That’s a Wrap

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 15, 2005

By LISA BRITTON

Of the Baker City Herald

For Rhonda Spellman, a gift isn’t a gift unless it’s snug in the perfect paper, wrapped in ribbon and embellished with something that reflects the personality of the recipient.

andquot;I want the present to be as pretty on the outside as it is on the inside,andquot; she says.

And the art of gift wrapping is somewhat of a competitive sport between Spellman, her daughter, Carrie Folkman, and Carrie’s mother-in-law, Judy Folkman.

andquot;It’s horribly competitive,andquot; Carrie Folkman says with a smile as she sifts through piles of ribbon and tubes of wrapping paper.

On Monday, these three women shared their gift-wrapping expertise with everyone who came to help wrap more than 200 presents gathered from giving trees at local beauty salons and from the St. Elizabeth Health Foundation’s Festival of Trees.

Those presents wrapped under the creative supervision of the expert wrappers will be distributed to the children served by Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, who may be spending the holidays away from their birth families. CASA volunteers are trained to advocate in the court system on behalf of abused and neglected children.

Some wrapping tips

It seems so simple to produce such beautiful gifts when you see the final products produced by Spellman, Carrie Folkman and Judy Folkman.

andquot;It’s really quite easy. It just takes some imagination,andquot; Spellman says.

OK.

First, you pick your paper.

Been to the Christmas sections at local stores yet? There’s simple silver paper and paper with reindeer and paper with Santas and even plain brown paper the thickness of grocery store bags.

If you can, look for paper that appeals to the person who is getting the gift.

andquot;When I wrap mine, I wrap with the person in mind,andquot; Spellman said. andquot;All my grandkids are getting camo paper because that’s what they like.andquot;

After you’ve chosen the paper, it’s time to find a ribbon that complements the colors.

andquot;When you buy wrapping paper, you really have to think ahead,andquot; Carrie Folkman said. andquot;I saw paper today, but thought, ‘What ribbon would I use?’ andquot;

Here’s something to remember when you’re shopping for ribbon: Try to find wire-edged ribbon, which enables you to bend it and twist it any way you want.

Now it’s time to get creative but before you go crazy with ribbon and pine cones and candy and trinkets, you have to do the basic task of putting the paper on the present.

Some gifts are more difficult than others for example, the unusual shape of a children’s toy secured in molded plastic, or a new basketball in a cutout box.

The easiest way to wrap a strangely shaped gift is to make it square.

andquot;If you want them to really look nice, put it in a box,andquot; Spellman said.

If you can’t find a box to fit the present, cover it first in plastic wrap and then gift wrap. The plastic makes it difficult for little fingers to punch through the wrapping to see what’s inside, Spellman said.

Once you’ve taped the paper on the gift just make sure you have enough paper to cover all sides of the present before you use the scissors it’s time to tie on the ribbon.

Starting with the top of the gift, first wrap a length of ribbon over opposite sides to meet on the bottom, then twist the ribbon together and bring it up the other two sides back to the top.

This is where an extra hand is handy tie the ribbon ends together once, pull it tight, then hold it down with a finger to tie it again. Trim the ribbon ends, but make sure to leave enough to tie on decorations.

Next, Spellman usually adds a bow she makes herself by looping lengths of ribbon, but you can also use thin curling ribbon. To create ringlets of ribbon, open a pair of scissors, hold the ribbon against the blade with your thumb and pull the ribbon across the sharp edge.

If Spellman doesn’t have ribbon to match the paper, she just cuts a one-inch strip of the same gift wrap which curls just like ribbon.

andquot;It’s a real economical way to do ribbon,andquot; she said.

Now come the embellishments that make any gift look extra special.

Here are some of Spellman’s ideas:

o She buys garland, such as the fake evergreen decoration, and then snips off pieces that she can tuck into the bow. She also uses wire garland, which she wraps around a pencil to make curly sprigs that add a springy life to bows.

o Bonus gifts, such as Christmas ornaments, mittens, bells or stuffed animals, can be tied to the gift with extra ribbon.

o Candy can be added as well, whether it’s candy canes, sacks of jelly beans, or those chocolate Santas filled with gooey marshmallow.

andquot;Candy’s a big thing with kids,andquot; Spellman said. andquot;These are all embellishments, but you have to match it to the paper.andquot;

o For someone who loves the outdoors, glue a couple tree cones or needles to the package.

andquot;A lot of peole can go out in their backyard and get pinecones and twigs it just depends on how much of a Martha Stewart you want to be,andquot; Carrie Folkman said.

But no matter what decorations you choose to use, it is the effort that really matters.

andquot;A gift is given with love,andquot; Spellman said. andquot;It shows you’ve given time to make that special thing for somebody.andquot;