Wrapping gifts never seems to get easier, no matter how many of them you have done over the years. One of the most enraging types of gifts to wrap are flat gifts.
Yes, flat gifts; one of the simplest types of gifts to wrap you have to do, yet they can still prove to be a headache when you end up with way too much wrapping paper leftover. Well, don’t worry; we are here to provide you with a detailed and explanatory breakdown below.
What Classifies as a “Flat Gift”
Flat gifts encompass anything that takes on a square or rectangular shape, meaning flat surfaces and sides with equal dimensions. This includes envelopes, picture frames, fancy tablets, and books. That said, there can be a fair amount of debate on whether “flat” gifts encompass “rectangular box” gifts. Things get even more completed when others classify flat items with no equal dimensions as falling into the flat gift camp.
A simple handsaw could be regarded as a flat gift. The reason we made mention of flat gifts generally having sides with equal dimensions was to describe the style of wrapping, which is not totally dependent on the shape of the item it will cover. There are two reasons why we use a rectangular form of wrapping for non-rectangular items.
The first is that it simply just looks cleaner and more pleasing to the eye than a messy attempt of having to wrap oddly shaped items. It is just far easier to wrap a square or rectangular item than an oddly shaped one. Because of this, we recommend covering and encasing your gift with thin pieces of cardboard to give it a rectangular shape while also ensuring that the gift does not pierce or tear the wrapping paper.
If you do not have any cardboard on hand or don’t feel like using any, then you can always just place the gift into the wrapping paper and leave the item loose. This will make it a bit harder to wrap, though, as it will lose that flat quality. That said, it is recommended to tape the gift down with thin and see-through tape to ensure the gift is fixed into place. This will at least ease the wrapping process by preventing the gift from moving around as you wrap.
What You Will Need
We will always recommend the cardboard method, as it is the preferred and more straightforward method that ensures the neatest presentation; however, this article will also cover the no cardboard approach. But, before we move on to how to wrap a flat gift, let us first cover the materials and tools available to you that you can use and the ones that you will need.
Regarding the wrapping paper, you will use to cover the gift, anything is fine provided it is flexible and malleable. However, classic wrapping paper is the ideal choice to go with. Color, design, patterned or non-patterned is completely up to you and what kind of impression you want the gift to make. However, if you were curious about our thoughts, we would always recommend that you either tailor the style of your wrapping according to your own personality or that of the person you are gifting to.
Dressing them up in your own style will immediately show and remind the receiver of your personality and the effort you put into wrapping the gift. Similarly, tailoring it to their style and preferences will have the same effect, as they will be warmed by the fact that you really know them and what they like. Both approaches give a more personal quality to the gift.
With the choice of wrapping material covered, you will also need a ruler, a good sharp pair of scissors, and tape. Never go with those horrible heavy-duty brown box tapes; they will immediately ruin the look of the gift! Always go with clear/see-through tape, particularly the kind you get with stapler-sized tape holders. The reason being that clear wrapping tape will not catch the eye as easily, giving the gift a clean and seamless appearance.
The Cardboard Method
Start out by finding some pieces of cardboard that you can cut to adequately cover the sides of the gift and create a rectangular or square-like shape. Once done, you can move on to measuring and cutting the amount of wrapping paper you will need. Just ensure that there is enough excess material that they overlap when you bring the two opposite sides together in the center.
After this, place the gift in the center and crimp one of the edges that you will bring into the center, and then fold both sides to meet in the center with the crimped edge laying on top. Place tape along the joining line to ensure they stay together.
Next, you will need to start on the corners, beginning by taking one of the left corners and folding it inwards toward the gift, creating a triangle. Repeat this step for its neighboring right corner; both should end up creating a larger triangle with the tip facing away from the gift (center) and the base sitting adjacent to the gift (center).
At this point, you will need to fold and bring the triangle into the center of the gift, taping the tip of the triangle down to keep it in place. Repeat the whole process for the other two remaining corners. And there you have it.
The Non-cardboard Method
This method is near-identical to the cardboard method, only that you lose the advantage of the cardboard’s firmer shape. Follow the same instructions for measuring and cutting the wrapping paper as above. Next, place the gift into the center and tape it down if needed. Repeat the above instructions for joining the sides in the middle and wrapping and joining up the edge corners. It is exactly the same.
Hopefully, this article will equip you with the knowledge needed to make some truly visually appealing wrapped flat gifts.
