Among friends and loved ones, Jodi Ceglia is known for her ability to transform an ordinary package into a work of art.

For Ceglia, who is publications design manager at the Community College of Baltimore County, gift wrapping is fun because it's "hands-on creativity," rather than "just sitting in front of the computer and designing."

Ceglia's gift-wrapping gifts are of champion quality, but that's not why she's a contender in this year's Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper Contest.

It was a rap (naturally), composed and submitted by Ceglia's husband, Bill, and her mother, Claire Meitl, that made the Ellicott City resident one of eight finalists in the competition, to be held this Friday at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

It goes, in part, like this:

She has that special knack and says, "I do

Love to make masterpieces out of paper, ribbons and glue."

Of her family's efforts on her behalf, Ceglia says, "I was very honored."

During a practice wrap, Ceglia, 28, tackles a large decorative bottle filled with alternating layers of preserved garlic and legumes. No easy task.

The former champion softball pitcher snips two sheets of paper, one orange and one red, and wraps them around the bottle to create a textured, cocoon-like sculpture, deliberately creased with wrinkles and folds. "A lot of this is trial and error, she says. "That's why I need a lot of time."

Ceglia deliberates before stuffing a bit of gold tinsel into the top and enveloping the package in a garland of gold stars.

Then, lacking a plume of gold ribbon, she folds another sheet of paper into a fan and fastens it behind the neck of the wrapped bottle. The final effect is a bit eerie, as if a brilliant miniature ninja had just sprung from Ceglia's rustic dining room table. Or perhaps it is a party papoose. Whatever it is, there's no hint of what's inside.

One of her wrapping musts is to leave no clue as to the contents of a gift. "My friends are used to getting odd-ball looking things," says Ceglia, who puts as much thought into choosing gifts as wrapping them.

Fastidious and organized, Ceglia can certainly execute tidy folds and invisible tape jobs. But in her wrapping, she tends to go for the asymmetrical and the unexpected.

Ceglia's more of a free-form wrapper than a control freak -- a reassuring attribute for those who can't wrap a package neatly to save their lives.

Her organic approach should serve Ceglia well at the competition. In previous years, contestants have been asked to wrap a succession of oddly shaped things, including a miniature trampoline, a tricycle and boxing gloves.

The eight finalists in this year's contest, chosen from 125 entries, were selected based solely on written recommendations. Judges didn't get a visual preview of each entrant's wrapping abilities.

Ceglia's co-competitors include three other amateurs and four professional gift wrappers from around the country. As tourists watch, competitors will brandish scissors and tape during several heats as they vie for the $10,000 grand prize.

Judges will measure technical skill and style. In the event of a draw, speed will serve as a tie breaker.

If she finds the time between now and the contest, Ceglia will hone her wrapping and perhaps ask shopping mall wrapping experts for their secrets. Other than that, she's breathing easy. With a free weekend in New York with her husband, courtesy of 3M, Ceglia feels like she has already won.

Jodi Ceglia's wrapping tips

1. Don't start wrapping unless you're in a good mood.

2. Think outside the box by taking the gift outside its box. Also, choose unique materials, including twigs, balloons and beads.

3. Don't let your dog, cat or children anywhere near your wrapping station.

4. Allow time for your wrapping project. Don't feel rushed.

5. Be as creative as you possibly can. The outcome should make someone smile.