How to Wrap A Present – The 18 Best Gift Wrapping Videos

Time to wrap! Whether you’re looking for inspiration or how-to help, we’ve gathered up the best videos to help embellish or upgrade your gift-wrapping skills.

The first few cover the basics of wrapping a box. You’ll also learn creative ways to reuse materials already around your house and crafty DIYs with pom poms and potatoes.

For veteran wrappers, learn clever fixes for when your paper is too short, how to wrap a cookie tin and make it look beautiful, a dramatic way to wrap a wine bottle, and how to make glossy confetti-filled gift wrap.

These first two are simply to get you in the mood. They made me smile. I hope they do the same for you!

Holiday video by Amsterdam media company, Suikerdepôt

From the ever-festive folks at Kate Spade.

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Gift Wrap Video Tutorials from The Container Store

Give & Tell

Give & Tell with Chris Gardner of ManMadeDIY

Writer and maker Chris Gardner is is the main man at ManMadeDIY, a crafting blog for guys (though this gal really digs it too). He’s also the editor at Curbly.com, a community of people who make things for their homes. As Chris explains, “ManMade recognizes that all sorts of creative outlets can be realized by, for, and with men. Rosie can rivet, Chris can craft, and all demographics can DIY!”

I’m been a big fan of Chris’s creative how-tos and crafty finds from around the web. In the spirit of the holidays, a couple posts of his you’ll want to checkout are Why You Have to Make Egg Nog… and How to Do It, How to Make Modern Perforated Tabletop Christmas Trees, and How to: Turn a Tacky Glitter Reindeer into an AWESOME Glitter Reindeer.

Oh and while you’re at it, don’t miss Curbly’s mega set of holiday roundups like 10 Other Places to Hang Your Christmas Stockings, or their rad gift guides like 30 Hip Design Gifts Under $25. Here he is sharing gifting tips and tales as only Chris can—thanks so much Chris!

Have you ever done any sneaky research to determine the right gift for someone?

Oh my, yes. I’m a total trickster when figuring out preferences or sizes for gifts. My masterpiece was giving someone a hug while secretly holding a tape measure. I also made up an elaborate story to snag my sweetheart’s fingerprint to make some original art for Valentine’s Day last year, and have managed to use calipers to figure out her exact finger size while she was taking a nap.

Could you share a wrapping secret with us?

I think brown kraft paper will never get old. It looks amazing simply tied up with string, but can be customized in all sorts of fun ways. Last year, I cut out the recipient’s name from old books I got for ten cents at the thrift store and simply glued them on. I also figured out a way to make custom gift “envelopes” by sandwiching the gift between two layers of craft paper and stitching it shut with a zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine.

Plus, it matches regular brown paper sandwich bags for those small or bulk gifts, which can look amazing with a simple stamp or hand-printed gift tag.
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Gift it

Make This Gift: A DIY Pompom Necklace!

DIY Pompom Necklace

DIY Pompom Necklace, photo by Erica Coffman

A great gift for your stylish sister, those sassy book club ladies, or your color-loving girlfriend, these DIY pompom necklaces are Classy with a capital “C”! Inspired by the high-fashion tribal necklaces of designer Nicole Akong, the brilliant ladies behind Honestly WTF created this do-it-yourself version. I love the cheery colors and playful poms, but the real magic is in the customization–this necklace can be as bright and bold or subtle and subdued as you want!

Put on your present-making pants and head over to Honestly WTF for the complete tutorial. Happy gift-making!

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Gift it

Gifts From Kids: Homemade Mini Art Magnets

Mini Art Magnets by Momtastic

Mini Art Magnets, photo by Liz Stanley

I remember making holiday gifts for my grandparents a lot as a kid, mostly giant “works of art” that consumed about 80 percent of their refrigerator door space. I’m sure my creations were cherished (at least my little heart hoped so–I was giving away my masterpieces!) even if their epic size went unappreciated. That’s why these mini art/canvas magnets from Momtastic are so, well, fantastic! You can encourage your budding Picasso and get them on the “Meaningful Gift-Giving Wagon” early, while still respecting Grandma’s precious refrigerator real estate. And like I said, they’re magnetized, which means they’re totally practical. Right?

Head over to Momtastic for a supply list and tutorial–you may even find yourself joining in on the fun!

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Gift it

Make This Gift: A Simple Leather Passport Holder

DIY Leather Passport Holder / Image: Alicia Jepsen

I don’t know about you, but when I think about making something out of leather my mind short-circuits and I start babbling about how hard and impossible such a task must be. I mean, c’mon! It’s made out of leather! Sure, us humans have been doing that for, well, a really long time. But somehow it seems like something only highly skilled craftsmen can do–people who have been doing it for generations, even.

Surely I’m not alone in this thinking, right? Good! Because that’s exactly what people are going to think when you give them this leather passport holder YOU MADE YOURSELF. They’re going to think you’re some sort of leather-working god. You’re going to blow minds, climb the ranks of awesome gift givers, and maybe, just maybe, have a statue erected in your honor.

Or something like that.

DIY Leather Passport Holder / Image: Alicia Jepsen

Turns out, making a simple leather passport holder is SUPER EASY. On top of that, it’ll only take up about 2 hours of your time–not bad for something that’s sure to go down in the gift-giving hall of fame! If you’re ready to cut your leather-working teeth, as it were, check out Alicia Jepsen’s tutorial over on Poppytalk. She shares loads of photos and detailed instructions for making your own leather passport holder. Now go! That statue isn’t going to erect itself.

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Gift it

Make and Give a Photorealistic Gadget Pouch

Got gadgets and gizmos aplenty? Whozits and whatzits galore? Fantastic! Turn those thingamabobs into photorealistic pouches for friends, family, or your favorite vintage camera-loving geek!

The fine folks at Photojojo have created a step-by-step tutorial for turning your favorite objects into handy pouches that are perfect for loose change, business cards, credits cards, or even iphones. The best part? No sewing required (this DIY gift is easy peasy). Hit up Photojojo for all the deets on making your own photorealistic pouch!

(h/t ManMade DIY)

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Make this Gift: Typographic String Art!

How sweet would it be to make someone a piece of art? It hangs on their wall, when they see it they think of you and when friends come over they get to tell all about how crafty and thoughtful you are.

But what if there’s very little Michelangelo in your blood? Should that stop you? Of course not. In addition to being looking great, this Typographic String Art idea is not at all difficult to do and is quite the impressive gift when you’re finished.

You could make string art house numbers for a house-warming present, string a favorite Princess Bride quote shared between you and your sister, do the baby’s name in string art for hip new parents, or a really big AWESOME for a big girl bedroom makeover.

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How to Make Typographic String Art detail : ManMadeDIY

Gift it

How to Make a Polaroid Wall With Your Sweetie

Polaroid Wall by His&Hers

Polaroid wall by His & Hers

I’ve always been a fan of the imperfect and unique images produced by Polaroid cameras. There’s something to committing a single, evanescent moment to that little 3×3 frame, knowing that the image you’ve captured is the only one of its kind, that it can’t be changed or reproduced.

The magic of instant film is in its simplicity. All you have to do is pick a subject, frame it, and—SNAP—instant art! The fact that anyone can use a Polaroid camera means that they make amazing gifts too. I recently came across a wonderful Polaroid wall made by Dave and Whitney, an adorable couple with a shared passion for photography. I was struck by how sweet a gesture it would be to make a Polaroid wall with someone special. Here’s how to do it:

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