Today we have a little holiday miracle to share with you – a pretty little package tied up with a perfect bow – no tape, cuts or twisted knots required. Ok – so I didn’t say it was a big miracle but I get such joy out of these little details.

Did you know you can tie a ribbon without having to use tape? Without it having to have a bump or twits on the back? Call me crazy, but that always drives me nuts when my gifts won’t lay flat. Thankfully, there is a secret ribbon tying technique that will leave discerning gift wrappers saying, how did you do that??

Step 1: Measure out your ribbon to make sure it’ll go around your box twice. Lay your cut piece of ribbon out on a flat surface

Step 2: Set your box on top of the ribbon. Make sure there’s plenty of ribbon sticking out on both ends. Make a loop on the left end {no need to tie anything, just make a little circle – the end of the ribbon will be point back toward your body}

Step 3: Slip your loop over the left corner of the box furtherest from your body. It’ll just rest there – don’t worry it might fall off – you might have to hold it in place

Step 4: The tail of your loop will stretch across the underside of the box back towards you, making a {flat!} cross

Step 5: Bring the ribbon from the right side and pull it under your corner loop

Step 6: Bring the second tail up from the underside

Step 7: Tie the two pieces in your first knot

Step 8: Tie your bow. Big, small or over-the-top huge – let your creativity be your guide!

Et voila!

Even if you’re the only one to appreciate the thoughtfulness that goes into your gift wrapping skills, there’s something so satisfying about tying your packages up in perfectly wrapped string!

 

original photography for apartment 34 by Emily Scott // custome 34 paper c/o Zazzle.com