Wrapping that special present

Hi ladies! Hope you all are staying warm! Did you all check out Cassie's tutorial on how to make a Gift Bow?? If you haven't, click here: Gift Bow. It's the latest rage this season in the bow making world!

I know several of you ladies will be using these cute bows as gifts too! Today I'm going to show you how to wrap a present in a unique way. Then you can just attach the gift bow on top and you are all ready to give a present to that special girl!

This method is not new, but some of you may have yet to try it. It's the most common way Japanese people wrap their presents. If you purchase something at a store and ask for it be gift-wrapped, you'll see the store clerk wrap it up in just a few seconds using this method! Now of course this is their job so they have practiced it over and over. But I'm sure with a little practice, anyone can get it down!!

Just take a look at the speed this woman has with her wrapping skills!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh_Rg6e4SY8

First, here is a great picture tutorial. But it's all in Japanese! So I'll break it down as we go!

Here's what you need:

- a present to wrap (square/rectangle shaped)

- a ruler

- wrapping paper

- scissors

- one piece of tape

- matching ribbon and pre-made gift bow on a lined alligator clip

The most tedious part of this method is cutting the best paper size. In order to do this, you will need to measure your gift and find the following:

- height

- width

- length

For this tutorial I will be wrapping a small box of chocolate. I will also be using a plain, white piece of wrapping paper to allow the bow to be the certain focus!

For my chocolate box, I measured the following:

- height: 2"

- width: 3.25"

- length: 5.25"

*For the length of your wrapping paper, do the following equation:

(height + height + height + length + length)

I got (2 + 2 + 2 + 5.25 + 5.25 = 16.5")

*For the width of your wrapping paper, do the following equation:

(height + height + width + width)

I got ( 2 + 2 + 3.25 + 3.25 = 10.5")

Cut your wrapping paper to the dimensions you just calculated.  The length of my wrapping paper was cut at 16.5" and the width at 10.5".  After you cut your paper, make sure the backside of the paper is facing up with the length-side going up and down. I drew on the backside of my paper the dimensions and a line from the upper-left corner diagonally down to the right-lower corner.  The diagonal line will assist you in where to place your present when you start to wrap.  It is not necessary to draw this line.  If you do draw the line, I suggest using a pencil and drawing a line very lightly so that it won't be seen from the opposite side and it won't be so noticeable when the receiver opens their present.

Next place your present on the paper with the bottom right corner sticking out about 2 cm (a little less than 1 inch). You want to make sure that your box forms a perfect lower case letter "t" with the diagonal line on the wrapping paper. Your angles with the box and the diagonal line will be at 90 degrees each.

Make sure the package is close to the bottom of the page.  When you pull the lower right corner up and over the present, it should just reach about halfway over the top.  The corner of the wrapping paper should be pointing directly towards the diagonal line drawn on the wrapping paper. (On your first few times using this method you may want to tape the wrapping paper to the present.)

Next, on the left side, use your finger and push in the paper while pulling up the left side of the wrapping paper.

Here are the important points you need to remember when making each fold.  As you pull the paper up, you want to make sure that your edges align with one another and that your creases are crisp.  Also, make sure there are no air pockets between the wrapping paper and the present as you fold each side.

After you fold up, fold over the top.

Next, perform the same step on the top area of the box.

This time, fold that long piece of paper over until you reach the backside of the present.

Then, perform the same fold on the right side.

Finally, you will do one last fold with the remaining paper on the top.  Keep folding it over until no paper remains.

Take one piece of tape and adhere the loose flap to the present.

Your wrapping is now complete! Now I took my gift bow and made sure the lined alligator clip is attached.

I wrapped a piece of ribbon around the present length wise.  I just taped the ribbon to the back.  Feel free to use a glue gun to attach the ends of the ribbon together on the back.

Clip your bow to the ribbon!  Look how cute that looks!

And there you go!  Your wrapped present is all ready to go under the Christmas tree!  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a great holiday season.