Jane Means with presents in silver wrapping paper

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Festive gift wrapping masterclass with Jane Means

December 03, 2020

Gift wrapping guru Jane Means has worked with luxury brands, celebrities and royalty, so who better to show us some easy tips for gorgeous-looking gifts.

Get organised

Ensure that you buy your materials early so that you have plenty of choice. A perfect tool kit would include sharp scissors, a handy tape dispenser, double sided tape, wrapping, tags and ribbon.

Year-round use

Avoid buying Christmas patterned paper so you can use it throughout the year. Choose an alternative like dots or check instead.

Tags first

Make sure that you write your tags first so you don’t forget what you’re wrapping. This is one of the most common mistakes people make when wrapping multiple presents at Christmas.

Classic style

Brown paper is a classic favourite and can be teamed with pretty much any colour ribbon or accessory. It also looks particularly festive when teamed up with foliage.

Remember to roll

If buying sheets of paper, they should always be gently rolled (with the pattern on the inside) so you don’t get unwanted creases.

Get creative

Papercraft still remains a popular trend and remnants of giftwrap can easily be transformed in to pinwheels or fans and added to gifts. Pom-poms made with wool are another favourite.

Professional touch

I always fold the edges of wrapping paper to hide rough edges and with boxes I try to disguise the seam on the edge of the box. Another good tip is to always use double-sided tape for a neat finish.

Easy additions

Ready-made bows add extra interest to your parcels when you’re short of time, or go that extra mile by adding details such as a coloured bauble, cinnamon sticks or pinecones.

Tricky shapes

Awkward shapes are best wrapped with flexible materials like tissue paper and cellophane. Fabric remnants are also a great way to create an eye-catching effect. Simply place the item in the centre and gather the fabric around it and secure with a knot.

I hope I’ve inspired you to create beautifully wrapped gifts this Christmas, if you would like more ideas do come along to one of my gift wrapping courses.

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