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Gift wrapping basics

Suggy by Suggy

Basic technique for wrapping a rectangular gift

Learn the gift wrapping tricks used by people who do it for a living. Yes, there really are 'professional gift wrappers'!

This guide introduces the basic techniques by showing how to gift wrap a simple box.

One in a series of Squidoo lenses about gift wrapping gifts.

Sizing the wrapping paper

Save gift wrap and the planet by cutting it right first time


  • sizing the gift wrapUnroll wrapping paper good-side down
    Place gift face-down on it.

  • Draw the edge of the gift wrap up and over the item.

  • sizing the gift wrapHolding the wrap, turn the item on to its side, toward the roll.

  • cut the gift wrap to lengthRelease the wrap and cut it off an inch nearer to the roll than your item.

Cutting the wrap to width


  • cutting width of the gift wrapReposition item to the middle and rotate the paper.

  • make the good edgeFold over 1/2 an inch along the long edge.
    Be careful to fold it straight; this will be your finished edge.

  • cut the gift wrap to widthStand the item up on end at the edge, lay it over flat and then rotate up on to the other end.
    Cut the paper off to width past the item.

Wrap the item length-ways


  • length-ways joinPlace your item face down in the centre of your wrapping paper. Bring over the creased finished edge. Line it up, so it runs parallel across the middle of the underside of your gift.

  • joining the wrapping paperRelease the good edge. Keep the item in position and fold the other (rough) edge over tightly.
    Now fold your good edge back on top.
    Tape the joint with a single piece of Sellotape about 2cm long.

Cutting the ends


  • length-ways joinCut a deep v-shape into the ends. This should continue 'round and down either side.

Folding the ends


  • crease the ends overCrease the excess gift wrap all the way over.

  • fold the sides inFold the side flap in. Pull firmly across and down.
    Crease along the bottom edge and the newly-formed triangular edge of the bottom flap.

  • fold excess gift wrap back inFold any excess gift wrap back into the triangle of the bottom flap.

  • Fold up the triangular flap and crease the bottom edge by running your finger along it.

That's a wrap!

To finish off, you can simply tape the end flaps in place.

Alternatively, why not ribbon tie your gift to make it extra special? Squidoo lens coming soon! Until then, there's a guide here: Ribbon-tied gift wrapping at pressies4princesses.co.uk.

More gift wrapping tips

This lens was based upon the full gift wrapping guide at retailer pressies4princesses.

You can find more full guides there and more lenses here.
Gift Wrapping a Cylinder. How to Gift Wrap a Tube
How to gift wrap a cylinder or tube: A step-by-step gift-wrapping guide showing how to wrap a cylinder professionally. This IS NOT the basic like-a-Christmas-cracker way.
How to Wrap a Gift Like a Professional
Shows you how to do a basic box wrap properly in a 40 picture, step-by-step tutorial.

Reader Feedback

Got a suggestion? Want to tell me what you think of this lens or my gift wrapping technique? Do it here!

  • Pastiche Apr 16, 2010 @ 2:34 pm | delete
    Great gift wrapping - you've done a nifty job with these step by step pictures on how to gift wrap a boxed present. Nicely done, lensrolled to Instant Gift Wrap ... 5*
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This So Crafty page written by

Suggy

Thirty-something (still -- just about) owner of an online women's gift retailer and publishing network and fan of Squidoo.
Married, two gorgeous girl... more »

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