How to Wrap Awkward-Shaped Gifts
Bottles, balls, mugs and soft toys are the gifts that defeat a flat sheet of paper. The trick is to stop fighting the shape and wrap it the way it wants to be wrapped. Here are two reliable methods that turn tricky shapes into presents that still look the part.
The cracker method for round and cylindrical gifts
- Lay the gift on its side near the edge of a sheet and roll it up so the paper wraps around it once with a small overlap. Tape the seam.
- At each open end, gather the paper in and pinch it against the gift.
- Tie each gathered end with ribbon or a twist of curling ribbon.
- Fan out the paper ends and trim them level for a neat cracker finish.
This is perfect for bottles, candles, mugs and anything roughly tube shaped.
The bag-and-tissue rescue for truly odd shapes
Some gifts simply will not wrap. Soft toys, footballs, plants and gift sets are far happier in a bag. Choose a bag a size larger than the gift, stand it up inside, and pack scrunched tissue around it so it sits upright and framed. Close the top with a ribbon tie or fold it over and add a sticker. It takes seconds and looks intentional, not like a last resort.
Frequently asked questions
How do I wrap a bottle without it looking messy?
Use the cracker method above, or stand it in a tall narrow bottle bag with a little tissue. Both hide the shoulders of the bottle, which is the part that usually creases the paper.
What about a round gift like a ball?
Sit it in the centre of a square of paper or tissue, gather all the edges up and over the top, and tie the gathered point with ribbon so it forms a pom-pom shape. A bag is the easy alternative.
Stock up on wrapping paper and curling ribbon, or reach for a gift bag when a shape refuses to cooperate.
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