Beautiful Gift Wrapping – Step by Step Ribbon Bows

Gift Wrapping Made Easy

Beautiful Gift Wrapping makes any present special. This post will show you how to easily create a beautifully wrapped gift topped with a beautiful ribbon bow.  Wrapping a gift beautifully is such an easy thing to do, but elevates the gift by leaps and bounds.

Have you ever had anyone hand you an unwrapped gift and say, ” I got one of these for (insert name), too?”

Yeah, I have had that happen and yes it made the gift a little less than spectacular.

There is just something special about a beautifully wrapped gift, isn’t there?  Word to the wise, if you bought an identical gift for someone else, keep that to yourself!  Don’t share that with the recipient!

I’ve told you before that I worked in a nice clothing store.  One thing they taught me is that tissue paper elevates any gift.  Inexpensive tissue paper creates a little mystery and adds a little bit of opulence.  Just imagine gently moving layers of tissue paper to the side to reveal a thoughtful gift.  At the store, we also added a little gold seal with the company emblem on it.  (Maybe gold seals with your monogram would be a great idea for this!)

That same gift tossed into a bare box doesn’t create the same feeling now, does it?  Tissue paper is your friend!  (Add a gold seal on it and that takes it to a whole new level!)

How To Fold Tissue Paper For Gift Wrapping

The first thing you need to do is lay 2 sets of double sheets of tissue paper out flat next to your box.  (This box is 14-1/2″ x 9-1/2″.  If yours is smaller, you might only need 1 set of double sheets of tissue paper.)

 

With one hand, on each side of the doubled tissue paper, pull up a ridge toward the middle of the lengthwise paper.  Pulling the paper up to create a ridge, visually measure and line the tissue up measure the same length as your box.

 

Then, create a soft fold so the tissue will fit into the box perfectly.  You can do each double section separately but you want the soft fold to line up and overlap.

Lay the tissues in the box, leaving enough overhang on both sides to fold the tissue up over both sides.

 

Placing The Gift In The Box

First, take the clothing off of the hangers.

In this case, there was a matching panty.  So, the panty was laid on the tissue in the box first.  Debating which way to put the dress in the box, I finally decided to place it in the box sideways.  The dress fit the box best when it was folded in half.

Next, fold the tissue from the bottom up over the dress.

 

Then, fold the tissue down from the top.

 

Place the lid on the box.

 

Gift Wrapping How-To

Cut a piece of gift wrapping paper large enough to wrap around the box and have excess.  (This box was small enough to cut the paper across the width.)

Cut the paper wide enough to give a little excess paper on each end for folding.

I’ve seen people who cut the paper perfectly to size and tape the cut edges.  Doesn’t the folded edge look better?  And, it is more forgiving, too.

 

Turn the box upside down!  Place the box in the middle of the paper, making sure the overhanging paper on both sides is equal.  (Yes, that would be the middle…)

 

Bring one side of the wrapping paper up over the box and over the edge about 1 inch.  Crease the paper along the edge of the box.  Pull the paper back away from the box and run your finger over the entire length and crease on a hard surface.  (The little hand in the picture above is Sophie’s.  She was helping Grammy.)

 

Pull the edge that is not folded, snuggly up over the bottom of the box.  Next, pull the folded edge down, over, and line the folded edge up with the bottom edge of the box.

 

Being careful not to move the box on the paper, lay the folded edge down and tape a generous piece of double-sided tape along the edge of the folded paper on the side with the 1-inch overhang.

Carefully, bring the taped side up, line up the folded edge with the side of the box and press the tape down to secure.

I have seen where others have the seam edge in the middle of the bottom of the box and you can do that.  The seam opening on the edge just seems better to me.

 

On one end of the box, with the seam side up, fold the paper back along the end of the box.  Crease along the edge of the box and the overhanging paper creating an angled edge.

 

Next,  hold the paper against the end of the box with one hand.  Make another crease right along the top edge.  Then lay the loose top paper down, fold it, and crease it to match.

 

Pull the flap down over the end, crease along the bottom, and with scissors, trim along the crease.

Fold the bottom flap up and over the end of the box.

Crease the paper along the edge of the box.  Lay the flap back down and using your finger, make a nice sharp crease against a hard surface.  Remember, when the gift is top facing up, this flap should face down and toward the bottom of the gift, not facing up toward the top!

Place double-sided tape across the top of the inside flap.

Press the flap against the end of the box.  Flip it over, right side up.  Now, it’s ready for ribbons and bows.

 

How to Make Beautiful Ribbon Bows

Don’t you love wired ribbons?  Wired ribbon makes the most beautiful bows!  (If you purchase ribbon through this link, we will receive a small percentage.  Thanks for supporting this website.)  You have probably seen instructions on how to make wire ribbon bows where the loops are clipped in a ‘V’ on both sides in the center.

What?  Why would you do that?  The wire at the base of the bow is no longer supported.  (Maybe I should try it, just to see.)  Well, in the instructions that follow, you can make a beautiful bow that stands tall and it is quite easy!  What’s more,  you can untie the bows and roll the ribbon up and use it again.

Bow How-To

The first thing you need to do is to wrap the ribbon around your package.  There are a few ways to do this but today we will be wrapping the ribbon around the package once, following a row of ducklings.  You will need the package right side up.   Hold the ribbon on each side of the box, lift the package slightly, and position the ribbon under the box.  Cut the ribbon, allowing enough length to tie an overhand knot.

Thread one ribbon over the other.  Pull the ribbon ends up tightly and slightly twist the ribbons where they intersect.  The wire will hold the ribbon in place.

Making The Bow

Decide how large or small you want the loops of the bow by holding a loop up to the package.

 

Next, hold the ribbon in one hand and loop the ribbon back and forth, making an even amount of loops.  These can all be the same size or varying sizes.

Place the loops on the twisted ribbon, pull up the Pull loose tails, and thread one tail over the other.

 

Pull on both tails making a tight overhand knot.

 

One by one, pull the loops up with your finger inside the loop.  (Don’t smash or crease the loop!)  Twist the loop at the base, tweak, and position where you want each.

 

If you would like to use a satin ribbon, instead of the wire ribbon, and use one continuous piece, check out this post.► DIY Ribbon Bow.  

Beautiful Gift Wrapping – Step-by-Step Ribbon Bows, it really is pretty easy, isn’t it?

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