Wrap gifts in brown paper and twine

Plain brown paper is the easiest wrapping paper to use well. It is sturdy, it folds crisply and it looks calm and handmade with almost any finishing touch. Wrap everything in one evening, with a film on, and you can sit down with a pile of presents and stand up with a neat stack.

Where and when

Choose a flat table or a clear floor, and wrap a few days before you need to give the gifts. Wrapping the night before is stressful, and leaving it too late means you hide gifts in a hurry. Wrapping in one go also saves time, since you can set up your tools once.

Hide the wrapped gifts somewhere safe from curious eyes, and check for labels so you do not mix them up.

What to bring

Beyond the kraft paper, twine, tape and greenery:

• Sharp scissors, kept for paper only
• Double-sided tape, which hides the seams
• A ruler or tape measure, if you want straight cuts
• A pencil, to mark where to cut
• Small tags and a pen
• Tissue paper or old newspaper for awkward shapes
• A flat surface that you can cut on

If you use dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks or fresh greenery, keep them fresh and dry. Choose greenery that is safe to handle, and avoid anything that stains the paper.

How to wrap a box

1. Measure. Put the box on the paper and wrap the paper around it. It should overlap by a few inches in the middle, and extend past each end by about half the depth of the box.
2. Cut. Fold along the edge, mark it, and cut in a straight line. Cutting along a fold or a ruler edge keeps it neat.
3. Wrap. Place the box face down in the middle of the paper. Bring one side up and tape it to the box. Fold over the other side, fold the raw edge under about half an inch and fix it with double-sided tape.
4. Fold the ends. At each end, push in the sides to make triangles, then fold the top flap down and the bottom flap up. Press each fold flat with your thumb.
5. Tape the ends. Use a small piece of tape on each end. Double-sided tape keeps it hidden.
6. Add twine. Wrap the twine around the middle, and cross it on the underside. Bring it round to the top and tie a bow or a knot.
7. Tuck in something green. Slide a sprig of rosemary, a fir branch or a dried orange slice under the knot, and add a tag.

Awkward shapes

• Soft items. Fold a sweater or scarf, put it in a box or bag and wrap that.
• Bottles and tall items. Roll the paper around the item like a tube, tie each end with twine, or put it in a paper bag with tissue paper on top.
• Books. Wrap them as you would a box, with sharp folds along the spine.
• Something odd. Put it in a bag and tie it. No one will mind.

What goes wrong

• The paper is too short. Measure again with a little extra. You can add a strip of paper and hide it with twine.
• Wrinkles. Press the folds with your thumb, and unroll the paper a few hours before, flat under a heavy book.
• Torn corners. Cover the tear with a tag, or a sprig of greenery.
• The twine slips. Tape it to the underside, or tie a knot on top.
• The edges look rough. Use sharp scissors, and fold the raw edge under before you tape it.

Keeping and reusing

Brown paper can often be reused if you open the gift carefully, so tell people to peel the tape. Fold the paper flat and keep it for next year. Twine and greenery can be reused too. Check your local recycling rules for what is accepted.

Make it a winter evening

Put on a film, spread everything out and wrap in one sitting. If you are exchanging gifts, a Secret Santa is a good reason to make each one look lovely.