Tips for wrapping awkwardly shaped gifts

Sometimes, a gift's unusual shape gives it away, straight through the wrapping paper. Boxing a gift and then wrapping it is easiest, but other options help you cope even if a box isn't available. When you're trying to gift an abnormally shaped object, use these wrapping tips to preserve the surprise.

If your box is oversized, you can tape several lengths of wrapping paper together to cover it -- but before you do that, call local party stores and ask if they sell rolls of extra-wide wrapping paper.

• If no box is available but you must conceal the identity of a large gift at any cost, place it in an opaque plastic bin.
• You can decorate the bin itself with paints or markers, turning it into a personalized -- and highly useful -- keepsake.

• Conceal smaller items with unusual shapes by placing them on a decorative plate.
• Place the plate over a large square of wrapping paper or fabric, gather the edges of the fabric together atop the plate to create a sort of pyramid.
• Tie off the gathered top with a length of pretty ribbon or yarn.

• You can wrap almost anything with tissue paper.
• Lay several sheets of tissue paper out and place the item near the middle of one edge.
• Roll the item in the tissue paper like a burrito, starting at that edge, then neatly tuck the ends under and tie a pretty ribbon around the middle of the bundle to hold it together.
• If your gift is too large for the tissue paper, use fabric instead.

• For long, skinny items like golf clubs or trekking poles, use a mailing tube and then concentrate on wrapping the cylinder.
• First, wrap the paper around the body of the tube and secure it with tape.
• Gather the ends together and tie them with yarn or ribbon.
• You can also do this without the tube if you're not worried about someone figuring out what's inside by feeling the gift through the paper.

• If you're still at a loss for how to wrap your gift, there's always the gift bag.
• You can save a lot of money by decorating your own bags with markers, stencils and stamps, or by twining pretty ribbon through the handles.
• Pad the item with tissue paper, and leave enough paper sticking up around the edges to tuck over the item, hiding it from sight.