Top ten tips for people who think wrapping Christmas gifts is a chore

People in the South East plan to give 13 Christmas presents each but more than half think wrapping gifts is a chore, a Royal Mail survey has shown.

International wrapping expert Arona Khan - who has trained the Prime Minister’s staff to wrap properly - has given her top ten tips for top-notch wrapping after teaming up with the postal company as part of its project:

1. Speed up the wrapping process, especially when wrapping awkward shapes like a teddy bear, by lying the present in the middle of the giftwrap. Bring the paper in from both sides then fold up from the bottom to the top. Gather it above the gift and tie with ribbon.

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2. If you forget something like wrapping paper or tape look around your home for alternatives; a plastic or paper tablecloth makes wrapping large items easy. Use a seasonal paper napkin for something small. Wool or wire can secure paper around your present if you run out of tape, glue or glue dots.

3. Make your presents look special by adding a bow. This can be easily done by creating multiple loops in figures of eight using fabric ribbon. Tie in the middle and trim off the tails.

4. If your paper rips, use a double layer or lay the giftwrap on cellophane for extra strength. Alternatively using fabric, or even a scarf, will make the job much easier.

5. For awkward shaped gifts - use tissue paper and cellophane. Stand the gift in the middle. Gather up both layers of giftwrap and tie above the top of the gift. Trim if required. If it is a large gift you may need to tape sheets of tissue paper together but remember to do it on the inside!

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6. Take the hassle out of the wrapping by simplifying the process! For example if you are giving bottles, be they bubbly or balsamic, just hide the label. Make a cummerbund using leftover paper and tie around it with ribbon, wool, wire, cord, gardening or baker’s twine.

7. If the tape doesn’t stick to the paper, try glue dots.

8. Wrapping paper can be expensive so use leftover wallpaper. If you don’t have a leftover roll in the loft, check out the clearance bin in your nearest DIY store. It is ideal when wrapping DVDs, books and awkward shapes.

9. Run out of labels? Add a festive finish with homemade ones! Stick leftover giftwrap to card to make a perfect tag. Use a Christmas cookie cutter for a seasonal shape before punching a hole and securing to the present with ribbon, wool or twine.

10. If you’ve run out of ribbon, transform scrap wrapping paper into the perfect finishing touch! Such a decoration is also just what you need when popping a present in the post! Not a squashed bow in sight!

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