Stuffing and Protecting Your Gift

A well thought of and a well-wrapped gift would not matter if the item inside the box found its way to the recipient in damaged form. All the precious time and effort you have invested in making a great gift will all be put to waste, not to mention the money. These tips and ideas will help you avoid these hassles particularly if you are planning on giving delicate items for any gift-giving occasion.

1. Extra care should be taken when packing a gift, specifically with glass, ceramics, jewelry, and other small and delicate items.

* Do not conceal or put small items inside a large gift box, especially if the box has a lot of packing stuff. The item might not easily be found or worst, it might be missed altogether by the recipient with all the packing stuff.
* When preparing a gift, do not use a lot of tape and do not tightly pack. It might be difficult for the recipient to open the gift, which may end up in inadvertent breaking of the item/s inside the gift.
* It is equally important to stuff a manufacturer pre-packaged item properly as a non pre-packed item.

2. Cushion the item inside. Even if it is a non-breakable material, it is important to put stuffing materials inside the box to prevent unforeseen damages.

* Use the right stuffing material depending on the type of gift you are packing and the number of items inside the box. If the occasion does not call for formal presentation, wrap fragile or glass items in tissue wrapping paper first. You can then use newspaper (or tissue paper for that matter) to stuff the box to add cushion. As much as possible, do not use newspapers to wrap delicate or glass items as the ink-print may bleed onto the item.
* Use foam fill, which comes in boxes particularly with electronic items to protect bottoms and corners. This is important if you are going to travel with the gift already wrapped.
* Bubble wrap is a good stuffing material besides providing superior protection from shock and scratches. In addition, some bubble wraps provide anti-static protection, especially if you are going to give electronic materials as gifts (such as computer peripherals like a motherboard). Remember, the bigger the "bubble" the greater the protection it will provide.
* To make items sturdy and stay in place, use cardboard as an alternative stuffing material. Re-use old boxes, making sure to remove any labels particularly price tags.

3. Basically, the idea is for the item inside the gift to have little movement and it must be located in the center of the box. It is also crucial not to stuff the item too tightly because it will just as equally be damaged if the gift is accidentally dropped. There should be a little cushion between the item and the box.