Everyone likes to see a beautifully wrapped gift. It's a creative activity that's fun and brings joy to both the person giving the gift and the person receiving it. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it's a part of gift-giving. In fact the act of presenting a gift can be as important as the gift itself. Here are a few hints to help give your next gift wrap project that extra special touch.

Select gift wrapping using the same principles you do for clothing and home furnishings. Match or coordinate patterns, colors, and textures to create an attractive, finished design.

Use a box to make the gift easier to wrap as well as to disguise and protect the gift.

Lay the paper on a table with decorative side down. Place the box in the center of the paper and wrap it around the box, measuring enough to go around three sides and overlap on the bottom. Cut wrapping paper to fit, leaving a few inches extra to allow for the overlapping and also enough to fold at each end of the box.

Wrap the paper around the box. For a professional, finished look, fold under the exposed or top edge of the paper along the overlapped edge. Make a sharp, flat crease that will lie flat. Use double-stick tape to fasten this folded-under edge in place.

When folding the ends toward the box, sharply crease the edges at an angle to fit against the box side. Lap one end piece over the other and fasten with double-stick tape. Repeat on other end of the box.

Finish a gift wrap with ribbon and bow, cutting the ends of ribbons with a slant or “v” cut.

For a quick wrap simply keep gift bags on hand. Then all you need to do is add tissue paper, place the gift inside the bag, and top with a fancy ribbon and ornament.

Use two or even three layers of different colors of crisp tissue paper to add flair and excitement when opening the gift.

References: Adler, Linda. Gift Wrapping/Trends and Presentations. 2007.

Summerlin, Linda. Let's Wrap! Spectacular Gift Wrapping Made Easy. Absolute Press, Encino, CA. 2004. Source: Linda Adler, Extension Specialist for Home Furnishings, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture