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Woman: Leftover wrapping paper scraps?

Man: Quick Tips!

Woman: Cut and fold them into gift tags. Neat!

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Woman: Christmas presents headed for different places?

Man: Quick Tips!

Woman: Wrap gifts in one color or pattern per destination to avoid mix-ups. Jolly idea!

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Woman: Wrapping gifts?

Man: Quick Tips!

Woman: Stack your rolls of ribbon on a vertical paper towel holder. Genius!

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Woman: Wrapping presents?

Man: Quick tips!

Woman: Add bows, ribbons, and tags right before you give your gifts to make sure they don’t get damaged during storage or transport. Beautiful!

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Man 1: Using ribbon?

Man 2: Quick tips!

Man 1: Lightly burn the freshly cut end with a match or lighter. It melts the fabric just enough to prevent fraying. Neat!

Instructions

• Step 1: Loop ribbon Leave a 12-inch length of ribbon as a tail and make a small loop, about four inches or so, above it. Make another loop of the same size on the opposite side, criss-crossing over the top of the first loop. The two loops and tails should form an X.
• Step 2: Put loops together Gather the fabric where the two loops meet in the center with your fingers, holding the loops tight with your thumb in front and two fingers in the back.
• Step 3: Make third and fourth loop Bring the free ribbon up and make a third loop of the same size as the other two in front of the first loop. Make a fourth loop on the side opposite the third, directly in front of the second loop.
• TIP: As you create more loops, you may want another pair of hands ready to help secure your project! Ask a friend to help and enhance the fun by working on the project in a pair.
• Step 4: Create smaller loops Make the fifth and sixth loops in the same way but slightly smaller in size. Graduate the next pair of loops, seven and eight, down in size from the previous two as well. Make two even smaller loops to create a bow with ten loops.
• Step 5: Make final loop Create one small, final loop around your thumb in the center. Cut the working end of the ribbon to the same size as the tail. Slide the cloth-covered wire in through the front of the last, small loop in the center and around the back and twist tightly to secure.
• Step 6: Arrange shape Finish your bow by pulling out and arranging the loops. Trim the ends on a diagonal or cut in a V-shape.
• FACT: Chevrolet cars have sported the iconic golden bow tie logo since 1914.

You Will Need

• Double face wired ribbon
• Scissors
• Cloth-covered wire
• Friend (optional)

Instructions

• Step 1: Lay out ribbon Lay ribbon flat on a table. Place a present in center of ribbon.
• TIP: Make sure you have enough ribbon to wrap around the present and some extra for the loops in the bow.
• Step 2: Even out Pull the ribbon up, evening out both sides.
• Step 3: Tie a knot Place the left side over the right and tie a knot.
• Step 4: Form loops Form two even-shaped loops.
• Step 5: Tie another knot Place the right loop over the left and tie another knot. Pull the knot tight.
• Step 6: Finish the bow Straighten the loops. Cut or curl the ends using the flat of the blade on a pair of scissors to finish the perfect bow. Include bows on all of your gifts to really impress the receiver!
• FACT: The bowtie dates back to the seventeenth century. Croatian mercenaries used a scarf tied around their neck to hold the top of their shirts together.

You Will Need

• Piece of ribbon
• Present
• Scissors

Instructions

• Step 1: Pinch the ribbon and make a loop Hold the ribbon between your thumb and index finger, leaving a length of ribbon as a tail. Wrap the ribbon around your thumb to make a center loop.
• Step 2: Make a loop Make a loop on one end, pinching it between your thumb and forefinger.
• TIP: Twist the ribbon after making each loop so that the shiny side faces out.
• Step 3: Make another loop Use your other hand to make a loop the longer length of ribbon. Make the loop the same size as the first, and collect it between the thumb and forefinger that is holding the first loop.
• Step 4: Keep making loops Continue looping the ribbon and collecting it between your thumb and finger until you’re satisfied with the fullness of the bow.
• TIP: Make an even amount of loops to keep the bow symmetrical.
• Step 5: Tie the ribbon Tie the middle of the ribbon with a wire tie.
• Step 6: Pull the loops Separate the loops of the ribbon, pulling them out one at a time and in opposite directions. Start from the inside and work toward the outside.
• Step 7: Cut the tail Cut the end to match the tail you left, and you are ready to decorate.
• FACT: Did you know? F.W. Woolworth was the first American retailer to sell colored glass ornaments for Christmas trees in 1880.

