Wrapping gifts should be a joyful experience and reflect the thoughtfulness of the gift.
With finances tight this season, it will be difficult to pay for wrapping. My suggestion is to find the joy in packaging gifts for those special someone. There are so many creative ways to package a gift for someone you love and taking the extra time lets then know that you care even more for them.
My first suggestion is to definitely not wait until Christmas Eve to do the wrapping. Have a gift wrapping party. Provide appetizers and invite the girl friends over for a night of wrapping and fun gossip. The wrapping will be over in no time.
Guys, call in your mom if the thought of wrapping scare you to death, find a friend, etc-just do what it takes to make your present look beautiful. Appearance is a major part of the Christmas experience.
For those willing to wrap their own gifts this season, here are some basic steps for wrapping the perfect gift every time:
Step 1: Choose your paper.
There are many styles of paper available in a broad range of styles and prices. Dupont suggests that you personalize the gift-wrapping to fit the personality of the person. If a person loves to cook, you might want to choose a cooking ornament to go on top with the bow. I suggest this be done no matter what the gift is inside because there should still be suspense.
Step 2: Cut to fit the package.
The cut should be so that the wrapping paper goes half the distance on all sides. There is some gift-wrap that has imprinted measured boxes on the inside that makes measuring and cutting easier. This is the step where most people make a mistake. They either cut too much paper or too little. I also never throw away any of the scraps or trim. Save every piece because they may be that perfect size for the smaller gifts.
Step 3: No raw edges should be visible.
Each time the edge of the wrapping paper should be folded under so that the edge is not seen.
Step 4: Crease all seams.
This is done by taking your thumb and finger and rubbing them across the edges of the package to give it a sharp crease. This makes the present look sharper and more professionally done.
Step 5: Make or select a bow for the package.
Bows can be made expertly or as an amateur depending on your skill level. For amateurs, I suggest purchasing pull bows from the local craft store. The bows have four strands of ribbon that you pull. They come complete with simple instructions and make an instant bow.
For those willing to experiment more, bows are made by taking ribbon (usually bought in a three-yard roll) and pulling it up and around the middle finger then twisted, then up and around the rest of the fingers until there is a small strip left to cover the bottom. The key to a successful bow is never moving the middle finger. Then floral wire is inserted to where the middle finger is and scrunched together. The bow is then taped down to the present.
There are so many different types of paper for the multitude of personalities. The key is making the presentation personal and memorable rather it is done with a violin or football ornament as an extra to the present. Find out what your loved one is into this holiday season and make them smile with a present wrapped with them in mind!
