How to Make a Paper Bow for a Package

If you are tired of throwing away and wasting used gift wrap, there are other uses for it! Instead of disposing of used gift wrap, collect it and smooth it out and make something new and different from it.

You can make a paper bow out of a small amount of gift wrap--either used or unused. In fact, you could easily make a bow from gift wrap and match it with a beautifully wrapped gift.

Not only is this creative, but it is frugal and green as well!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gift Wrap Clear Tape Thin Cardboard Scissors Ruler Pencil

1. Cut 1/2-inch-by-4-inch strips from the gift wrap. Cut approximately 20 to start with and cut more if necessary.

2. Cut the cardboard into a 1 1/2-inch square.

3. Fold one gift wrap strip into a loop with wrong side inside of the loop. Overlap the ends by approximately 1/8 inch. Place a piece of tape onto the loop to secure. Extend a small flap of tape out from the loop to use for attaching the loop to the cardboard.

4. Attach this loop to the cardboard in the middle edge of one side of the square.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to make loops for each side of the square.

6. Make four more loops in the same way. Attach them at the corners of the square.

7. Make more loops and attach each loop in front of or between loops from the last row.

8. Add enough loops to fill in the entire cardboard square.

9. Make one loop for the middle and attach it to the center of the bow.

10. Arrange the loops so that they look even and neat.

11. Attach the bow to a gift by taping the cardboard square to the wrapped gift.