Gift Wrapping 103: Round Boxes

Gift Wrapping techniques for round boxes are explained and illustrated. Two methods are offered; if the first doesn't work, the second will fix it! Either method will handsomely wrap your round gift box.

A round gift box is always an eye-catcher. In general, round boxes are somewhat trickier to wrap than rectangular boxes, but they inspire more curiosity and you stand to receive a lot more oohs and aahs for your effort.

The two gift wrapping methods given here are best suited to round containers with flat tops - like hat boxes, tubs or other relatively wide, cylindrical containers - and standard or foil wrapping paper. Tissue paper is not recommended, as the extra layers required for strength and opacity add bulk that is difficult to work with.

Here are the materials you will need...

• Your round gift box
• Tissue paper to line box, if needed
• Gift wrapping paper
• A pair of scissors
• Clear or "magic" tape
• Ribbon, bow or decorative tie
• Tie-on decoration (optional)
• Gift tag or label

Before we begin, here are a few introductory tips:

In case you haven't visited Gift Wrapping 102, the following tips bear repeating:

a) Remember to remove the price tag before you wrap your gift! You may wish to enclose an exchange receipt if you have one; or, you may prefer to offer it to your recipient later.

b) Look for the most economical use of your gift wrapping paper. Some designs look much better with the box oriented one way and not another. Non-directional designs will give you the most economical options. In any case, there's no point in wasting nice gift wrap!

• Unroll a length of paper and position the gift box an inch or two inside one edge. Roll the box for one full rotation toward the opposite edge. If the box is still totally on the paper, this will be the most economical layout. If not, you will have to orient your box another way and cut a longer piece of paper from the roll.



• Cut only what you need, and trim off any excess before you begin. A too-large piece of gift wrapping paper is difficult to work with and can make your wrapped gift look lumpy. Besides, the excess might be enough to wrap another gift!

OK, here are the procedures, step-by-step!

1) Unfold or unroll a length of gift wrapping paper and position your gift box on its side to measure for size (be sure the lid is on securely!). Cut a sheet of paper about 2” longer than the circumference of the box, extending beyond the top and bottom of the box just enough to reach barely to the center. Any more paper will really, really get in your way! If you are using Method-B, allow less paper to overlap the top and bottom of the box, let's say 3/4 of the distance to the center. You can cut more away if it becomes necessary.	2) Turn the paper face down and make a ½" fold along one of the ends, to give a nice finish to the seam. Center the box on its side on the paper. Check for an up-and-down design; be sure the top of the design is at the top of the box. Bring the paper up around the curve of the box, tuck under the unfolded edge, and tape the seam snugly. Be sure the seam lies flat at the top and bottom rims of the box - it's a good idea to tape it in both places.
3) To support the gift and bring the box bottom into full view and easy reach, I like to position it upside down over a taller, more narrow support that fits inside the paper overlap. For small gifts, an upended Kleenex box or tall juice can is good; for wider or taller gifts you may need a wastebasket (or even an umbrella stand!) for adequate support. Another technique is to sit down and brace the gift between your knees - but be sure it doesn't slip down inside the paper as you work.
Method A
Method-A takes some practice, but the results are well worth the effort. If your wrapping paper has a pattern, the pleated swirl that forms on top will create an interesting variation on the design. And a disaster is fixable! I always give Method-A a shot, and tidy it up with Method-B if necessary. Start with the bottom (it won’t show), to get a feel for how your particular gift wrapping paper behaves.
4-A) Beginning at the seam, draw the edge of the paper toward the center of the box - rather firmly, to keep the paper snug around the rim. It's OK if the seam edges overlap at a slight angle. Crease the paper into little pleats that all swirl in the same direction, one over the other, as you work your way around the box. Make lots of little pleats to minimize the formation of corners and wrinkles at the rim of the box.	5-A) If the final pleats are unwilling to lie properly, it's helpful to release the first few pleats while you make the final folds exactly where you want them. Then smooth and flatten all the pleats into place, taking care again to keep the paper snug at the rim of the box.
6-A) Tape the pleats in place at the center - two pieces of tape side-by-side or in an X are usually adequate.
Method B
Method-B is easier to handle than Method-A. It provides a smooth, flat finish; however, it leaves a seam around the top of the box. The illustrations assume that I made a total mess of Method-A. We'll fix it by cutting away the excess paper and covering the top of the box with a circle of our gift wrapping paper. NOTE: The less paper you trim away, the smaller a circle it will take to cover the exposed edges - perhaps even small enough to be covered by a large bow. However, the less you cut away, the more bulk you have to contend with. My best advice is to decide what will work best in your particular situation (e.g., how big is your gift box? how badly wrinkled are your pleats?). You can always cut more away, but you can't undo the cut!
4-B) I'll trim away the excess paper so it extends only about 2" over the top of the box.	Smooth the edges snugly over the rim toward the center of the box, creasing to form little pleats all around, and secure the pleats with tape.
5-B) Cut a circle of wrapping paper large enough to cover the edges of the pleats.	If you are repairing a Method-A attempt gone wrong, as in the photo, make the circle about 1" less in diameter than the box, to leave a 1/2" margin all around.
6-B) Cover the creases with the circle and tape it all around. Looks pretty good, doesn't it? Tip: If white from the underside of the paper shows around the circle, run a liquid marker around the edge, in a color matching the paper or a slightly lighter color. Experiment first on a scrap, to be sure you don't get too much bleed.	7) Method-A and Method-B: Repeat the procedure at the other end of the box, and affix a bow or other decoration in the center. A smallish round box looks very pretty with a fluffy bow that covers the entire top. The larger the gift box, the more space for imaginative decoration!

Now here's some really good news: hexagonal gift boxes are covered next: Gift Wrapping 104 and they're easier to wrap than round boxes!