8 Quick Steps to Wrap a Present Like a Pro

The holiday season rushes by us in a festive flash! But with a few quick tips that I’ve perfected over the years, your packages will look anything but hurried. Here’s how to get the most our of your wrapping paper:

1. Make sure you choose wrapping paper with grid lines. It makes cutting those straight lines much easier. Cut enough paper that when you put the box in the center of it, you have about half the width of the box on either side.

2. Even with the grid, your cutting might not be perfect. Give yourself a little extra paper and fold the edge before you secure it to the box. This will give a clean line.

3. At either end, leave no more paper than what will cover the end of the box. Both the top and bottom of the edges of paper should only be as wide as the box. They can even be half as wide. Fold down the edge on the back of the gift first, then fold in the corners like a paper airplane. Finally, give it that smooth edge with a quick fold of the last flap.

4. You’ll want coordinating ribbon. Doubling up with a solid and a texture works nicely.

6. I always use wire-edged ribbon because it makes it very easy to maneuver into the shape you like. Wide ribbon does better when knotted and thin ribbon can be tied in bows. The trick is to get all the pieces of ribbon where you want them before tightening the bow or knot.

7. Fold the ribbon in half and cut an upward slant from the open edge of the ribbon to the folded edge. This will produce an even V shape.

8. Add a sprig of berries and do some final tweaks to get the ribbon into the shape you want, and there you go! Easy Peasy.