How to dress up a pre-wrapped gift box

"Perma-Bow", originally uploaded by passitonplates.

I love pre-decorated gift boxes but sometimes they just need a little extra something. I also like putting collections of gifts (like gift basket kind of stuff) in the boxes, which means sometimes items are added to the box over a period of days and/or shopping trips.

This makes it easy to gift wrap what I have so far and still add to it as I create/shop.

Of course, I only do this for gifts I'm taking to a friend's house or shipping out of state, because I think the temptation would be too much for certain family members at home who always look for ways to sneak a peek into their own presents... Rachel.

This is super easy and I made (and photographed) this one morning while I was having my first cup of coffee. (Decaf!!) And if I can make this with bleary eyes and only decaf in my brain, you could do it too.
Materials needed:
Sturdy gift box with lid
Length of ribbon to coordinate with the box
Heavy-duty glue, such as hot glue or E-6000
Glue stick
Scissors
Note: You'll need enough ribbon to go around the box bottom + 4" and enough ribbon to go across the lid x 6. For example, if the box is 4" on all sides, you'll need a total of 16" of ribbon for the bottom of the box. If the lid is 4"x4" with a 1" lip, you'll need 24" of ribbon for the lid.

Tie a ribbon around the lid, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

To start, tie a length of ribbon around the lid, finishing with a bow and trimming the ends as necessary. Secure the bow with a dot of heavy duty glue in a hidden area.
When it looks perfect, turn the lid over.

Cut, glue, and clamp, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Cut the ribbon so you can form it to the lip on the lid. Apply a line of gluestick glue to the underside of the ribbon, starting at the bow on top, and ending at the cut ends. Use some sort of clip to hold it in place while it dries.

Mark the box, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

To make sure the ribbon on the box lines up with the ribbon on the lid, put the lid on the box and make little pencil marks as a guide.

Measure and cut the ribbon for the box., originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Measure and cut the ribbon for the box.

Glue and clamp, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Glue and clamp the ribbon to the box. Make sure the ribbon lines up with your pencil marks.

Let it sit until the glue dries, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Let it sit until the glue dries.

Ta-dah! Dressed up gift box, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Ta-dah! Dressed up gift box!

Oh, and my cost? About $1.25 for the box, ribbon, and glue.