Gift Wrapping: Creative Ideas from Japan

Much care and thought go into gift giving. And the way a gift is wrapped can say a lot about the care and thought that went into its selection. This easy-to-follow, idea-packed volume draws on traditional forms and techniques of Japanese wrapping to create unusual, attractive, and surprisingly simple ways to wrap presents of all shapes and sizes.

The Japanese combine a love of ceremony with an equally strong fondness for giving and receiving presents. They have developed a sophisticated system employing many interesting and eye-pleasing ways to wrap all kinds of gifts. This tradition is evident in techniques such as layering several sheets of paper to create a color contrast or subtle shading effect, wrapping part of the gift and leaving pan visible, using origami-like folds to decorate or add interest, and fashioning soft wrappings from large squares of colorfully patterned cloth called furoshiki.

The author draws on his extensive knowledge of this Japanese tradition and his experience in other forms of paper craft, including doll making, to create sixty-six imaginative gift wrappings.

All sixty-six ideas are shown in beautiful color plates and accompanied by step-by-step instructions that take you from the materials you need to the finishing touches. Let these exciting and creative wrappings add a new dimension to your gift giving.

KUNIKO EKIGUCHI has a successful and varied background in such traditional Japanese crafts as doll making and paper craft. His extensive knowledge of traditional Japanese papers and his talent for combining the classic with the modern are prominent in Gift Wrapping. He is the author of The Book of Boxes, The New Book of Boxes and Japanese Crafts and Customs. He is also the designer of the stylish Christmas arrangements featured in Origami for Christmas.