# Can You Giftwrap? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 18, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770 "2009-12-18T18:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/21 "2009-12-18T22:40:34Z")
I used to work retail. So, yes. I am an awesome giftwrapper. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/22 "2009-12-18T22:44:07Z")
I rock at gift-wrapping. I love it. I started wrapping my mom’s presents from my dad at a young age, since he could use up a single role of wrapping paper on ring box if left to his own devices - and I’m only exaggerating a little. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/23 "2009-12-18T22:48:05Z")
For two Christmases (is that a word?) I worked at Marshall Fields as a gift wrapper. It’s not hard, the trick is to get it into a box or else you have to pad it so the gift has edges. Of course a baseball bat or an umbrella is useless to try to gift wrap, unless you’re Fred Flintstone ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/24 "2009-12-18T23:13:36Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > **norinew** , have you tried ‘rolling’ the gift over the paper first? Say for example it’s a rectangular shaped box. Start on one edge of the gift wrap roll. Lay the box on a thin side, longways up-and-down to you. Then roll the box on a fat side, then the other thin side, then the other fat side. That is how big the paper needs to be that way. Leave a couple of inches for overlap. Length the other way is two widths of the end. > > I hope that makes sense! 😛 It does make sense. The problem I’m having this year is that mr. new picked out gift wrap that doesn’t have geometric patterns, which means I can’t be sure to cut it in a straight line. . . Several years ago, I found wrapping paper that actually had one-inch grid printed on the back. Now _that_ was handy! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/25 "2009-12-18T23:21:00Z")
Fortunately, I live with (and am marrying) a woman who worked at Hallmark for 5 years. Pro tip: most of them offer free gift wrapping on anything (including outside purchases). You just pay for the cost of materials (and tip the wrapper if you aren’t a douche). ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/26 "2009-12-18T23:25:30Z")
Homie you cretin how could you leave out: I worship the guy who invented gift bags as I no longer have to play origami with insanely bright paper products… I can actually wrap gifts nicely, but with a gift bag, crepe paper, bows, ribbons and other goodies I don’t need to. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/27 "2009-12-18T23:26:14Z")
I’m okay at it…but even when I measure the paper out just right, I STILL end up with bulges. And I’ve given up on trying to put ribbon around gifts…now I just slap a bow on it and call it a day. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/28 "2009-12-19T00:09:07Z")
> [@Maiira](#): > > I’m okay at it…but even when I measure the paper out just right, I STILL end up with bulges. And I’ve given up on trying to put ribbon around gifts…now I just slap a bow on it and call it a day. Word for word, my response as well!I always get the bulges. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/29 "2009-12-19T00:11:16Z")
DH (BFA, 1996) is the designated wrapper in the family. The only gifts he doesn’t wrap are his, and part of his present is being allowed to mock my (lack of) wrapping skillz. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/30 "2009-12-19T03:03:35Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Several years ago, I found wrapping paper that actually had one-inch grid printed on the back. Now _that_ was handy! That sounds like a spectacular product. > [@tdn](#): > > **NinetyWt** , I do that. I still end up with bulges or slivers. You should look for the paper with the grid on it !! 😛 I heard that Hallmark papers have that. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/31 "2009-12-19T03:14:30Z")
In the “Guy” categories, you needed to ask for sexual orientation. \*\*\*We \*\*\*know how to giftwrap. (Well, except for my ex.) ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/32 "2009-12-19T03:16:36Z")
I do fine ever since I watched some YouTube videos last year about how to properly gift wrap. Before that, my presents looked like a 5-year-old mashed some paper together and wrapped a bunch of scotch tape around the entire thing multiple times. Seriously, people: YouTube. There are some good demos out there. ---
**Author:** ![Pithy\_Moniker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8dc957/32.png) [@Pithy\_Moniker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pithy_Moniker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/33 "2009-12-19T15:05:11Z")
If the original package can’t be seen and I have no puncture wounds from the scissors, I consider it a great gift wrapping success. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/34 "2009-12-19T15:14:04Z")
Fiance’s birthday was Wednesday. As soon as I got home from work, I looked around for our birthday wrapping paper, only to find that we were out. That’s okay, I have a lot of decorative paper for bookmaking projects, I just needed to find some that wasn’t too expensive to wrap a gift in, or translucent. Nothing qualified. The only thing I had was some old black construction paper. Well, okay, that might look a little depressing, but it’ll work. Wrapped up the gifts, and they looked like I was bringing presents to a funeral. Quick, break out the art supplies! A little colored chalk on one, some gold and silver acrylic paint on the other. Win! _My giftwrapping is beautiful and artistic and it could win contests._ ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/35 "2009-12-19T16:22:58Z")
I spent a few Christmases working at a bookstore that offered free gift wrap. They had really thick, stiff wrapping paper that was very unforgiving of mistakes, but I learned how to wrap rectangular items really, really well. Now, I’m years out from that, and my skillz have degenerated since then, but as long as I go slowly I’m an excellent wrapper. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/36 "2009-12-19T16:29:40Z")
When I was in high school my DECA class had a gift wrap booth at a mall. We had a woman come in and give us lessons in gift wrapping and found it is not rocket science. I became the surprise star of the booth. The package should not have an exposed cut edge and a few secret cuts in the paper make for a perfect wrap. I had to wrap about 150 items this year and got started back before Halloween. I started with about 200 rolls of wrapping paper, I didn’t want any 2 gifts wrapped in the same paper. I buy a lot of the paper at estate sales, some of it is older paper and designs you don’t find today. I still have ribbons and bows to do yet, that will kill 3 or 4 hours on Christmas Eve. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/37 "2009-12-19T18:25:29Z")
I’m good at it. I can take an irregularly-shaped package and wrap it with very little bulging. I can get nice crisp corners and edges on boxes. I worked part-time at a bath products store for a few years while I was in school, so I can put together a gift basket like nobody’s business. I also love taking the extra steps of ribbons and bows, but the cats eat them so I’ve had to stick to just paper for the last little while. Those furry beasts are stifling my creativity! I got this gift of wrapping skills from my Dad, so I doubt gender has much to do with it. We’re also both very good at Tetris and things like packing luggage and boxes and bagging groceries. I think that all goes together. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/38 "2009-12-20T05:38:53Z")
I’m good. Back when I did NH Reads ten years ago, I (it was supposed to be “we” but my partner was both lazy and a flake, so it was mostly me) wrapped presents as a fundraiser. In a little over a week I pulled in 2K in donations from happy shoppers. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/39 "2009-12-20T08:02:03Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > On a continuum, I’m between passable/pretty. My wrapping is very neat and efficient, and I can wrap oddly shaped boxes pretty well… but I don’t do ribbon, bows, layers, tissue, etc. My giftwrapping is to “pretty” giftwrapping as military bed making is to an interior decorator’s bed making. This. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770/40 "2009-12-20T13:27:15Z")
I used to wrap gifts for charity. When I was in college and after, my mom’s school went through a period of running the giftwrap booth at the mall as a fundraiser, and I put in a LOT of hours when I was home. I can wrap _anything_, with or without a box. (Though I have to say, I rather wish Bath and Body Works would put those damn sleigh-shaped gift baskets in a box. Those things were a royal pain in the ass.) I do sometimes just shove something into a gift bag, but only when I’m rushed or don’t have appropriate wrapping paper. I like wrapping presents. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-giftwrap/521770.md?page=3)