Learning to wrap presents?

[KSchwagg86]

First of all--Merry Christmas!! Secondly, how did you learn how to wrap gifts? When I do it, it turns into a huge mess--awful...tape is everywhere, the white part of the paper is sticking up, I have uneven sides...

How did you learn?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Um, my mom taught us. Then, many years later (after seeing my lack of success ) my mom taught me about gift bags.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I don't remember. Now you can just use the internet. I am sure you will find multiple places.

Ah here is a gal on YouTube....plus there are many more. Some which show you tips and tricks. Gotta love YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTBxwi18sEw

 

[Skywalker]

First of all--Merry Christmas!! Secondly, how did you learn how to wrap gifts? When I do it, it turns into a huge mess--awful...tape is everywhere, the white part of the paper is sticking up, I have uneven sides...

How did you learn?

Hey those sound like my presents! I think I'll be checking out those You Tube videos too.

 

[Becky2005]

I don't know -- I'm still not good at it if it's an odd shaped thing.

I did learn some by watching someone at the gift wrap counter once where I worked as she wrapped a gift while I was talking to her about something. I always wondered how they got the edges so crisp until I saw her do the fold under BEFORE putting the 2 sides together in the middle. I usually don't do it anyway though because I figure most of the time the paper is just going to be ripped off, so it doesn't matter how pretty it is.

The only real unwritten rule in our family is to use as much tape as humanely possible on each present. It's seems to be a running joke and it goes into extended family on my mom's side. I'm convinced sometimes a whole roll of tape is used on certain presents. I guess that makes up for our lack of skill -- we just tape the paper down so well that it isn't going anywhere.

 

[englishteacha]

I learned by watching my mom. When I was little, I would draw my parents pictures and insist on wrapping them as presents...all the time. So not only did my mom teach me how to wrap, she taught me how to wrap so she could UNwrap it without destroying the paper. She'd give me back the paper for the next batch of "presents" to wrap! She kept a box of gently used wrapping paper under her bed for me to use.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

It is so funny I am reading this today. Just yesterday, as I was wrapping the last minute gifts, I was thinking I have to be the worst wrapper. You would think after 42 years, I would have wrapping perfected. Nope.

I don't know how some people have their gifts wrapped so neat and perfect. I never had a lesson, maybe that's it?

 

[nmmom95]

My mom taught me. I was trying to show DS11 the other day, and I thought the gift was crumpled up paper and almost threw it out. There's something to be said for gift bags.

 

[RangerPooh]

I learned from my mom, and plenty of practice. If you are DH then you probably need a tutorial Not that he's terrible at it, but he needs some practice. This year he asked my mom to wrap my gifts so they looked nice

 

[vegasnative]

When I was 16 I got a part time job at Montgomery Wards, in the credit department. Along with our duties of taking credit card payments & apps we also gift wrapped. One of the ladies I worked with showed me, and I still use the same techniques today. I remember one time, somone bought a BBQ, it was in a HUGE box and she wanted it gift wrapped. I couldn't even lift the box, so I had the guy bring it behind the counter for me. I think it probably turned out terrible, but the lady was happy and didn't seem to care.

 

[Becky2005]

When I was 16 I got a part time job at Montgomery Wards

This is where I worked when I was talking to the person wrapping, I was coming back I think with the cash bag or something and I saw her do the fold on the cut edge to make it a crisp edge. It was one of those things that stuck with me because it was a "DUH" moment for me. It was such a simple thing but I never would have thought to do that. Instead, my 'gee we can see she can't cut a straight line' edge was always taped up.

 

[cheermom1]

I was taught by my grandma ...she would explain it to me as she did it like when you come up like this always fold over to make a nice clean line before you put tape on ..it was great to sit there with her and do that

 

[Jennasis]

I was never taught and am AWFUL at it.

 

[minniebeth]

I just kind of did it, practice, practice and more practice! I LOVE to wrap gifts! Gift Bags definately make it easier these days.

 

[Jockaroo]

When I was 16 I got a part time job at Montgomery Wards, in the credit department. Along with our duties of taking credit card payments & apps we also gift wrapped. One of the ladies I worked with showed me, and I still use the same techniques today. I remember one time, somone bought a BBQ, it was in a HUGE box and she wanted it gift wrapped. I couldn't even lift the box, so I had the guy bring it behind the counter for me. I think it probably turned out terrible, but the lady was happy and didn't seem to care.

I was a Christmas gift wrapper at the Belk department stores for 4 years during my undergrad years. You do learn by default. Gift wrapping was a fun department (we offered a courtesy wrap for every purchase so we were busy) and if you couldn't learn within a shift or two you got reassigned. You learn to be good, neat and fast. Gift wrapping is one of my hidden talents.

 

[spacemermaid]

My dad taught me how to wrap presents, and even how to make boxes for the presents that don't fit into a pre-existing box...see the round one in the middle:

My dad used to be an architect & so was always happy to help me in my endeavors, whether it was building a model of the Peoplemover at Disneyland, or a cylindrical box for a present

Wrapping paper companies (Hallmark, Norcross, etc) used to make these fabulous pamphlets on how to wrap presents & make all sorts of bows; I have several that I've found at thrift stores and on Ebay, and they're an immense help!

 

[daisyduck123]

My mother taught me.

In the '50s, while in high school, she worked part-time in "Gift Wrap" in a department store...I think it was Macy's. I remember, as a child, watching her wrap gifts & I was amazed at how fast she could wrap.

 

[bumbershoot]

My dad taught me how to wrap presents, and even how to make boxes for the presents that don't fit into a pre-existing box...see the round one in the middle:

Those are *incredible*. I think I'll start doing that sort of thing once DS is a bit older...or maybe I should just make them like that for DH!


I learned from my mom, though I rarely give myself enough time to make things more than just "neat".

It does take watching someone, and seeing end results. For most of our xmases/yules, DH hasn't wrapped all that nicely. But the other night we sat down together and wrapped, and his practice has helped immensely! He did better than I did for many of the things he worked on.

 

[spacemermaid]

Those are *incredible*. I think I'll start doing that sort of thing once DS is a bit older...or maybe I should just make them like that for DH!


I learned from my mom, though I rarely give myself enough time to make things more than just "neat".

It does take watching someone, and seeing end results. For most of our xmases/yules, DH hasn't wrapped all that nicely. But the other night we sat down together and wrapped, and his practice has helped immensely! He did better than I did for many of the things he worked on.

Thank you! I had fun wrapping them! The ones in the picture were for adult family members...the kid family members got their presents wrapped in colored tissue paper, as I've found they get more joy out of tearing into a package & having the wrapping come off quickly than looking at fancy bows/wrapping paper

 

[DarthKTrava]

How did I learn?

PRACTICE. I know I'm not perfect. My aunt used to wrap gifts with corners so sharp you could cut things with it.... But I never could.

A friend of mine gave me a Bible one year. Couldn't tell from his wrap job.... It was a lumpy "mass" that didn't resemble a book at all.... I know I couldn't guess it was a book before I opened it.