Thursday, December 21, 2006
For traditionalists, wrapping can still be fun.
WASHINGTON POST
Not everyone is forgetting the art of the well-wrapped gift.
At the gift-wrap station at Bloomingdale's White Flint Mall in Maryland, customer-service manager Patty O'Connell and her crew of 14 can wrap upward of 75 gifts each a day during the December shopping crunch.
"It's a happy job," says O'Connell, who learned the skill from her mom and has been wrapping at Bloomingdale's for six years. "Everyone is in a good mood."
Shoppers this holiday season can choose among 10 holiday papers featuring snowflakes, poinsettias, plaids and silver moir & eacute;. Each comes with a large bow and a little ornament attached. Prices range from 6 to 15.
Busy times
Don't assume that December is the busiest time, though. O'Connell says Mother's Day is sometimes even more hectic, because men and kids can be so clueless about wrapping.
"A lot of people are afraid to try, but with each package you will get better and better," O'Connell assures us. Then she shared some advice on wrapping. (See O'Connell's methods online at www.washington-post.com/holidayguide.)
Gather supplies and clear off a clean, dry work space. Bigger is better; sit on the floor if you want.
Choose the right box. Too big and the gift might slide around and be damaged; too small and the box will bulge. (Don't tape down the top of the box; it's annoying and rips the box.)
Use plenty of tissue nestled around your gift, then fold over a crisp top layer. If you want the department store look, use a holiday sticker to hold the tissue closed.
With the outer wrapping paper, less is more. Cut the paper just two or three inches larger than the box on all sides. Otherwise, it is likely to bunch up and won't make a neat edge.
Place the box upside down on the paper, wrap the paper around the box on the two longest sides. Fold the cut edges under the top piece about a half-inch to make a nicer finish.
Keeping the paper tight and straight, tape neatly in place. Use clear tape placed neatly in the middle of the box.
Starting with one end, fold the top layer of paper down, then bring the sides in firmly, making a triangular point at the bottom. Keep the paper as close to the corners as possible. Finally, bring the triangle up and tape neatly with two pieces of tape. Repeat at the other end.
Not up to a fancy bow? Just make a shoelace-style knot using a generous amount of beautiful ribbon.