Gift-wrapping professional shares important tips on how you can wrap your presents perfectly

As the holidays creep up and gift-giving season comes into full swing, the prospect of carefully wrapping up all manner of gifts looms large over the festive celebrations. 

However, that most arduous of holiday chores has now been made a whole lot easier thanks to TikTok’s ‘folding queen’, who has shared a host of wrapping tips to ensure that your gift packaging goes off without a hitch this year. 

Lennia McCarter, 37, has been sharing her holiday hacks that see people wrapping everything from basketballs to cheese boards to purses and making it all look effortless. 

The stay-at-home mom, from Charlotte, North Carolina, has been garnering millions of views with her holiday hacks and if you’ve ever struggled to perfectly wrap those oddly-shaped gifts, this festive mom has got you covered. 

Lennia has earned viral fame with her expert tips, which she’s outlined in a series of videos – explaining at length how to expertly wrap all manner of gifts. 

Her clips have racked up millions of views on TikTok, with one of her most popular videos – in which she explained how to wrap a round item – earning more than 3.5 million hits. 

Here, FEMAIL reveals some of Lennia’s top tips for ensuring all your gifts look professionally wrapped this holiday season. 

Basketballs, snow globes, cookie jars, oh my! Wrap round objects with the folding queen’s help  

From basketballs to cookie jars and snow globes, Lennia has the perfect tips that prove no object is too complicated to wrap. 

One of the mom’s favorite methods is to make a bag out of wrapping paper for the object. 

To begin, put the round-shaped object on the wrapping paper to determine how much paper you will need to use. 

Next, measure how wide the base should be by placing the object at the bottom of the paper and fold the end of the paper up to ensure the present will fit.

Then, you will open the fold in the middle to create a diamond shape. After separating the middle, smooth the edges of the diamond down to make creases. 

Create two small triangles that overlap by folding both the top and bottom of the diamond down, then secure the edges with tape. 

Once the body and base of your wrapping paper gift bag are complete, just slide the present in. 

For the last step, you will need to create a bow by taping the middle of the paper, lifting the sides up and securing them. 

When wrapping flat, round objects place the present in the middle of the paper to measure how much wrapping paper you will need. 

Next, cut a line from the bottom of the wrapping paper to the object. Fold over the right side of the wrapping paper onto the present and begin overlapping small sections until you complete the circle and then secure it with tape. 

Finish it off by placing a bow in the center.  

Keep it simple but festive! Wrap up gift cards or money into envelopes made out of holiday paper 

It’s a breeze to give your loved ones gift cards or money for the holidays, but handing them a plain envelope always takes the fun out of it – luckily, the folding queen has come to the rescue and offered up some tips that will leave you handing out gift cards with joy. 

To wrap money, first you will need 13×11 inches of paper. 

Fold the wrapping paper in half horizontally and place the cash in the middle. 

Next, fold both of the corners, the bottom and the top.  

Grab the bottom corner and leave a small space at the top and do the same with the rest of the paper. 

Once finished, if you want to take it to the next level, the stay-at-home mom recommends adding flowers for decor to the middle of the envelope. 

For gift cards, you will do a similar technique, but you will start out by cutting a square of wrapping paper. 

Fold the top about half way over and then fold the top corners in. 

Next, fold both sides into the middle and place the gift card in between the top two corners. 

Fold the top of the paper down and then cut the remaining paper and overlap it to make a mini envelope. 

No present is too complicated! How to wrap oddly-shaped gifts 

From purses to SquishMellows and coffee cups, Lennia shared how you can easily wrap those pesky-shaped presents.

To wrap a purse, you will first need to place the accessory in the middle of the wrapping paper to decide how much wrapping paper you will need. 

Next, fold the left side of the paper about one inch in and fold the right side until the two parts meet. 

Fold the bottom corners up along with the gap between the overs over two times. 

Overlap the two top corners together in the middle of the paper, then slide the purse inside.

Secure the middle with a bow and you’re all set. 

Lennia even has gifts for young children covered as she showed how to wrap beloved children toy SquishMellow. 

First, place the stuffed toy in the middle of the paper to measure how much you will need. 

Then, overlap the two sides together in the middle of the paper. 

Fold the bottom corners together to create a diamond shape and slide the stuffed animal into the now-cylinder-shaped paper. 

For the finishing touch, fold the top of the wrapping paper in small sections – alternating from forwards to backwards. 

Then tie a ribbon around the top. 

When gift wrapping a coffee cup, the first thing you will need to do is wrap the cup in parchment paper to make sure it’s extra secure. 

Then, place the cup to the side and grab your wrapping paper. 

Fold the side of the wrapping paper inwards to create a crease. 

Overlap the top right and bottom right corners with the right side and secure with tape. 

Fold the bottom over to create a crease and then slip your coffee cup inside. 

Fold the top right side into the middle and secure with tape, before repeating the same technique on the left side. 

Overlap the top with the middle and tape it down and you’re ready to gift a perfectly-wrapped coffee cup. 

Tape no more! How to gift wrap without any tape 

If you have run out of tape after countless hours of wrapping, Lennia has got you covered. 

First place the present in the middle of the paper. 

Then, take one corner and fold the paper over the present and tuck it behind the object. 

Grab the bottom of the corner of the wrapping paper, and place it on the top of the box. Run your finger along the bottom right folded area to create a smooth crease.  

While your left hand holds the wrapping paper in place, use your right hand and your index finger to fold the right side of the paper in and repeat for the left side. 

Hold the paper down with your left hand and move to the top before smoothing the two top folds to create a crease. 

Grab the top corner of the paper and fold it down. 

Then, take the top corner and tuck it into the bottom slot. 

Secure it in place by folding it in.  

No paper, no problem! How to gift wrap when you are running out of wrapping paper 

Everyone’s been there – you measured wrong and don’t have enough wrapping paper left. But, the gift wrapping pro is here to help you even when you’re on your last piece of paper. 

First, place the object diagonally in the middle of the wrapping paper. 

Then, overlap the two sides onto the present and secure with tape. 

Fold the right corner inwards and secure with tape. 

Repeat the same technique for the left corner. 

And you’re all set – no more wrapping paper required. 

And while turning an object diagonally may be a trick of the trade for most items just remember to stock up on the wrapping paper for those bigger presents. 

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