4 Common Wrapping-Gift Mistakes and How to Solve Them

When you give a gift, the presentation makes the first impression. A well-wrapped gift helps your offering stand out and shows the recipient how much you care. If you start out with good intentions and end up with a bunch of duct tape and ripped paper, go for it.

Help is on the way. The Lydia D’Antonio of Lydia Louise blog describes herself as a “Las Vegas mom blogger” whose site focuses on DIY projects, creating unforgettable celebrations, and tips on the best places to shop.

Here are some common problems that she sees people create and tips from her on how to solve them.

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1. More is not better

Oftentimes, people tear a large piece of wrapping paper from the roll, wanting to make sure they have enough to wrap the entire box containing the gift. "People fold the edges until they're big and bulky," says D'Antonio. But too much paper means you won't have a smooth, sharp, clean edge.

Instead, turn the packet on its side and roll it onto the paper until it reaches the same side again. Then cut the paper to match that measurement. "You want to roll from the bottom right or left corner of the package and tilt it sideways as well," she notes.

"That's how much the paper is cut to the extreme." Most paper rolls are very long and when you are wrapping you don't need to use the full depth. Just cut them to fit.

2. Make it edgy

The way you secure the wrapping paper to the wrapping is the key to a polished look. "A lot of people put the package right in the middle of the paper and then tape it down, and it looks weird," says D'Antonio.

Instead, cut out the square before taping it, and start taping at the edge of the package (yes, actually, at the edge).

3. Buy quality paper

D'Antonio says it might be tempting to buy the big roll of wrapping paper on sale for just a few dollars - don't. "I prefer a thicker paper," she says. “Generally, if you get very large rolls and the paper is very thin, you are not really saving money. You will be frustrated because it will rip and tear. It's not necessarily you, it's the newspaper. "

D'Antonio suggests looking for larger rolls that don't appear to have as much paper, usually available in packs of three or five rolls; this paper is more likely to be of better quality. One way to take the guesswork out is to use a different type of paper entirely.

"I'm going to take brown craft paper and wrap the packages because it's so affordable," he says. "That is the thickness you want to achieve."

4. Do not force it

If you have an oddly shaped item such as a stuffed animal or doll in a box with odd corners, do not put it in a huge box and then wrap it up.

Put the item in a gift bag and fluff up the handkerchief well, or try this trick: “You put it in the middle of the paper, roll it up, and press it on both sides. Leave the length on each side and put a large bow on each side to make it look like a piece of candy or a roll, ”says D'Antonio.

Bonus: "It is much easier to open, which is good for young children." Give away gift cards this year? You don't just need to put it in an ordinary envelope. D'Antonio suggests that you take some beautiful wrapping paper and fold it in origami style to create a special envelope for your gift.