Wrap Session

[ladysprite]

I have a crafter confession to make.

In general, I am an artsy-craftsy person. I like making things, and if something can be made from scratch I try to do so. If I can bake it, crochet it, embroider it, hot-glue it, jury-rig it, or figure out just about any other way to make it by hand, I will. There's just one crafty skill I lack, though.

I purely suck at wrapping presents.

My presents always come out looking like they were wrapped by a four-year-old with neuromotor problems. I tear the paper when I maneuver the present onto it, I can't cut a straight line, I can't make my corners flat and smooth. I always start out with too much paper, and then trim it down too far, and have to kind of smoosh a patch over the resulting naked spot. My tape bunches up. I get bored and frustrated and just kind of cram the paper into something like the right place.

It's not just the paper that's the problem - I've made origami, and snowflakes, and altered books. I can work with paper, and scissors, and all the individual components. It's just the specific mojo of gift-wrapping that is my crafty nemesis. I keep trying, and... I keep making askew lump of paper and good intentions.

So, if you've ever wondered why most of the gifts I give are homemade baked goods? Partly it's because I love baking, and giving homemade things. But to a large extent, it's because I can just stick some Saran wrap and a bow on it and call it a day.....

Comments

[mermaidlady]

I have the same problem. That wrapping paper just hates me. And I think it's genetic. One year my mother just gave up and everything was in gift bags.

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

I'm awful at wrapping presents. I should just give up and do gift bags, but we have a ton of wrapping paper in the box in the garage, so I'm stuck with being awful.

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

One trick I figured out is not to be stingy with either paper or tape. Use a larger piece of paper, or several pieces taped together, than you think you'll need. You can always fold away or trim off excess. Liberally use tape to hold flaps and folds in place.

Another trick is to practice with paper grocery bags. They're much sturdier, thus more forgiving of trial and error, than typical wrapping paper (never mind tissue).

[aerynne.livejournal.com]

I love wrapping presents. If it's something you'd like to be better at I could help out! But honestly no one reasonable will complain about your wrapping job. After all, they're getting a present!

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

Totally with you here. Present bags are a gods-send.

[keshwyn]

Saran wrap tries to kill me while I'm sleeping. I envy your skill. :-)

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

This is why they invented gift bags. Stick your present in the bottom, stuff a wad of colored tissue paper on top, and you're done! If you really feel like being fancy, wad the tissue paper in such a way that the edges stick out of the top of the bag, and slap on a stick-on ribbon rosette.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

If I think of it as sewing, it almost works, but then I get the same issues I get when sewing (crooked seams, having to rework where things fall along the body of the present).

I also origami, and I find it's not helpful. :(

Happy holiday making!

[matildalucet.livejournal.com]

With some people, we wrap in fabric squares which (a) fight a little less than some papers, and (b) fabric! With the right people, we can see if they want to keep the fabric or toss it back to the original giver for her/his own purposes.

I also like plastic fridge dishes of food with no overwrap. Reusable and less entangling than Saran wrap can be. Maybe a festive stick-on bow. Maybe. I can actually do plausible wrapping, or maybe I should say I used to do, since I don't think I've done any in a while.