How to Wrap a Present
By: Dixon Duckwall
Why So Important?
Although the holiday season is over, there are plenty of instances throughout a year that require somebody to wrap a gift or present in wrapping paper. There is a certain satisfaction to completing wrapping a present successfully and according to Emma A (infographic: Gift Wrapping Statistics, https://www.creditdonkey.com/gift-wrap.html) 28% of Americans in 2013 stated that wrapping gifts puts them in the “holiday mood”.
Assemble All of the Materials.
First things first, we need to assemble the materials. The materials needed can be found
around the house, or easily retrieved from any grocery or convenience store (Kroger, Walmart, target, CVS, Walgreens…)
- Wrapping paper.
- Scissors.
- Scotch tape.
- Marker
- Box (that is going to be wrapped).
Roll Out the Wrapping Paper.
You will need to roll out the wrapping paper to an estimated required length. The most important aspect of this step is just to have the space, as you will adjust in later steps to fit the box you are wrapping.
Place Box in the Middle of Wrapping Paper.
Some wrapping paper will use boxes to measure distance and this helps keep your box centrally located but others will required a measured estimate. In this step it is also inconsequential if you do not get right the first time, as you can continue to adjust the position of the box until moving on to the next step.
Use the Marker to Mark Your Cut Lines.
Discover the length required to cover the whole box when you fold the paper and use a marker to mark the line for reference when cutting in next step.
Cut the Wrapping Paper Along the Line That You Marked in Step 4.
Ensure your scissors are handy and to stay along the line you previously marked.
Fold the Long Flap in Half and Tape to the Box.
This is when things are starting to come together!
Fold the Other Long Flap in Half and Tape to the Box.
The finish line is in sight!
Adjust Wrapping Paper As Needed.
If you accidentally overshoot your estimate on how long you need the wrapping paper to be, this is the step where we can correct that. Before folding the end flats, decide on the length that you wish to shorten by, and use your scissors to cut the excess length.
Gather Bottom Half.
And we are back on track!
Fold the Top Half of the Bottom Flat Down.
We fold the bottom half of the wrapping paper down at this point to avoid having your wrapping paper bubble up and not give us the smooth surface we are looking for.
Fold Bottom Half Over Top and Tape.
And just like that, you are done with one side.
Repeat Steps 8-10.
You will repeat steps 8-10 for the other side.
Completion.
Just like that, you are done. With a little practice, you will get faster and require less extra cutting!