https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/diy-papermagazine-gift-bows • Posted by Andrea Arch
Before recycling old magazines, go through and tear out those ads and turn them into gift bows! Just a heads up, the cheap newsprint type paper will work, but it's super flimsy and not as fun to work with. The thicker, semi-gloss stock works the best. My personal tip: don't pay too much attention to words or other not-so-cool items on the page. Chances are they'll end up on the inside of the boy or will get cut off. Large, colorful graphics have always worked out best for me.
Before recycling old magazines, go through and tear out those ads and turn them into gift bows! Just a heads up, the cheap newsprint type paper will work, but it's super flimsy and not as fun to work with. The thicker, semi-gloss stock works the best. My personal tip: don't pay too much attention to words or other not-so-cool items on the page. Chances are they'll end up on the inside of the boy or will get cut off. Large, colorful graphics have always worked out best for me.
Find a bright, colorful page out of a magazine... any size will work. You'll also ned something to cut with, scotch tape, a ruler and stapler.
Cut the page into nine 3/4" wide strips. Leave three of them the original length, cut 1" off three of them, cut 2" off two of them and cut the last strip so that it is only 3.5" long.
Next, twist the eight long strips into a figure eight (graphic side facing out).
You can either tape or staple the ends in place. I think tape is cleaner.
Now, keeping the same lengths together, arrange them in a flower-like shape and tape/staple them together as shown in the picture. Yes, the graphics will be pointing down, but it'll work. No fear.
Repeat the flower-like process with the next size strips and again with two shortest strips. You will tape each group of strips within the large group you just did. (Hope that makes sense.)
Take the 3.5" strip and tape it into a circle. This circle fits nicely right in the center of the rest of your strips.