With a week to go until the big day and the onset of family imminent for many households, countless minds will be turning to packaging up our presents before the house is full and there’s plenty to do.
Well, waste no more time thinking about it – at least, until you’ve read this.
FEMAIL teamed up with Ferrero Rocher and acclaimed gift-wrapping guru, Shiho Masuda, of YouTube and blog fame, to find out how you can parcel up your presents like a pro, and her ten simple tips for doing so.
Whether you’re in the mood to personalise the design of your wrapping or you want to disguise something obvious, consider this the ultimate guide to gift-wrapping.
FEMAIL teamed up with gift-wrapping guru, Shiho Masuda (pictured) to find out how you can parcel up your presents like a pro, and her ten simple tips for doing so
Whether you’re in the mood to personalise the design of your wrapping or you want to disguise something obvious, consider this the ultimate guide to gift-wrapping (pictured: Shiho’s gifts)
First on Shiho’s list is you should create a theme for your present wrapping – whether it’s rustic or bright and beautiful (stock image)
1. Create a theme
First on Shiho’s list is you should create a theme for your present wrapping:
‘Come up with a basic theme and get the papers and ribbons to go with it,’ she explained to FEMAIL.
‘You might go for rustic charm or bright and beautiful. But having an idea before you begin will help your wrapping project go smoothly.’
Shiho is a master of wrapping everything – from bottles to round circular boxes and odd-shaped items.
2. Make sure you’ve got the right tools
Next up, you need to make sure you’ve got the right tools in place, so you’re not running around looking for sellotape while pinning down your wrapping with anything close by:
‘A sharp pair of scissors are a must for clean, straight edges,’ Shiho said.
‘Double-sided tape is a gift wrapper’s best friend to ensure a neat and seamless, beautifully-presented gift.’
If you’re planning on accessorising with ribbon, bows or anything else, have them close to hand, too.
‘Double-sided tape is a gift wrapper’s best friend to ensure a neat and seamless, beautifully-presented gift,’ Shiho explained to FEMAIL (pictured: her gifts)
3. Choose your workspace carefully
‘Having a large, hard-surfaced table to work on is important to complete the jobs efficiently and creatively,’ Shiho said.
‘Working on the floor or carpet can make your wrapping harder to control.’
‘Having a large, hard-surfaced table to work on is important to complete the jobs efficiently and creatively,’ Shiho said – the floor or carpet leaves things hard to control (pictured: Shiho’s gifts)
4. Choose the correct-sized paper
Easier said than done, making sure you have the right-sized paper will ensure your gift looks neat, tidy and without any awkward parts:
‘Measure and cut your paper to the right size to fit your gift,’ Shiho said (stock image)
‘Measure and cut your paper to the right size to fit your gift,’ Shiho said.
‘Cutting the paper to the exact size you need will help you to wrap – and make it look cleaner.’
Shiho demonstrates countless beautiful – and easy – ways to wrap a bottle of wine or Champagne on her Instagram – proving it doesn’t just have to be a wine bag or a piece of paper scrumpled at the top.
In her three demonstrations, she shows how it’s possible to ensure a bottle of wine doesn’t even look like one with clever wrapping.
5. Technique is important
‘When wrapping your gift, always make sure the paper is wrapped tightly,’ Shiho said.
‘Any folds you make, follow the same technique to keep all the folds tight and pressed against the box.’
Shiho demonstrates countless beautiful – and easy – ways to wrap a bottle of wine or Champagne on her Instagram page (pictured: two examples)
6. Have fun with the design
According to Shiho, Christmas is a time for having fun and showing off your creative edge:
‘It’s a nice touch to personalise your gift by creating a unique design for gift receivers,’ she said.
‘Create a shirt design for Dad’s shirt, or elegant pleats for your sister’s skirt.’
If you’re artistic, people will appreciate the thought and effort you’ve put into your gift.
There are also ways in which you can disguise your presents, whether they are for men or women (pictured)
7. Have fun with ‘toppings’
While a present is not a cake, that doesn’t mean you can’t get festive with a few frills and additions:
‘Have fun with toppings,’ Shiho said.
‘Toppings are a nice addition, whether they’re on cake, pizza or gifts. Get creative and incorporate natural materials onto your gift such as red berry branches, evergreen sprigs and cinnamon sticks.’
This not only adds to the festive mood, but ‘creates a natural scent that will boost the holiday spirit’.
Wrap some BBQ tongs inside a pair of boxers and slide them both inside a mailing tube – this will both confuse your loved one and be the gift that keeps on giving
8. Try using different types of materials
‘Store bought wrapping paper ribbons are not the only choice of gift wrapping materials,’ Shiho said.
‘Household items such as wax paper, newspaper, magazines and empty product boxes can be great wrapping materials, too.’
Shiho also decorates using traditional Japanese wrapping paper, washi, masking tape or other papers to add bright, colourful edges.
‘Household items such as wax paper, newspaper, magazines and empty product boxes can be great wrapping materials, too,’ Shiho (pictured) explained
9. Embrace fabric options
Shiho is aware that many people travel great distances to see their nearest and dearest over the holiday season.
But she also said you needn’t be worried about that delicate item in your hold bag.
‘Many of us have to travel with holiday gifts and using fabric to gift wrap is a great way to not damage or end up with wrinkled paper,’ she said.
‘Fabric can be easily unwrapped and wrapped again and it can often be part of the gift itself.’
Last but certainly not least, have fun with your presents – create a holiday-like atmosphere and surround yourself with beautiful papers and ribbons (pictured: two gifts)
10. Have fun
Last but certainly not least, have fun with your presents:
‘Get into the spirit and create a holiday ambiance with Christmas tunes, your favourite holiday drinks and sweets – and surround yourself with the beautiful wrapping papers, ribbons and other materials,’ Shiho said.
‘It will be impossible not to get into the Christmas mood!’.
To follow Shiho Masuda on Instagram, please click here. To find out more about Ferrero Rocher, click here.