Tips for Wrapping

Get Ready
Measuring
How to wrap
Bows &Ribbons
Raffia
Cellophane
6 Tips

Get Ready

Wrapping gifts always takes longer than you first think.
Our advice is if you have a lot of gifts to wrap,either
A
Make the gift wrapping less hectic by wrapping as you buy them.Use an adhesive
note to identify each gift's recipient then store the gifts.
Ribbons and tags are easily crushed so don't add until you are ready to display or give the gift.
Or B
Set aside a couple of hours when no one is around and create a wrapping paper station!
Before you start gather up all the materials you will need.Use a hard flat surface to work on,such
as a table or worksurface and remove all items from that space.

Collect all the equipment you need,scissors,tape pencil ruler etc keep them within reach and try
and keep them in the same spot.

How to measure out the paper

Length -Place the gift 2 inches from the edge of the paper,roll the gift along the paper till you meet
the edge of the gift where you began.This will give you enough paper to go all the way round plus 2
inches for sticking.
Width -The width of the paper should be no less than the width of the gift plus 1 &1/2 times the
height of the gift.The paper needs to go at least half way up the two sides of the gift.Much more
and it starts to look messy.

For very large gifts we suggest you take a piece of string and wrap the string around the gift leaving
about a 2 inch overlap.Cut or mark the string and use it to measure off exactly how much gift -wrap
you need.

How to Wrap

Wrapping gifts is sooooo much easier when they are in a box.If the present you have bought is not
in a box or is a difficult shape or soft and squidgy and you are not using a gift bag try to find a box to
put it in.

If you don't have any boxes buy plain white boxes from our website.It will make wrapping much
easier and the boxes can be used again and again.Boxes make pretty packages,protects the gift
and are fun to open.Wrap your gift in tissue before you place it in the box.Tissue enhances the
elemnet of surprise and dresses up the gift.

1).Measure and cut the amount of paper required see Length &Width above
2).Place the gift upside down in the centre of the paper
3).Fold over 1/2 inch down one length to create a nice straight even line
4).Fold the other side into the middle of the gift
5).Bring the edge of the paper that has been folded in to the middle of the gift so that it overlaps
the otherside,keep the paper tight and then secure with tape.
6).Fold the top flap down and crease along the diagonal edge on both sides
7).Fold the two side pieces in towards the middle.Crease along the diagonal edges on the
bottom piece.
8).Fold up the bottom piece and tape in place

Add a bow

There is nothing like a ribbon and a bow to make a gift look special.
Just look at the difference.

How to tie a bow

To measure &cut the correct amount of ribbon,you will need 2 x the length,4 x the height and 4 x
the width,this will give you enough ribbon to wrap and tie a beautiful bow.
Place the width of wrapped gift upside down in the middle of the ribbon,the seam and tape should
be facing you.
Take the two ends of the ribbon and lift high above the gift,transfer the ends into opposite hands,
cross the ribbon over,taking the ends to the top and bottom of the gift
Bring the two ends of the ribbon to the center and tie the bow as if it was a shoelace.
Tweek &for that finishing touch create swallow tails or angled edges.
To create swallow tails fold ribbon length ways and cut from the finished edges approx 1''up to the
centre of the ribbon.

Curling Ribbon

Use on its own or with other ribbon.
To create fabulous curls,hold one end of the ribbon firmly in one hand then run the edge of a dinner
knife or the edge of a pair of scissors along the length of the ribbon whilst keeping the ribbon taut.

Raffia

Fold strands back and forth in the hand,tie centre with two long pieces of raffia and tie to gift.
Take different colours of raffia and twist together to make a multicoloured strand.
Tease out ends to create a fuller bow.

Cellophane

Place the bottle in the centre of a piece of cellophane that is 3 times the height of the bottle.
Bribge all ends together above the bottle and scrunch together around the neck of the bottle.
Secure with curling ribbon.
Tie decorative wired ribbon bow over the curling ribbon,cut swallow tails.

T Shirts

Fold T.Shirt /article of clothing into a sausage shape.
Wrap in tissue.
Wrap in decorative paper
Cut a piece of cellophane three times the width and double the length of the rolled gift.
Place gift in the middle of the cellophane,wrap and secure with tape.
Scrunch up the two ends and tie with curling ribbon.
Puff out cracker ends.

Finally Six Tips for a neatly wrapped gift.

Don't use too much paper,it will be difficult to create neat folds
Try to use boxes wherever possible
Keep the paper tight,and crease firmly
Use as little tape as possible,it is neater and will be easier to unwrap
Keep gift in the centre of the paper,so folds are symetrical when finished
Fold tatty edges under to keep them smart