How to make a wrapped present
Wrap A Present: try all 12 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
Wrap a rectangular gift box in one sheet of paper with no cuts: bring the paper round the box so its edges overlap on the lid, then close each end the classic way, pushing in the sides so the corners pleat into neat triangles and folding the lid and floor flaps over them.
- You need
- One sheet of wrapping paper, scissors, tape and a rectangular box of about 12 × 9 × 6 cm.
- Start
- Cut the paper 18 cm wide and 32 cm long, and lay it pattern side down with its short edges at the left and right. The box goes on the paper's middle with its length along the paper's width. Its long edges mark the corner lines folded below.
- Tips
- Let the two edges overlap by about 2 cm on the lid so they never pull apart.
- Cut the paper as wide as the box is long plus its height, and as long as the box's width and height twice over, plus the overlap.
- Crease every line against the box itself for crisp corners.
- Make each end flap half as deep as the box is high, so the lid and floor flaps meet in the middle of the end.
Your model is ready
The present is wrapped. Press every end flap flat and tape the overlap on the lid and the floor flaps shut. A ribbon or bow goes over the lid. The wrapped present, closed at both ends, with the paper's overlap on the lid.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Crease the first corner line
Fold the paper along the first line where the box's edge will fall, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 2
Crease the second corner line
Fold the paper along the second line where the box's edge will fall, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 3
Crease the third corner line
Fold the paper along the third line where the box's edge will fall, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 4
Crease the fourth corner line
Fold the paper along the fourth line where the box's edge will fall, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 5
Crease the left end line
Fold the paper along the line where the box's left end will fall, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 6
Crease the right end line
Fold the paper along the line where the box's right end will fall, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 7
Wrap one side over the lid
Stand the box on the middle band and bring both long sides of the paper up the sides of the box. Fold the first one over onto the lid; the second stands straight up for now.
Steps 8–12
- 8
Wrap the other side over it
Fold the second side over onto the lid, overlapping the first edge, and tape the overlap.
- 9
Fold in the sides and lid flaps of the left end
Push the flap on each side of the box in across the end, and press the lid flaps down over the end with them. At each corner the paper pinches into a small triangle that folds in under the lid flap. Let the floor flap swing down out of the way.
- 10
Fold up the floor flap of the left end
Fold the floor flap up over the end, pressing the triangles at its corners flat inside it. A strip of tape holds it shut.
- 11
Fold in the sides and lid flaps of the right end
Push the flap on each side of the box in across the end, and press the lid flaps down over the end with them. At each corner the paper pinches into a small triangle that folds in under the lid flap. Let the floor flap swing down out of the way.
- 12
Fold up the floor flap of the right end
Fold the floor flap up over the end, pressing the triangles at its corners flat inside it. A strip of tape holds it shut.
- ✓
Finish
The present is wrapped. Press every end flap flat and tape the overlap on the lid and the floor flaps shut. A ribbon or bow goes over the lid. The wrapped present, closed at both ends, with the paper's overlap on the lid.
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