How to Wrap a Gift Like a Pro
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No matter how simple or generous, a heartfelt present is always a sweet surprise. You put so much time into finding them the perfect gift, and though it is the thought that counts, beautiful gift wrapping makes the experience that much more special. If you struggle with wrapping presents or you’re just looking for some tips and tools to make it easier, then consider this your one-stop shop to tackle all of your gift wrapping woes.
Between white elephant gift exchanges, stocking stuffers for the family, the holiday party with your coworkers, and all the festive gatherings with friends, there are plenty of presents to wrap. Luckily, we’re here to help. We found a couple simple gadgets from Amazon that make gift wrapping go way smoother, so you’ll have a professional-looking present without any of the hassle. We also included some of our favorite holiday wrapping paper, cute accessories and gift tags, some eco-friendly alternatives, and plenty of inspo. Let’s get wrapping!
Watch Our Easy Gift Wrapping Tutorial
It really can be easy as pecan pie! With just a couple of small wrapping tools, a few pretty gift accessories, and some patience, you can wrap your present like a pro (in half the time and without the headache).
If you want crafty, creative gift wrapping inspiration, look no further than beneath our editor’s tree. Check out our TikTok video to see how she wrapped all her presents quickly, easily, and gorgeously!
We’ve laid out the tools and steps below so you easily can follow along. Thank goodness for modern-day gift wrapping gadgets!
First, Stock Up On the Essentials
Helpful Tools for Wrapping Presents
Little ELF Paper Cutter
This Little ELF knows his way around gift wrapping. In fact, it may even feel like you actually have a little elf helping you out this holiday season. It cuts your gift wrap right to size easily, quickly, and safely. One Amazon customer even wrote, “You almost feel like an alchemist transforming ordinary paper into gilded sheets of festive exuberance.” Here’s how to use it:
- Roll out your paper to size.
- Wrap your ELF around the base of the wrapping paper tube.
- Glide the ELF across the wrapping paper to cut.
Voilà! You have yourself a perfectly straight piece of wrapping paper (sans the paper cuts).
Wrap Buddies Paper Clamps
Using the Wrap Buddies will totally change your mind about wrapping paper. More often than not, toying with wrapping paper and making sure it stays put in the position that you want requires a balancing act of holding one side down with scissors while measuring around the box with the other hand. And before you know it, the paper’s cut too short and you’re trying to rig a spare piece of wrapping paper around the present…
Say “goodbye” to all that. The Wrap Buddies easily clamp down onto your countertop or table to stretch out the wrapping paper to the perfect size. They also comes with a built-in slot to store your tape for easy use!
DIY Wrapping Paper
If you’re feeling extra crafty this season, consider making your own wrapping paper. It’s easier than it sounds—trust us! Kraft paper is super inexpensive (we found an option for 80 feet of paper for about $5 below) and from there, all you’ll need are rubber stamps and ink or permanent markers to make your one-of-a-kind wrapping paper. Oh, and don’t forget we have free printable gift tags to top it all off, too!
Craft Supplies for DIY Gift Wrap
Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas
Tap into your artistic side with festive gift tags, Christmas-themed stickers, hand-drawn glittery trees, or cute gift wrap accessories that make your present sparkle. You can go chic and classic with a triple-wrapped velvet bow, or follow in our editor’s footsteps to create a gorgeous Christmas tree out of ribbon and tape it onto the top of your present. The possibilities are endless! Bonus points if you keep a color scheme or motif going with all of your presents.
Easy Gift Wrapping Supplies
Sustainable Wrapping Tips
If you’re looking to stay more sustainable this holiday season, there are also some small steps you can take to go green. Reducing your use of single-use gift wrap and going for a more eco-friendly option is a great place to start. There are plenty of gift wrap alternatives that you likely have lying around your own house, like newspaper, scarves or spare fabric, or even kitchen wax paper.
However, there are also some shops that sell gift wrap that’s made from 100% recycled paper, so you can rest easy knowing your wrapping paper has been given a second life. Other options are to buy reusable gift wrap, fabric gift sacks, or reusable gift boxes that your loved one could then use in the home. It’s like two gifts in one.
Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap
Traditional Gift Wrap Supplies
If you like the look of traditional wrapping paper, there are plenty of gorgeous options out there that range in aesthetics, from retro Christmas wrapping paper to kitschy candy cane stripes, glittery paper with festive motifs, and even chic options like the partridge wrapping paper below, as an ode to the famous holiday song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
Chic Holiday Wrapping Paper
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Bree Pulver O'Hagan
Bree is the Senior Digital Editor at DrewandJonathan.com. In the past, she’s worked for publications focused on home improvement and sustainable living. Bree’s Pinterest board is filled with cozy textures; vintage patterns; sculptural furniture; and moody, warm-toned colors. She has a degree concentrated in the intersection of writing and architecture, which influences her passion for exploring creative solutions to unusual home layouts and stylish renter-friendly decor. She’s a self-proclaimed pro at finding the best antique furniture in the most unlikely of places (but her cat Blue can certainly back these claims).
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