creates a triangular shape (with the edges folded) on the bottom left side of the box
Step 5. Fold the paper flat on the left side of the box
If done correctly, there will be a small triangle on the lower left corner of the box. Fold the paper together.
Step 6. Pull the sheet of paper to the left of the fold and guide it over the fold
Make sure this sheet of paper fully covers the crease and is flush with the bottom edge of the box. Seal this sheet of paper tightly on the wrapping paper with adhesive tape.
Step 7. Next on the top, fold the paper evenly on the top side of the square, making the rest of the paper into another triangle
Fold the rest of the paper, and it should form a triangle.
Step 8. Holding the sheet of paper over the triangular fold, lift and turn the box so that the side with the adhesive tape is now on the floor (or on the base of the surface you are using)
Your square will now be upside down from the position when you started.
Again, make sure the sheet of paper you wrap over the triangular fold covers the box completely and is flush with the left side of the box
Step 9. With the square upside down, fold the remaining paper on the bottom right so that it is flush with the right side of the box
This will create another triangular fold.
Step 10. Pull the sheet of paper on the right from the fold up and cover the top of the box
Again, make sure this sheet of paper covers the triangular fold and is flush with the bottom right edge of the box. Glue this sheet of paper on the wrapping paper.
Step 11. Fold the remaining paper on top so that it is flush with the top right of the box
This will create another triangular fold.
Step 12. Lift the sheet of paper above the fold and fold the edges toward the square
Step 13. Fold the remaining paper on both the left and right sides of the last sheet of paper inward to make a triangle shape
Step 14. Fold the paper at the end of the triangle inward
You should only find the bottom half of the triangle, because the top half is folded underneath.
Step 15. Press the paper on the box and glue it with adhesive tape
Step 16.
Tips
- Don't have wrapping paper? For an informal and fun look, the colored comic strips from newspapers can be used with pretty good results. Likewise, copies of musical notes (especially from musicals) look good too.
- Tie, tape or clip the paper with a stapler to the roll of tape under the bowknot. You can let the strands hang down and wind them using scissors along the length of the ribbon. Be careful not to get hurt by the scissors!
- For a round gift, place the gift in the center of the paper, pull the paper together over it, fold it over the edges and cover each end of the paper with a kind of long ribbon consisting of several ribbons and one end being the center that binds the ribbons together, then tie and roll up the ends of the ribbon.
- Transparent adhesive tape is best for wrapping gifts that will be mailed, or those that will be pre-wrapped.
- To create a very neat look, try the following:
- Use double-sided adhesive tape instead of regular adhesive tape.
- Adjust the border of the largest paper fold, which is the initial fold that wraps the gift, so that the border is on the edge or side of the gift. This is best done for gifts that use boxes. To get started, tape a piece of paper in place about six millimeters from one edge of the box. The paper should completely wrap the gift. If you haven't already cut the paper from the roll, cut it now, leaving at least six millimeters for the fold. Then fold the rest under to create a neat, finished edge. Use double-sided adhesive tape to seal tightly not only the crease on the inside but also the crease on the gift. The paper border will be barely visible.
- Cover the finished bowknot on the gifts with adhesive tape or staples, because the adhesive on the finished bowknot never sticks that well!
- If you're using a box, you can also slightly squeeze all the edges of the gift to give it a sharp, clean look that looks very professional.
- Once the gift is received, dispose of the wrapping paper, ribbon, and box in an environmentally friendly manner. Be sure to recycle cardboard boxes after removing as much adhesive tape as possible. Most glossy wrapping paper and ribbons cannot be recycled. Ideally, choose wrapping paper that is printed on plain (non-glossy) paper. Rattan rope (available at most craft stores) is a less degradable substitute for ribbon that is a bit more difficult to work with, but also looks beautiful.
Warning
- Do not burn gift wrapping paper in fireplaces or similar places. Chemicals released from burning wrapping paper can be hazardous to health.
- Don't eat the gift wrap.
