DIY Upcycled Gift Bows
To take a break from the holiday chaos, I’ve been creating these gift bows from a growing pile of mis-prints and other scrap papers.
It seems tedious but they are actually pretty quick to make once you get going. I thought I would share here for anyone who might need a few quiet paper craft moments this season. The pdf template below can help trace and cut your paper and the video shows the full process.
Step 1: Trace and Cut Paper
Cut 6 of the largest template shape, cut 4 of the 5 inch, and 1 of the smallest template shape.
Step 2: Create Loops
Start by creating a simple loop with the smallest piece. Add a bead of glue at the connection point. Use a clothes pin to hold in place and set aside.
Next, wrap each 6 inch pieces into a ribbon shape to create a long-ish loop. Add a bead of glue at the connection point. Use a clothes pin to hold in place and set aside. Repeat this process with the 5 inch pieces.
Step 3: Create Loop Pairs
Gather the larger loops you created from the 6 inch strips of paper. Create pairs (3 total). Add a bead of glue to connect the pair. This forms somewhat of a figure 8 shape. Use a clothes pin to hold in place and set aside and repeat for the remaining large loop pairs.
Repeat this process with the loops from the 5 inch pieces. You’ll form 2 pairs. Glue, then use a clothes pin to hold in place and set aside
Step 4: Combine the Pairs
Gather the 3 larger pairs. You will stack these on top of each other and rotate with a bead of glue between each layer. This will create the outer layer of the bow.
Repeat this stack and rotate process to connect the remaining 2 smaller pairs.
Step 5: Assemble the Bow
Add a bead of glue inside the outer layer of the bow that was created in the first part of step 4. Place the middle group of loops pairs into this shape and hold in place for a moment to set.
Finally, add a bead of glue on the inside of the bow and place the smallest single loop in the center.