We know it's what's on the inside that counts, but sometimes it's nice for the outside to matter, too. Especially in the case of hand-wrapped Christmas presents, because nothing looks better under the tree than a beautifully wrapped gift. These holiday hacks will step up your gift-wrapping skills and make your presents shine from the inside out.
— Additional reporting by Macy Cate Williams, Patricia Pan, Emily Co, Laurel Stavros, and Sarah Lipoff
The Japanese department store Takashimaya has gone viral over the past few years for its unique and crazy-fast gift-wrapping method. YouTube user BeatTheBush created a video that breaks down the steps for you so that you can try wrapping presents like this yourself. All it takes are three pieces of tape and three folds. Watch how to do it, then master the method so you can save tons of time — it will take just 15 seconds once you become a pro!
Looking for a way to add a touch of sparkle to your gifts this season? This tutorial will show you how to inexpensively transform plain paper into modern gift wrap. With just a few simple tools, you'll be ready to get started. The gold polka-dot pattern is just so pretty and effortless to make that it might just become your go-to gift wrap for every occasion.
Wrapping really big gifts can be so difficult. Often, the wrapping paper width isn't long enough and the size of the gift makes it difficult to maneuver. Expert Jane Means has a really helpful trick for dressing up those especially large presents. Take a look at her tutorial before you get to work!
Make any gift that much cuter with the help of pom-poms and twine!Be sure to save some pieces for garland, too. Read the whole tutorial here.
Use regular sheets of white tissue paper or upcycle a brown paper bag into this chic printed wrapping paper that makes any gift just a little more special. And you only need a couple of basic materials for crafting this pretty paper. Make it even better by tailoring the paper around the special event or holiday by using colors that coordinate.
There are some gifts that seem impossible to wrap. The first thing that comes to mind is a ball — the round shape makes it especially tricky. Gift-wrapping expert Jane Means shows viewers how to easily wrap a ball without any difficulties. She even has a hack for keeping it from rolling around. Take a look!
Get everything you need from the dollar store to make these salt-dough gift tags that hardly look homemade. This recipe also creates cute holiday ornaments that are so chic. Make on your own, or gather your gal pals for a fun night of getting crafty. You can even make these with your nieces and nephews!
The man behind the viral Japanese gift-wrapping hack has another video that will totally impress you. This time, he's speed wrapping a gift with the traditional method that most people are familiar with. He's able to perfectly complete a present in just one minute and 19 seconds! You can totally do this too — see how it goes down!
Make homemade bows for your gifts that will leave everyone wondering if you had your packages wrapped by a professional. And these pretty present toppers are so easy to make!
Gift wrapping expert Jane Means has a genius gift wrapping hack that is extremely creative. In this tutorial, she pleats the wrapping paper to give it a layered look that stands out. We also love the idea of using folds because you could easily slip a card into one of them. Take a look at how she does it!
Get creative with your wrapping this year and use materials you have around the home. Kraft paper, in particular, is great to experiment with, because it pretty much goes with everything.
The holidays are a time to give wine and spirits, but you don't want to show up to a party with a bare bottle. You have to dress it up! Bottles can be awkward to wrap, so gift wrap styling expert Jane Means is showing viewers how to complete the task with ease. She uses a cool pleating method that will make your gift look streamlined and beautiful. Check it out!
If you're terrible at wrapping presents, trust us — you're not alone. Take away the stress and follow these no-fail directions for presents that look like they've been packaged by a pro.
Make your gifts the sparkliest, shiniest ones beneath the tree with A Cozy Kitchen's tutorial.