Buying a beautiful and precious gift is one thing – presenting it to a friend, colleague or family member is another. Gorgeous gift-wrapping adds the wow factor and stylish presentation gives some pizzazz to even the most modest offering.
Helping you crack the wrap this Christmas, Jane Means, gift-wrapping expert, presenter and author of the book, Giftwrapped, says that presentation is everything. “The biggest mistake people make is using too much paper and tape,” she says. “Visually measure the gift beforehand and try to disguise your tape under ribbon if you aren’t using double-sided tape.”
What you need to wrap a present:
Means recommends buying your materials early and says the perfect tool kit would include:
- sharp scissors
- a tape dispenser
- double-sided tape
- wrapping paper
- tags and ribbons (optional)
Buying wrapping paper
When you buy your wrapping paper in loose, single sheets, Means says it should be gently rolled (with the pattern on the inside) so you don’t get unwanted creases. She also advises against buying Christmas-patterned paper: “Choose an alternative, like dots or check, so you can use it throughout the year.”
If you don’t want to spend too much, Means suggests using classic brown paper. “It can be teamed with pretty much any colour ribbon or accessory,” she says. “It also looks great with foliage.” Another one of Means’s top tips is to recycle old baubles and decorations to make your gifts more eye-catching.
If you’re splashing out on gift-wrap this season, Means recommends Italian Rossi papers handmade in Florence. “For me, the most lavish gift would be wrapped in marble Rossi paper embellished with rich velvet ribbon and luxurious glass decorations from Liberty,” Means says. “The tag would be written by calligraphy goddess Judy Broad and any tissue would be lightly spritzed with Penhaligon’s Orange Spray.
“Readymade bows are a great choice for non-creatives, but you can still add personal touches such as a favourite colour bauble, a bunch of herbs for a keen gardener or a silk scarf tied around a box. Papercraft is becoming a popular trend and remnants of gift wrap can be transformed into pinwheels or fans. Pom-poms are another favourite and can be easily made with wool.”
The perfect gift-wrapping technique
Once you are ready to wrap, Means recommends folding edges under to hide rough finishes and trying to disguise the seam on the edge of boxes. She always uses double-sided tape and, for really large, bulky shapes, she suggests wrapping in a paper tablecloth to avoid joining paper. Jane’s final tip: “Make sure you write your tags first, so you don’t forget what you are wrapping.”
Not all presents require paper and expensive packaging. A donation of just £22.29 gives one homeless person a home for the night, three hot meals including Christmas dinner, a health check from a doctor, optician and dentist, advice on housing and employment and a warm Christmas welcome. It’s a meaningful gift – and you don’t have to worry about the wrapping.
