Paper Wrapped Gift No Tape

One day I needed to wrap a gift and could only find yellow decorative tape. It didn't match my paper, so I decided to experiment with gift wrapping that didn't need tape. I personally like the glue method, which is how I now wrap my gifts. The cord method is good, but takes a bit more coordination, keeping the seems together.

• Gift in a box
• Paper for wrapping (anything about the thickness of regular wrapping paper or newspaper; standard paper grocery bags are too thick for the glue method, but can be used with the cord method)
• Scissors
• Glue, yarn, twine, or thin ribbon
• Something to measure with

Measure each dimension of your box. In the equations, L is length, W is width, and H is height. In the example, the box is 4 inches long, 2 1/4 inches wide, and 1 1/2 inches high.

If using glue cut the paper:

• Paper width = W + H + 1 inch (or 2 cm)
• Paper length = 2L + 2H + 1/2 inch (or 1 cm)

For the example, this would be 4 3/4 by 11 1/2 inches

If using cord cut the paper (the key is to make sure that there is at least a 1 inch or 2 cm overlap for each seam):

• Paper width = L + H + 1 inch (or 2 cm)
• Paper length = 2W + 2H + 3/4W

For the example, this would be 6 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches (I rounded up to the nearest quarter inch)

If using cord,

• 2W + 2H + 2L + 2H + 6 inches (15 cm)

For the example, this would be 26 inches

If you want to tie a bow instead a knot, add 12 inches (30 cm) instead of 6 inches

1. Place gift box upside down with the long edge parallel to the long edge of the paper. You want both sides to fold up and over the bottom of the box.
2. Fold up one side and glue close to the edge. Use the least amount of glue you can or you get a mess and glue that soaks through the paper. I use school glue, but all purpose glue, or a glue stick would work.
3. Fold the other side up and hold for several seconds until the glue sets.
4. On one of the open sides, fold in both sides (parallel to the box height). Then fold down the top.
5. On the same side, glue along the edges of the bottom paper tab. Fold up and hold for several seconds to set the glue.
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 on the other open side.

Decorate as desired.

1. Center the paper over the cord, parallel to the short edge of the paper. In the image I did this after I folded all the sides. That works for small packages, but not too well for larger boxes.
2. Place gift box upside down with the long edge parallel to the short edge of the paper. You want both sides to fold up and over the bottom of the box and overlap almost double.
3. Fold both the short edges over the sides and bottom of the box.
4. On one of the open sides, fold in both sides (parallel to the box height). Then fold down the top.
5. Repeat step 3 on the other open side.
6. Pull the cord up over both short sides of the box and twist them around each other once. Pull them to the long sides of the box and turn the box over. You may need help if you box can't be turned with one hand.
7. Pull the cord up over both the long sides and knot or tie a bow in the center.

Decorate as desired.