How to Wrap Presents Like a Pro: Part Three: The Dillard's Bow

Christmas cards are mailed, class treats are baked, teacher gifts are made and presents are bought.  So about all that's left to is the wrapping!  We've got a Christmas party tonight, so most of it will have to wait until tomorrow, but i try to get everything wrapped before the kids get out for the holiday  - it's just surpris-ier that way! {Smile}

So today I am going to let you in on another secret of the pros - how to make 'The Dillard's Bow."  Yes ladies and gentlemen (fellas, even you can wrap like a pro if you follow along), most of the major department stores have a 'signature' wrapping style and they really are all different!  And the Dillard's bow is my favorite!  In fact, it was MY signature wrap until I switched to pom-poms two years ago!

So let's get started!

The biggest 'secret' to making this bow successfully is not to use any tape!  Grab a handheld stapler to attach your ribbons instead, and it's worth a little bit extra to get a good one.  BTW, the one you see pictured is NOT a good one!  I recommend something bigger, but it's all I could find . . .

Stapling your cross ribbons allows you to slip things under them since they aren't taped down and the staple keeps them securely together while you're working!  In this picture, you can see (kinda) both cross ribbons stapled and a short piece of ribbon slipped diagonally underneath.  This will become the center of your bow.

 

 

Now you want to make your bow by wrapping ribbon over on itself from side to side to form two loops on each side with two tails or ends, both on the same side of the bow.  This did not show up well in any of the photos I took (probably because it requires two hands - ha), so I drew a diagram for you instead.  Once you do it, you will see how very simple it is and easy to adjust the size as well.

Once you have formed your loops, you will want to pinch-pleat the body of the bow together so that the center is small.  If your stapler is good (bigger than mine), then you can secure this pleat with a staple and make it even easier to work with.

Now place your pleated bow on top of the mess in the middle and begin to tie your center in place.  Do not cinch it tight just yet . . . .

Once it is tied loosely, carefully pull the top of your center ribbon around to the bottom underneath and then pull the ends tight to secure the bow.  This is the second 'secret' to the Dillard's Bow, because by inverting the top and bottom of the center ribbon, you move the looped section to the back of the ribbon, leaving a clean center on top - perfection!

Isn't it lovely?! 

And wouldn't you feel extra special getting something like this?

I know I would!

 

Happy Wrapping Y'all!

 

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How to Wrap Presents Like a Pro: Part Two - The Perfect Pom-Pom!

Yesterday I began my 'mini-series' on how to wrap presents like a pro and shared with you some trade secrets from the big leagues (Macy's and Dillard's) that will make your papered boxes perfect!  Today we are moving on to embellishments, with a quick tutorial on my recent favorite - The Pom-Pom!

The key to a successful pom-pom bow is using a fabric that has some body to it so that it stands on it's own.  Though I actually prefer the heavier weight tulle sold by the bolt, the spooled tulle is so convenient (and is almost always on sale) that I have switched to using it instead.  The trade-off is that you will use a little more to get the same effect and you are limited by the width of tulle as to how big you can really make your pom-pom.  So, if you're wanting to perk up a large package, consider using the tulle on the bolt instead.  Otherwise, it works the same as below!

1.  Choose your tulle (it comes in tons of cute colors) and cut a piece long enough to tie around your package with a single loop.  Do not knot as it will make your pom-pom wiggly!

2.  Begin folding the tulle over on itsself to form a rectangle or square.  You will repeat this 8-10 times.  This was a small package, so i didn't use much length in my folds.



3.  Cut your folded tulle off your bolt.

4.  Now cut through the folded edges to make your individual rectangles.

 

 

5.  OK, now here's the secret to perfect pom-poms:  Fold your squares in half, and remove a small wedge from the ends opposite the fold.  This will take out most of the bulk out of the pom pom's middle, making it easier to cinch and fluff.  Trust me on this!

 



 

6.  Now it's time to unfold (you will have a wedge removed on both sides now) and pinch pleat together with your fingers.

 

 

7.  Pull your ribbon tulle around your package tight, placing pleated squares on top and securing in place with another loop of the tulle around the package.  No need to knot the lightweight tulle, it stays in place nicely with a single loop.  The heavy weight tulle will require a knot because it is much more springy!

 

 

8.  Now seperate your tulle layers, pulling them side to side as well as up to make your poof.

 

 

9.  Once all your layers are seperated, pull your poof upwards to trim your pom-pom to the desired size.  Be sure to include the long ends of your tulle around the package for the perfect pom-pom . . .

 

 

 . . . Every time!

 

 

Another quick wrapping tip, since we have a birthday as well as Christmas at our house and Christmas at relatives house each year, I use different colors of tulle to designate which packages go where!  Blue for birthday, red to mom's and white stays home, regardless of what paper it's wrapped in.  This makes it really easy to grab and load gifts on Christmas Eve, without having to stop and read tags, so there's less chance of leaving any behind.  It's so easy, even my brand-new, eight-year-old (sniff) can figure it out!

 

 

We're gearing up for a great Christmas and are enjoying the season already.  I hope this quick lesson on pom-poms help make your presents something extra special this year too!

 

Merry Christmas Y'all!

 

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How to Wrap Presents Like a Pro: Part One - The Package

Long before I was a bloggy mom with 2-5 children and 1-2 dogs and a small, home-based business, I worked as a professional.  Yes, as a genetic counselor, but also as a professional gift wrapper!  Through college and graduate school, I spent the Christmas season behind the counter at both Foley's (now Macy's) and Dillard's in the gift wrap section of Customer Service.  Let me just tell you, long hours, little pay and way too much Barbara Mandrel Christmas music - ha!

But I did learn a few things.  Now, you might be thinking that a gift wrap job would be easy to acquire, but much like genetic counseling (ha!) it actually required some schoolin' and a certification before I could commence with wrapping gifts for others!  Little did you know . . .

The good news for you is that I have decided to share this insider information with all of you so that you too can have professional-looking packages under your tree this year!

Like most projects, the key to success is having the right tools, so grab yourself a good pair of scissors, some medium to heavy weight paper (gridded works best) and some double sided tape and let's get started!

1.  To measure your paper length correctly, line one end of the box up with the end of the paper and 'flip' your box over 4 times to get the right length with just a bit extra for overlap.  Whenever possible, work horizontally across the paper, cutting the entire length across and then trimming if necessary, rather than working vertically (parallel) with the direction the paper unrolls.

2.  To measure your paper width correctly, pull the paper up on the short side, then cut along the opposite edge of the box.  This will give you just enough to make your folds on the sides, without having lots to trim.

3.  Once you have cut your paper, line it up so the straight edge (uncut) is even with one edge of the box.  Using the precut edges of the paper keeps things neat!

4.  Make sure you crease your paper at the box edges so that you get a nice, tight fit.  it also helps keep things in place while you are taping.

5.  Now put double-sided tape along the length of the paper and secure to form a clean edge.

6.  Always tuck your sides in first, rather than tucking the top down first.  This leaves the top and bottom edges free to meet in the middle, securing once again with double-sided tape.  Double-sided tape really is the professional gift wrappers secret!

 

7.  Now it's time to embellish, usually with a bow.  Fabric ribbon is another 'must have' for a professional finish and wired fabric ribbon works really well.  Personally, I like to use tulle for my embellishments because tulle pom-poms make such a statement and I believe that a well-wrapped gift makes the recipient feel extra special!

 

 

 

So, stay tuned for Part Two of 'How to Gift Wrap Like a Pro' and learn how to make pom-pom bows!

 

Merry Christmas Y'all!

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