Here's a Handy Guide for Wrapping Every Type of Hard-to-Wrap Gift—You'll Thank Us Later

Stephanie Osmanski
·6 min read

Have you ever wondered why every time the holiday season rolls around, we suddenly all pretend like we know what we're doing? Especially when it comes to gift-wrapping, you'd think after decades of doing it every year, we'd be better wrappers. But the hilarious truth of it is, most of us weren't professional gift-wrappers at a department store, so our gift-wrapping abilities leave a lot to be desired.

Well, not anymore! Thanks to TikTok—the app no one expected to teach us all.the.things!—creatives everywhere (like, the kind who actually know what they're doing when it comes to holiday gift-wrapping) are sharing their best, most intriguing tips about how to wrap like a pro.

Upgrade your gift-wrapping game this holiday with our ultimate guide to wrapping gifts—from wrapping oddly-shaped gifts and making bows out of scraps to making your own DIY wrapping paper at home! Keep reading for the best gift-wrapping tips from TikTok!

Related: Wait, THAT'S How You Wrap a Mug? Here's How to Easily Wrap This Oddly Shaped Gift

How to Wrap Gifts

Think gift-wrapping is easy? Think again. Wrapping the standard rectangle- or square-shaped gift might give you no grief but have you ever tried wrapping a present that is an abnormal shape? TGFTT—that's Thank God for TikTok—because the app is full of ingenious ways to wrap oddly-shaped presents.

How to Wrap a Cylindric or Circular Gift

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How to Wrap a Bath Bomb

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How to Wrap Liquor Bottles

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How to Wrap Clothes (Without a Box)

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How to Wrap a Backpack

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How to Wrap Other Oddly-Shaped Gifts

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How to Make a Bag Out of Wrapping Paper

No need to drive to the dollar store or your local Home Goods to snag a gift bag. If you've got wrapping paper and a few other household things laying around, you can actually make your own gift bag DIY-style.

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What You'll Need:

  • Scissors

  • Wrapping paper

  • Tape

  • Hole punch

  • Ribbon, string, or twine

Instructions:

  1. Place the gift in the middle of the wrapping paper, measuring the bottom and sides to make sure it fits. Remove the gift, then fold the paper in half, taping it closed.

  2. Next, fold the top and bottom edges and push the bottom edge inward so that the edges open into a triangle. Tape them.

  3. Fold inward again and then tape.

  4. You now have a bag! Flip the bag around and fold the sides in, making a crease. No need to tape, this just ensures that the sides collapse in.

  5. Open the bag at the top and slide your gift in. Fold the top over and punch two holes a few inches apart.

  6. Thread ribbon, string, or twine through the holes for a handle.

When gift-wrapping, it doesn't matter which method you use—there will always be scraps! And if you know what to do with them, those wrapping paper scraps can be put to good use. Like this awesome tutorial! You can use those wrapping paper scraps (that you would otherwise throw out) to make a cute paper bow.

What You'll Need:

  • Wrapping paper scraps (double-sided works best!)

  • Scissor

  • Tape

Instructions:

  1. Start with a piece of ribbon about 12 inches long (you can go longer or shorter, depending on what size you want your bow to be).

  2. Fold the strip of wrapping paper in half.

  3. Next, start cutting from the fold of the paper with your scissors. You want to cut in the shape of a first hill and then a second hill—kind of like an arc or a roller coaster track. (See the video above!)

  4. Turn the folded wrapping paper around and mirror the arcs you cut on the other side of the wrapping paper, starting at the bottom where the two flaps of wrapping paper meet.

  5. Notch the ends of the bow by cutting a triangle out of the bottom flaps.

  6. On the thinnest indent parts of the "bow," cut a slit halfway on the bottom edge. On the other thinnest indent part of the "bow," on the other side, cut a slit halfway across but on the top edge, so the slits on both are on opposite sides of the wrapping paper.

  7. Roll the wrapping paper into a circle, pairing the two opposite edge slits together, interlocking them into each other.

  8. Pinch the rest of the wrapping paper down so it sits on top of where the two slits interlock. It should start to look like a bow now!

  9. To make the tie in the middle of the bow, grab another wrapping paper scrap and wrap the scrap around the bow, taping it down.

How to Gift Wrap a Box

There are a few ways to gift wrap a box, but this year, TikTok is obsessed with one specific gift-wrapping technique. Instead of folding the paper in the traditional way to create straight, folded-over lines, this technique uses intricate folding techniques for an end result that kind of resembles a fancy pocket. You can stick the name tag in there, a flower, a pine branch, or a tiny little card!

Because it's a pretty intricate tutorial, we're leaving this one up to you. We recommend watching the TikTok below a zillion times to get it just right!

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How to Make Wrapping Paper at Home

Making your own wrapping paper is one of the most sustainable and creative things you can do this holiday season. There are infinite methods to making your own wrapping paper, so we've included five fun ones below for you to choose from.

Draw Wrapping Paper Print by Hand

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All you need to get started is a bit of craft paper and a few Sharpies! If you're not sure what to draw, log onto Pinterest for some holiday print inspiration.

Printed Paper

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For this make-your-own-wrapping-paper method, you'll need to create the design on a computer or your tablet first, then print it out with a Cricut or special tabloid 11 inches by 17 inches paper. The end result is a bit more patchwork-y than some of the other methods, but it's still a cool, creative way to DIY.

Oil Paint and Paint Thinner on 60-Pound Paper

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This DIY wrapping paper idea is no joke! But the end result is something exquisite, so as long as you have a bathtub to fill with paint thinner and oil paints, it might be well worth it. You'll also need 60-pound paper, too, so get over to your local craft store ASAP!

DIY Newspaper and Magazine Wrapping Paper

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Skip buying new craft or drawing paper and get real thrifty with it. If you've got excess newspapers or magazines laying around, don't throw them out! Transform them into gorgeous DIY wrapping paper by wrapping your present as normal, then adding in some rope or a ribbon, and a little flower.

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