Sticky Tape Hiding Technique

When I have a bit of time up my sleeve, I like to wrap presents using my sticky tape hiding technique.  Sometimes sticky tape can be a feature of gift wrapping (eg. washi tape), but if you're using beautiful decorative paper and don't want the tape to detract from it, hiding the tape produces a really neat result.

I learned this technique while on holiday in Singapore in 1983.  It was just before Christmas and Mum and I were shopping in Tangs department store.  I had secretly bought her some Badedas bath gel for Christmas (remember when that was popular?), and decided to use the free gift wrapping service.  I then watched in awe as the shop assistant wrapped the gift so neatly and precisely, and without showing the sticky tape.  I'd never seen anything like it!  Meanwhile, my mother was completely beside herself as she thought I'd disappeared and was about to put out a lost person call.  We reunited in the nick of time, and I've used this technique ever since. 

To illustrate the technique, I'm using a patterned tape.

Stick half the sticky tape on the edge of wrong side of the paper.

Fold the sticky tape in half towards the wrong side of the paper so the two non-sticky sides are together, and then stick the sticky side onto the right side of the paper.

Now repeat with the ends, sticking along both edges and the tip.

The patterned tape I used wasn't very sticky so you can just see the tape under the edge of the paper.  Normal sticky tape will produce a more flat result. 

Hiding the sticky tape in this way means it is all about the paper, and you don't get that 'busy-ness' on the underside of the gift.  You also get some nice 'ooohs and aaahs' too.

Gift Wrapping - Awkward Shapes

Tomorrow is a friend's birthday, and I have a selection of awkward shaped gifts to wrap.

I could have taken the easy way out and used a gift bag, but where's the fun in that?  Instead, I thought I'd try something different and create a pouch for the chopping board.

I chose a duck egg blue theme as the red cocotte dish and cheese knife spoke to my inner francophile. 

I cut a piece of paper about twice the width of the chopping board, and ironed it (medium heat, dry setting).  I then folded the sides and the base twice and stuck them down. 

I created the pouch by folding the sides and the base over the chopping board and sticking the base to the sides.

To finish the pouch, I cut a piece of paper equal to the width of the board and stuck it down.

I wrapped the cheese knife the same way and popped it into the pouch.  I closed the top of the pouch by folding it over twice and sticking it down.  I then created a faux string tie using some brown buttons, which I stuck on with craft glue, and twine.

I wrapped the cocotte dish in the same paper and tied both presents together with a blue and brown reversible ribbon. 

Tres jolie!