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!
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!
Aww, thanks! These are so fun and inexpensive to make!
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!!!
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!
Can’t wait to try this! LOVE your blog – new follower
Aww thank you! I hope you have fun making these!
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!
I know you could make them too, girl! I have some cute recycled gift wrap ideas coming later on this week ;o)
Adorable! These would be so cute made from patterned scrapbook paper. Thanks for sharing your know how.
So easy and beautiful! Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog dear!
these are so cute. the possibilities are endless!
marissa
http://raegunwear.blogspot.com
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
What a great idea. When I always pull out my stash of this kind of bow , they are smashed!
Sherry
This’s such a wonderful idea, can’t wait to try it!
So that’s how it’s done… thanks for sharing!
I think I can do this! LOL So pretty!
What cute bows! With all the pretty papers available this is such a great tute! Thanks!
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!
Found you through chic on a Shoestring Decorating! Love it – I can’t believe it is that easy!
Stephanie @ grinninglikeanidiot.com
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!
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
This is totally fabulous – I am totally going to try this!!!! Thanks!
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
I tried them with newspapers! Sooooo CUTE!!!