Ok, GAR...
I'm proud of you for getting all of your shopping done - now let's tackle your wrapping. I love you little brother, but I'm not planning on staying up with you on Christmas Eve to do it! .
Jojo was going REALLY fast, but I think I got the jist... Ready?
Measure your paper... You want it to go all the way over the box and up both sides.
Cut the paper off the roll. With the box upside down, fold one side of the paper up and more than half way over the box. Crease along the edge.
Use a little piece of tape to secure that part of the paper so it doesn't slip while you're wrapping the other side over.
Pull the loose edge of paper over the box and crease it so that the fold hits the center of the box's bottom. This makes a nice neat edge, ensures the paper is centered, and guarantees the box is covered.
Fold the tape in half lengthwise with the sticky edge out before putting it under the fold edge of your wrapping paper. Doing this hides the tape so the box looks pretty. (Yes, people notice.)
Most important part of the wrapping process? Make sure you have good help and feline supervision.
Choose a n end to start on. Keeping the box upside down, push the top flap down flush with the edge of the box and crease each side to make flaps.
Repeat on the other side so that it looks like this...
Fold in one side. Jojo works from right to left. Work whichever way is easiest for you.
Crease along the outside edge and the inside bottom edge.
Repeat with the other side. If it doesn't seem to be working back up and make sure all of your edges are flush and creased firmly.
Make sure you crease that inside edge really good!
Back roll your ribbon and firmly pull the tab up to the top (really the bottom) of the box.
Repeat with the other end...
and you are done wrapping! Now for the bow...
Unroll enough to wrap once around your box.
Start with the ribbon on the top of the box with the box right side up.
Flip the box over and take the ribbon around the opposite sides back to the top.
Pull the ribbon tight and leave it the tails to tie on the bow.
Start the bow by folding the ribbon. The tail on the inside needs to extend past the center point so that it stays together later when you cut.
Fold the ribbon on the other side and repeat back and forth until there are three or four layers on each side.
Cut the tail of the ribbon past the center point.
Find the center of the ribbon and make a mental note.
Cut a triangle shaped notch out of the center of the ribbon.
Repeat on the other side.
Like so...
Tie your bow onto your box using the ribbon you've already wrapped around it.
Pull tight and firm! No need to knot... just once around will do.
Trim the ends so that they are just a little longer than the bow loops.
Start pulling the bow loops out, beginning with the inner most loops (on the inside of the stack), alternating sides. Arrange the loops of the bow as you go.
You can always arrange and rearrange the loops until it looks just right.
All done! Don't forget a gift tag (or at least write on the bottom in Sharpie!).
Ginger isn't very impressed with my narration and photography skills, but I hope it helped you! Now, forever and ever, you'll have a reminder of how to wrap a perfect present and make a perfect bow!
