Today, we start learning how to wrap a basic package with a no-seam wrapping. I always thought that I was a good "wrapper" having spent part of my youth in the gift wrapping department at JC Penney. When I started doing some consulting for Kate's Paperie here in NYC, I really learned how to wrap packages.
Step One: Start with a box. Find a box that fits your item or one that you can add extra paper inside so that they item does not damage or shake. There are plenty of free boxes available. The post office has free shipping boxes. Use free FedEx boxes. Every time you purchase clothes as for free gift boxes--even if you do not plan on using them immediately. A box provides nice clean corners so that wrapping is easier.
Step Two: Measure out your paper. I have friends that measure with a ruler or tape measure and you can certainly do this. After wrapping many presents, I tend to do this my sight. Although, I do measure when I use one-of-a-kind or expensive paper. As a rough measure, the width of the paper should wrap around the bottom and sides of the box and should overlap on the top of the box. Do not overlap so much that the paper continues over the side of the box. For the height dimension, the paper should extend over 1/2 of the side of the box on both ends. Most times, the height dimension is where paper is cut. Be sure to cut the paper in a straight line--this is important. For thinner papers, you can get away with just folding the paper down to the correct dimension. I will demonstrate a no-cut and one-cut wrapping later.
Step Three: Place the paper with the good side face down on a flat surface. Place the box on top of the wrong side of the paper. Bring the right side of the paper over the right side of the box (I am right handed so these instructions are based on that). Bring the paper to the left edge of the top of the box as shown below.
Crease the paper against the right side of the box. As shown below.
Move the right side of the paper off the box but keeping the box in place. Being sure not to move the box, bring the left side of the paper over the left side of the box and crease against the edge. Using a single piece of transparent tape, tape this side down--as shown below.
Turning the box, 90 degrees to your right (with the long attached paper facing you). Take a long piece of double sided tape and place on the edge of the wrong side of the paper as shown below.
Bring this edge up and over the side of the box so that it barely meets the top edge of the box. If the box has not moved and the paper has stayed tight against the box, there should be a negligible seam that just meets the side of the box. If this edge overlaps the side of the box, carefully lift off the paper and start over and re-crease until the seams don't show. The seam disappears even more if you use a busy pattern like I did.
Step Four: Turning down the sides. Rotate your box 90 degrees to your left so that the open end is facing you. Fold down the top edge towards you and crease along the top of the box--as shown below.
At the corner, crease the paper against the corner of the box as shown below.
Bring the loose corner, 90 degrees to the left and crease against the right side of the box and along the bottom of the box--I call these hospital corners (like I used to do with my bed sheets in the Navy). Repeat in the opposite direction on the left side of the box. If you are using thick paper or if the hospital corners are not laying flat against the side of the box, you can use a small piece of double sided tape under the corner as you bring it to the right).
Bring the bottom edge of the paper up and crease so that it looks like the image below. Do not tape this down yet.
Rotate the box 180 degrees so that the open edge is facing you. The important thing to remember is that you are still working on the bottom of the box. By following these rotations, you will have your flaps facing the same direction. Follow the steps above for this side of the box. When you get to the last step to bring the edge up, place a piece of double sided tape along the edge of the paper. You only need tape of this edge since you are using double sided tape. If you are using transparent tape or have thick paper, you can tape the top edge of the paper when you bring it down in the first part of this step. Once you have taped this side of the box, rotate the box 180 degrees again, and tape down this side of the box. You have already creased it, so all you have to is run a long piece of double sided tape along the open flap. Once done, your box should look like the one below.
This is your basic box wrapping which is the basis of most of the tutorials that follow. I will publish some future tutorials regarding troubleshooting and difficult wrappings. If you master the above steps, you can cover almost any box. I realize that it seems like a lot of steps and explanation, but it really goes faster once you are actually wrapping rather than reading about it.
Now for the fun part--decorating your wrapped box.
Step Five: Belly Bands: Take a piece of contrasting paper that is wide enough to wrap around the entire box and that overlaps. The height of the belly band should be aesthetically pleasing (but keep in mind, if you have a beautiful paper, you don't want to cover too much of it.
Place the good (or desirable) side down on the flat surface. Pick up the covered box (making sure that the bottom of the box is facing up). And place down on the belly band. Take the left side of the belly band and bring it up and over the side and take it down to the bottom of the box. You can use a small single piece of transparent tape for this (as shown below). Be sure that the location of the belly band is where you want it.
Place a long strip of double sided tape on the underside edge of the belly band to your right as shown below. Bring the right side of the belly band, up and over so that it overlaps the left side of the belly band. Be sure that the belly band is straight and aligned upon itself.
Turn the package over and you are ready for more decorations (e.g., bows and ribbons) which will be shown tomorrow.
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