3 ways to adorn your holiday gifts with a picture perfect bow: Video

You did a great job wrapping the presents, but your work isn’t done yet. The gift still needs ribbons and bows. It may sound like a daunting task—something only one of Santa’s highly trained elves could master—but it’s actually quite simple.

Start by choosing the right ribbon. If you’re unsure how to match it with your wrapping paper, go for complementary colors or patterns. A patterned ribbon pairs well with solid paper, or choose a ribbon that picks up a secondary color in the wrapping paper.

These tying methods work for all types and sizes of ribbon, so don’t be afraid to try them with wider or stiffer varieties. You might surprise yourself! And if all else fails, double-sided tape is a tremendous help.

Watch this video for three ribbon typing techniques for you to try while wrapping gifts. 

How to tie a bow with ribbon on a present

Don’t be afraid to get creative and try different bow styles when wrapping your presents.

To estimate how much ribbon you’ll need, wrap it around the box three times and add a little extra for tying.

To tie an offset cross: 

1. Place the ribbon across the box where you want the top part of the cross to be. Think: the crossbar ‘-’ section of the cross.
2. Securing the ribbon with your fingers, flip the box over and cross the sides of ribbons at a 90º angle. This should form interlocking ‘L’ shapes and the ribbons should be perpendicular to the ribbon you laid in step 1. 
3. Holding the ribbon firmly, flip the box back over and create a similar interlocking ‘L’ where the ribbons all intersect. Pull it tight. 
4. Fold one end of the ribbon under the Step 1 ribbon. Repeat this with the other ribbon end, going in the opposite direction.
5. Tie your bow. 
6. Twist the ribbon until everything is sitting in place. 
7. Trim the edges if needed to make everything even.  

To tie a ribbon in a diagonal pattern: 

1. Wrap the ribbon around the top corner of the gift. Don’t start with the raw egde of the ribbon, you’ll need some extra to tie your bow later. 
2. Hold it in place with your fingers and wrap it around the bottom corner. 
3. Loop it back around to meet the top corner.
4. Loop the ribbon underneath and make your bow.
5. Trim the excess so the ribbon tails match. You can also cut the ribbon at an angle for an extra professional touch. 

To tie a center top bow ribbon: 

1. Fold your ribbon in half. Lay the ribbon down, with the looped side at the top. 
2. Place the present on top of the ribbon.
3. Pass the ends of the ribbon through the looped side and pull tight. Keep the place where the ribbons meet at the top edge of the present.
4. Spread the ribbons so they create a triangle shape across the box. Adjust until everything is nice and tight. 
5. Tie and finesse the bow, ribbons and tails until they’re sitting where you want them. 

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How to wrap the perfect present

Wrapping paper tends to curl while you’re working with it, so start by rolling it out the other way. To figure out how much paper you’ll need, place your gift at the edge, rotate it three times, add a couple of extra inches, and cut.

For the sides of the box, the paper should come up about three-quarters of the way. Trim any excess as needed.

Place the box upside down on the paper and fold up one long side. It should cover about an inch of the side facing you. Tape it in place, then gently press the box into the taped corner to make sure the paper is snug.

Watch this video for a step-by-step tutorial.

Next, fold the other long side of the paper over the box until it meets the first. You can tape it where the paper naturally overlaps, or fold the edge under for a cleaner finish. Crease it sharply and tape it down.

For the ends, fold each corner in to create a triangle. Repeat on the opposite corner. Flipping the box over can help you press the creases firmly. Fold the triangles in and tape them down. Repeat on the other end, add a bow or ribbon and a tag, and your gift is ready to go.