You Will Need

• A ribbon
• A wire tie
• Scissors

Instructions

• Step 1: Wrap your present Wrap your present with whatever paper you have before making the bow.
• TIP: Wrap the present in newspaper – the bow will make the gift look great no matter what it’s wrapped in.
• Step 2: Cut a long piece of paper Cut a piece of wrapping paper long enough to wrap around the present lengthwise. Fold the edges under to make them uniform. Tape the ends together on the back of the package to make the ribbon portion of the bow.
• Step 3: Cut strips for the bow Cut four strips, 8 ½ inches long and three-quarters of an inch thick. Then cut one more strip, 4 inches long and three-quarters of an inch thick.
• Step 4: Construct first part of bow Fold two of the long pieces into loops. Stack them on top of each other and arrange them at 90-degree angles, like a T. Staple them through the center to hold the T together, and then repeat with the other two long strips.
• TIP: Repeat as many times as you like to add more loops to your bow.
• Step 5: Put the whole bow together Make another loop with the short piece and staple it from the inside of the loop to the center of the other loops.
• Step 6: Tape the bow onto the present Tape the bow onto the center of the strip you wrapped around the present so you have a large ribbon and bow around the gift.
• FACT: Did you know? On average each person uses approximately one 100-foot tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year.

You Will Need

• Wrapping paper
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Tape
• Newspaper (optional)

Instructions

• Step 1: Master the basic technique Master the basic wrapping technique: Begin by placing the gift box on the paper, top side down. Fold one end of the wrapping paper over the box to see how much paper you’ll need to completely cover it. Add two inches to that length, and cut the paper there.
• Step 2: Center the box Center the box, noting how much paper is on the short sides that are going to be folded and taped. Having enough paper to cover two-thirds of those sides when the paper is folded down is ideal. Any more, and it will bunch up when you try to fold the edges.
• TIP: If you have excess paper on those sides, push the box to the ideal distance on one side and trim the other side accordingly.
• Step 3: Start folding Fold one end of the paper over the top of the box. When you’re sure it’s straight, tape it to the box. Then fold the other end over it and tape again. If one edge of the paper is uneven from being cut, fold it over a bit to create a straight edge.
• TIP: Use double-sided tape for a more polished look.
• Step 4: Fold the edges Now fold the paper down over one of the sides of the box. Take the diagonals that have been formed and fold them inward. Then bring the bottom flap up and tape it in the center. Repeat with the other side.
• Step 5: Add a bow Press on a stick-on bow, or cut a piece of ribbon that’s about five times the length of the gift box & wrap it around the top of the package, lengthwise, until the ends meet in the middle of the bottom of the box. Twist them around each other at the center of the box, bring them back up to the top of the package, & make a knot before tying a bow.
• TIP: If the ribbon is ribbed, take a pair of scissors, hold the ribbon ends taut, and pull the blade along them to make curls.
• Step 6: Solve the size problem Wrap an oversize present by taking apart some large cardboard moving boxes and building one big bottomless box that you can cover in paper and place over the gift. Or, just smother the present in balloons.
• Step 7: Cover in fabric Wrap gifts with sharp edges in fabric; it won’t tear like paper. Just plop the item in the center, gather the material at the top, and tie with a thick ribbon. Fabric shops offer great deals on end-of-the-bolt pieces.
• TIP: Have a big, bulky present for a child? Wrap it in a bedsheet featuring their favorite cartoon character.
• Step 8: Recycle household goods Think about everyday items that could hold hard-to-wrap gifts: Chinese takeout containers, empty paper towel rolls, oatmeal canisters.
• Step 9: Create a gift set A dramatic way to present three or four gifts of varying sizes is to create a gift tower: Place the presents in matching boxes of descending size, wrap the boxes in the same or complementary paper, stack them, and tie the tower together with ribbon.
• FACT: Nineteen percent of Americans say they’d rather clean the house than wrap presents!

You Will Need

• A gift box
• Wrapping paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• A bow or ribbon
• Cardboard boxes or balloons
• Fabric
• Childrenu2019s bedsheets
• Chinese takeout containers
• empty paper towel rolls
• or oatmeal canisters
• Matching boxes in various sizes
• Two-sided tape