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You've made your list and checked it twice. You're days (or maybe minutes) away from presenting your gift.

But how to make the outside of the present shine as brightly as what's inside? Especially if what's inside is shaped like, say, a football or a bicycle helmet?

We've wrapped every kind of present over the years at TODAY, and interviewed gift-wrapping experts, artists, lifestyle gurus and more for their best hacks for wrapping presents. As our last-minute gift to you, here are some of the best tips and tricks we've gotten over the years that will help even beginners neatly wrap any kind of present.

First things first, create a gift-wrapping “station” with your supplies so it's less of a chore to break out the wrapping paper when you need it. Your station should include:

Less paper is more when it comes to wrapping, according to  Jackie Gamble of Nordstrom. Too much paper will make your gift messy.

The trick in the video above will help you wrap a gift in just 15 seconds. It can even work if you think your paper is too small for your gift.

Even expert gift wrappers can be stumped by a ball, bicycle or other oddly shaped gift.

The Japanese tradition of furoshiki uses a piece of pretty fabric to cover up a gift without the use of tape, pins, clips or other accessories — it’s just knots and fabric! Once the gift is bestowed, the receiver actually gives the fabric back.

Another option for an oddly shaped gift is cellophane — it's supposed to look wrinkled, so you don't have to fight it.

Another approach for an oddly shaped item is your own custom gift bag.

Say you have a last-minute gift and somehow failed to create a gift-wrap station. (How dare you!)

No problem: Stewart recommends wrapping items in plain paper, then using things from around the house to embellish — think stamps, stickers, glitter, gold paint, pinecones, bells or ornaments.

To make quick gift tags, use Christmas cards! Cut out a cute tag from a card, punch a hole in it and string some ribbon or twine through it.

Bryan Luterman of Neiman Marcus showed us an expert hack for a last-minute gift for dad. If you've got a shirt and tie, simply use the tie as a ribbon around the box.

Artist and gift-wrapping expert Alton Dulaney suggested completely camouflaging an oddly shaped gift by making a tricycle into a cardboard reindeer, for example.

Alternately, you can wrap something that looks exactly like what it is, like a doll house covered in colorful paper.

Mangin also suggests using clay to create a personalized gift tag that can be used as a coaster.

Lisa Tolin (she/her) is head of special projects for TODAY Digital. She is also a picture book author. Previously, she was the supervising health editor for NBC News Digital, and held various roles for The Associated Press, including East Coast lifestyle and entertainment editor. Her debut picture book,"How to Be a Rock Star," illustrated by Daniel Duncan, publishes in 2022.