Presents come in all shapes and sizes, but some are more difficult to wrap than others. So how to gift wrap a skateboard? It’s not as hard as you might think! Just follow these simple steps, and your skateboard will be gift-ready in no time. Just make sure you use plenty of tape and newspaper to protect the board during shipping. Happy wrapping!
Why It’s Important to Wrap a Skateboard?
It’s important to wrap a skateboard properly because, if not, the board could easily be damaged in transit. Newspaper and tape can help protect the board from scratches and other minor damages. Make sure to use plenty of both so that the board is well-protected.
Required Materials
- skateboard
- wrapping paper
- ribbon
- scissors
- tape
How to Gift Wrap a Skateboard Step by Step Guide
Step 1: Wrap The Skateboard With Butcher Paper
The first step in this how to gift wrap a skateboard tutorial is to wrap the skateboard with butcher paper. This will give the skateboard box some padding, so it doesn’t get banged up or damaged when being transported. To achieve the best results, pull the roll of butcher paper out from under itself, so you have one straight roll.
Cut off several pieces of butcher paper and lay them out next to the skateboard. Make sure there is enough room above where you’re going to wrap it that you can fold over the flap and tuck it in underneath without having it overlap the top or bottom surface anywhere. Leave about two inches past where you plan on folding, so nothing gets tucked inside the box or wrapped underneath.
Take one of the pieces and put it on top of the skateboard face up so you can see the white side to guide your butcher paper placement. How much you need will vary based on how big your board is, but for this example, we’ll use a standard size longboard and cut three pieces totaling the width of the board plus two inches.
Lay one piece down on either side of the board. Next, take another piece and lay it vertically across the center of the board with half above and half below facing up. The bottom edges should overlap where you’ll tuck them in later, so they don’t come back out. This will be the flap.
The last butcher paper piece goes on top of the centerpiece, but this time it will be rotated 90 degrees, so the smooth side is facing down. The edge where they meet should overlap where you plan to fold them together. Now take your tape and carefully wrap it around the edges of all three pieces of butcher paper that are adhered to the board. You can use different colors of crepe ribbon, but masking tape is inexpensive and quick.
Step 2: Begin Wrapping The Skateboard
Once you’ve wrapped the butcher paper around the board, you’ll want to take a piece of tape and carefully seal down each edge. This will help keep it from coming unwrapped or slipping out of place. What I like to do before I start wrapping is a fold over the flap that’s created when you put the last piece on top.
Then I tuck it underneath, ensuring it doesn’t overlap the top or bottom surface anywhere. You’ll want to start wrapping by folding in the edge of your first piece where you left two inches on either side earlier. Keep wrapping the butcher paper around the board until you reach this flap here. When you get there, you’ll want to take two pieces of tape and seal down the edge you just tucked in.
This is what it should look like when the tape is added. Repeat this process with the rest of your butcher paper until you reach the other end where the trucks are located.
Once you reach the truck, start wrapping it around towards the center so you can tuck the flap underneath. When you reach the last two inches before it starts overlapping, only tape down one side so the excess paper can be tucked under. If you want to know more about how to gift wrap a skateboard, keep reading.
If you taped both sides of this edge, then it won’t be able to wrap all of the ways around, and you’ll end up with a little bit sticking out on either side. You can tuck the other edge in now or hold it back with your finger, so you have something to work with later underneath. The last step is to take a piece of tape and seal down the flap again. This will ensure everything stays put throughout transit, but it’s also nice because if any part gets ripped off during transport, you can just wrap it back up without having to start all over again.
Step 3: Use Plenty of Tapes!
Be sure to use plenty of tapes when you wrap up your skateboard. You’ll want to start at the top and work your way down to avoid sticky fingers. I also would recommend going all in one direction instead of crisscrossing it back and forth because that sometimes leaves a bump in the paper that has to be flattened out before you can wrap it up again without creating a wrinkle.
Once you get going, it’s not that hard, and you can even use your free hand to hold the paper stationary while the tape goes around the back of it. If you need help keeping everything in place, just take an extra piece of tape and attach one end to an edge on the board, then wrap the tape around the paper to attach it to the other side.
It should look a bit like this when you’re finished with all your edges securely taped down. If done correctly, then just about any board can be wrapped up in a few minutes, and it’s ready to be presented as a gift!
Keep reading for more information about how to gift wrap a skateboard.
Tips
- When wrapping the skateboard, be sure to use plenty of tapes to keep everything in place.
- Tape the edges of the butcher paper, so they don’t come undone.
- Wrap the butcher paper around the skateboard in one direction to avoid wrinkles.
- Use extra pieces of tape if needed to secure the edges.
- Be sure to wrap the paper around the trucks and tuck in the excess paper underneath.
- Wrap up your gift by carefully sealing down all of the edges with more tape.
Warning
- Be especially careful when wrapping the board that you don’t accidentally cover up the grip tape with too much tape. If it’s wrapped too tightly, then it can be difficult to remove and ruin the grip. Just a light layer of tape should do the trick.
- I’d recommend putting out some newspaper or a drop cloth to cut and wrap on in case you get any tape on the floor. You’ll also want to make sure you don’t have anything laying around that the tape might damage, like carpeting, finished wood floors, walls, etc.
- Once you’re finished wrapping, it should look something like this. If you did it correctly, the skateboard should be ready to be gifted.
How Dangerous is Skateboarding Really?
There is no doubt that skateboarding can be a dangerous sport. Whether you’re skating in the street or in a park, there are always risks involved that can lead to serious injuries.
In 2013, there were more than 4.5 million ER visits due to injuries that occurred while skateboarding. Of those, almost 60% were considered to be serious injuries that required hospitalization. Head injuries were the most common, followed by fractures, lacerations, and dislocations.
While these numbers may seem high, they’re actually down from 2006, when more than 5.8 million ER visits were recorded. This could be due to increased safety measures being taken by both skaters and manufacturers and better awareness of the dangers involved with the sport.
One way to stay safe skating is to wear a helmet whenever you’re on your board. Of course, many skaters prefer to go without them, but that’s just asking for trouble if they ever have an accident.
Another good idea is to only skate in designated skate parks or areas that are meant for skating.
What Should You Do if You Don’t Have a Cardboard Box?
If you don’t have a cardboard box, you can use a laundry basket or even a trash bag. Start by folding the laundry basket in half so that it’s more square-shaped and then cut a hole in the center that’s big enough for the skateboard to fit through.
Alternatively, if you’re using a trash bag, start by cutting off one of the corners so that it becomes more triangular-shaped. Then, make a hole in the center that’s also big enough for the skateboard to fit through. Once you have your makeshift wrapping material, start by tapping the edges to keep them from coming undone. Next, wrap the material around the skateboard in one direction, making sure to tuck in the excess material as you go along.
Finally, seal up all of the ends with plenty of tapes, and your board should be ready to give as a gift! No matter how careful skaters try to be, accidents can still happen, leading to injuries. If you or someone else has been injured while skating, consider contacting an attorney.
Conclusion
Skateboarders everywhere will appreciate your unique gift-wrapping skills this holiday season! Using some of the tips we’ve shared, you can make any skateboard look festive and fun. So grab your wrapping paper, ribbon, and stickers and work! We can’t wait to see the finished product. Thanks for reading our post about how to gift wrap a skateboard.
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