NO PLACE LIKE HOME -- karen wight

I know this may sound a little excessive, but today’s column is devoted

exclusively to wrapping a package. With a little extra effort, this

simple task can create a masterpiece, a joy to behold, a thing of beauty

... you get the idea.

Let’s begin with the basics. Pick a good box. It makes me crazy when you

go to the store and spend a fair amount of money and you don’t get a gift

box. I guess I won’t mention the stores here, but if you sell clothing

items, you should be prepared to give the customer a gift box. There, now

I feel better.

I used to store old boxes in a closet, but they take up so much space and

somehow they get trashed from their first wrapping incarnation, so I have

resorted to buying new boxes and storing them flat in the closet until I

need them.

Container Wares is a good place to find great boxes. In fact, they have

some boxes that make wrapping unnecessary. My husband likes this no-wrap

concept, but I can’t imagine finding him in Container Wares looking for a

great box for the gift that, well, he probably didn’t buy. Sorry honey,

you know it’s true.

Back to my point. Stock up on some good gift boxes in sizes that are

generic (T-shirt, tie, sweater size). Don’t forget the white tissue

paper. Even if your gift is unbreakable and doesn’t need the extra

padding, tissue paper is a must. Line your box with tissue so you can

fold the tissue over the top of the gift. This gives you a very

professional start.

Next is the wrapping paper. I’m a simple girl (an oxymoron, I know). I

like solid color paper the best because it highlights the spectacular bow

that you will be creating momentarily.

I always keep a big roll of craft paper (the brown, generic kind), gold

and silver paper for holiday wrapping, and white glossy wrap for any

other occasion that pops up during the year. This philosophy makes it

very easy when your children bring home those gift-wrap catalogs from

school (one year we had three different sets to pick from). Order plain

wrap, order tissue paper and you’ll never have to look at those rolls of

“mistakes” in the closet.

We move on to adhesion. Buy some two-sided tape. This remarkable creation

makes it possible to almost hide the seams of your paper. No filmy tape

pieces showing on your gorgeous package, no sir.

Place your package in the center of your paper, cut enough to do the job

adequately and create a seam down the back center of the box when you

tape. The ribbon you use will hide the paper seam altogether. Fold the

ends in on the sides, the bottom flap coming over the back, and use your

two-sided tape to create a clean edge.

Now for the fun part: ribbons, raffia, Jute, gold cord, pearls, tulle,

velvet and yarn. You get the idea. The sky is the limit when it comes to

bows. Pick one ribbon for your base color and use it to go over and

around your wrapped box.

This year’s color choices at our house are red, green and purple. Bows

can be monotone or a combo of two or more colors. I like to combine

textures, adding ribbon, tulle and gold cord together. Some of the bows

will get an ornament added to the center. Plan ahead so you will have

enough ribbon and gimmicks to finish the job. Once you start, you don’t

want to run out of “stuff.”

If you’re going for the full bow effect, gather your elements together

and loop them around at least three times. Pinch the loops in the center

and use an extra piece of ribbon to tie it in the middle of your ribbon

intersection. Tie a knot to solidly anchor the bow in place. Once this is

done, you can pull, fluff and arrange the loops to perfection.

If you want to add an ornament (holly, angel, poinsettia, star, candy

cane, pine cone) to the center of your bow, use a piece of florist’s

wire, a handy tie, or a thin piece of ribbon to secure the extra element

to the center.

Are you thinking this is over the top? You won’t regret the extra time

spent when you get those “oohs” and “ahs” from your family and friends as

you put those splendid packages under the tree.

There is a little extra bonus in all of this preparation for you, too.

Packages that are wrapped oh-so-carefully are a beast to unwrap. So all

that time wrapping and fussing pays off when your anxious receiver has to

really work to open their gift.

Or, if you’re nicer than I am, you can have a pair of scissors ready to

cut the ribbon. But why miss out on a little fun? ‘Tis the season.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident who owned Wight House Design

for 10 years. Her column runs Saturdays.

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