Handmade Paper Bow Tutorial

Posted on April 23, 2012
Hi, Everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend! Since a special someone’s birthday is coming up soon, I’ve been looking for some cute gift wrapping ideas, and one of my favorite things I found were handmade paper bows! I tried a couple different ways of making them, and finally came up with this, so I’m sharing the tutorial with you today! I love nicely wrapped gifts, it just makes what’s inside the gift even more special! These bows may look a little complicated at first, but they are actually really easy to make, and once I started making a lot of them it only took me a couple of minutes to make each! All you need is a sheet of paper (you can use anything from brown paper bags and magazine pages to scrapbook paper and felt!), a hot glue gun and a good pair of scissors! Later on in the week, I will show you how I used these and other recycled materials for cute gift wrapping ideas, so be sure to come back! Here is a tutorial for my paper bows…
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HANDMADE PAPER BOW TUTORIAL
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1. First, cut your paper into 7 strips, each 3/4 inch wide. Cut the first three strips to be 10 inches long, the next three strips 9 inches long, and the last one to be 4.5 inches long.

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2. Next, begin twisting each of the 6 long strips so that they have a loop at each end (see picture below). Secure with hot glue in the center. Make a loop out of the last strip (the 4.5 inch one).
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This is what all all the loops will look like when you are done! Now you are ready to start layering and sticking them down to make your bows!
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3. Layer and stick the three largest pieces, then layer and stick the next three pieces, and finally stick the loop in the center.
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This is what the bow looks like when the first layer of the longest three strips (now loops) is done.
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This is what the bow looks like once you’ve stuck the second layer of loops down:
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This is what the bow looks like when it’s done, once you’ve attached the ring into the center.

 And that’s it! I told you this was super easy! These bows are so much fun to make and make for really cute additions to plain wrapping paper! I hope you try this out! And make sure you come back later on in the week to see some cute recycled gift wrapping ideas! Happy Crafting, Everyone!

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  • Amy - while wearing heels April 23, 2012 at 1:50 pm

    You make it look SO easy. I love the idea of DIY bows, since you spend at least $1 if not more on store bought ones. Again, your pictures are beautiful!

    • Maria April 23, 2012 at 11:12 pm

      Aww, thanks! These are so fun and inexpensive to make!

  • Erin April 23, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    These are so pretty! You make it look easy but it still intimidates me =o) I’ll give it a try and see if I can do it. Can’t wait!!!

    • Maria April 23, 2012 at 11:10 pm

      Ohh thanks! I was intimidated when I first started making these bows too, but now I feel like I could do it in my sleep! They are fun to make!

  • Heather Kinnaird April 23, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    Can’t wait to try this! LOVE your blog – new follower

    • Maria April 23, 2012 at 11:12 pm

      Aww thank you! I hope you have fun making these!

  • Mariana April 23, 2012 at 10:42 pm

    I’m with Amy- they’re amazing but I feel like they’d be too much for my hands and crafts skills to handle!
    One day, though. One day 🙂
    I can’t wait for the recycled ones!

    • Maria April 23, 2012 at 11:13 pm

      I know you could make them too, girl! I have some cute recycled gift wrap ideas coming later on this week ;o)

  • Patricia @ ButterYum April 23, 2012 at 11:46 pm

    Adorable! These would be so cute made from patterned scrapbook paper. Thanks for sharing your know how.

  • Treatntrick treatntrick April 24, 2012 at 12:12 am

    So easy and beautiful! Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog dear!

  • marissa April 24, 2012 at 12:31 am

    these are so cute. the possibilities are endless!

    marissa
    http://raegunwear.blogspot.com

  • Sarah April 24, 2012 at 7:19 am

    These look so great. I love making homemade gift wrapping supplies. I would love for you to share this at my link party
    http://thewinthropchronicles.blogspot.com/2012/04/share-it-link-party-8.html

  • Sherry April 24, 2012 at 8:56 am

    What a great idea. When I always pull out my stash of this kind of bow , they are smashed!
    Sherry

  • Plateful April 24, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    This’s such a wonderful idea, can’t wait to try it!

  • Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage April 24, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    So that’s how it’s done… thanks for sharing!

  • Debbie@Mountain Breaths April 24, 2012 at 7:05 pm

    I think I can do this! LOL So pretty!

  • Mary Ellen April 26, 2012 at 12:13 pm

    What cute bows! With all the pretty papers available this is such a great tute! Thanks!

  • Mitzi April 27, 2012 at 2:39 am

    I’ve never thought of making my own bows, but I think I’ll give these a try with my special vintage wallpaper. Thanks so much for the tutorial!

  • All Artful April 27, 2012 at 6:54 am

    Found you through chic on a Shoestring Decorating! Love it – I can’t believe it is that easy!
    Stephanie @ grinninglikeanidiot.com

  • Shannon @ Cozy Home Scenes April 27, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply….I’ve had a really, really hectic week. I love bows, but rarely buy the store bought ones because they are so tiny and mashed….or really expensive if you find a large pretty one. Your tutorial is a great way to make them yourself, so thanks for sharing this great craft idea at my party!

  • Polkadot-pretties April 29, 2012 at 5:15 am

    Love this project!!!!!
    I currently have a Crafty linky party going on, i would love you to link this project up !!!
    http://polkadot-pretties.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/you-inspire-linky-party_28.html
    Claire xox

  • Truly Myrtle April 30, 2012 at 9:40 am

    This is totally fabulous – I am totally going to try this!!!! Thanks!

  • Six Sisters May 1, 2012 at 9:31 pm

    They look even cuter that the ones we buy!! Can’t wait to make my own!! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for being a part of our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” Hope to see you again real soon!! -The Sisters

  • lindsey hausafus December 24, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    I tried them with newspapers! Sooooo CUTE!!!

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