October 02, 2009

Make a gift bow from a magazine page

In gift wrap emergencies when you've got the present but need some wrapping, here's an idea for turning a magazine page into a bow. There may be better ways to stick this thing together, but I used what I had on hand: staples and adhesive glue dots. Double stick tape or brads should work, too.

Cut a magazine page lengthwise into 9 strips, 3/4" wide. Leave 3 of the strips full length. Cut one inch off 3 of the strips. Cut two inches off 2 of the strips. Cut the last strip down to 3 1/2" long.

If you're using a magazine that's 10 1/2" tall, you'll end up with:
3 strips, 10 1/2" x 3/4"
3 strips, 9 1/2" x 3/4"
2 strips, 8 1/2" x 3/4"
1 strip, 3 1/2" x 3/4"

Twist each strip to form a loop at both ends and staple it in the center. Shape the last, short strip into a circle and secure it with a glue dot.

Layer the three longest pieces on top of each other, spacing them evenly and securing each with a glue dot. Add the next two groups of pieces, doing the same. And finally, stick the loop into the center.

Use other papers, like a map of your city. Here's Chicagoland. Anybody see your street?

351 comments:

  1. This bows you buy in big bags!!
    I like them, and i would like them more made by paper I choose
    thanks :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. this is brilliant! You can make it out of any paper then... scrapbook, leftover pieces. You're amazing Jess!

    ReplyDelete
  3. this is brilliant! You can make it out of any paper then... scrapbook, leftover pieces. You're amazing Jess!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I did this for Christmas last year and it was a big hit.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ummmm, can I say Genius? I'm never buying a bow again, and my Mom will be impressed with my wrapping skills!

    ReplyDelete
  6. LOVE this!! And so much more eco friendly. (I could challenge my kids to this... it might keep them entertained for quite awhile!!)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you, thank you! I had NO IDEA this tutorial would be so easy!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my goodness, that's awesome! I'm so excited. Thank you for this, woo hoo!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love making these! I poke a skewer through mine and fasten it with a small brad. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. this is fab - i work in the land of magazines - so i know i have another thing to do with the pages - thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, Jess... you are so brilliant! And now I know what my gift looks like!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for sharing! I always wanted to know ho w to make one!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Er, um, not sure if these will still be around at Christmas, Mom.

    Kat, ah ha! I suspected brads would work well. Good to know. Couldn't find any in this apartment, though. I searched when I wanted to make this. I might need to invest in some.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such a great tutorial! I've always wondered how to make those!

    ReplyDelete
  15. WOW...this is cool.
    Blessings, andrea

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lovely! I very much like the map one.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your craftiness never ceases to amaze me. Love this!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh I absolutely LOVE this!!
    Thanks Jess.!

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a fantastic idea! This certainly is a step up from those comic pages gift wrapping I did as a kid.

    ReplyDelete
  20. my gran used to make these and always put them on her Christmas pressies, I never knew how she did it, thanks Jess.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great idea! I'm definitely trying this during the holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  22. oh, i love this! i can see this weekend i'm going to transform into a bow making machine :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I really like this tutorial! I was looking for something to use my old magazines for!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have wanted to know how to do these for ages! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is sUCH a cute idea! I love reusing things that would normally go in the trash too.

    ReplyDelete
  26. So fun! I love that so many of your projects I can do while vegging out and watching NCIS. :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. The map one makes me swoon. Seriously, love it!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love it! I think it would be a great project to use up old phone books.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think I can do this! Really great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Win! Now to see what I can rescue from the recycling bin!

    ReplyDelete
  31. What a great tutorial! Thank you for sharing this with us!!! I'll make all my Christmas gift bow myself :o)

    ReplyDelete
  32. This is great! I'm never buying another gift bow again - and I can't wait to try this out during the holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Okay, super cool! That is all I can say: Super cool!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I am nearly speechless! So simple and so cool.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I think this may even be better than what I did with my skinny scraps of paper. http://brooklynechaos.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/woven-paper/

    I love this idea. Bookmarking for when I need a bow.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This is one of the most practical bits of recycling I've seen in a long time! Since the stapler was missing and the glue dots were missing, too (hmm - I sense a trend!), I just used double-stick tape, which seemed to work. Great job - your site totally rocks!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Very nice! I want to make some , but I doubt they will turn out as nice as yours.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I like them...lovely the one made with the maps!!!
    thanks...

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love this idea. Thankyou so much for sharing. I made one last night and was suprised to see how easey it was. I see alot off these being made between now and chistmas. thankyou again for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  40. So clever! I think I'll waste my Saturday morning cutting up magazines! It'll be nice to have a few of these around. :) Thanks for sharing your amazing creativity!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Love this idea. And the inner perfectionist freak in me loves it even more that I can now create my own bows to match gifts. Cute!

    ReplyDelete
  42. oh my goodness.
    you are a genius.
    this is definitely the coolest idea and one i will be using again and again.
    thanks for taking the time to share and for making such a wonderful tutorial.
    you rock!

    ReplyDelete
  43. This is wonderful - thanks for sharing! For 5 yrs now, I have not bought gift wraping paper. I use cereal boxes or any other box that comes from my kitchen pantry. This year I can embellish my eco-friendly holiday packaging with these awesome handmade bows - Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  44. oh this is awesome! gotta make some for xmas!
    you are a genius

    ReplyDelete
  45. wow- nice tutorial :) I've always wondered how to do that! Thank you- what a great alternative to buying one in the store- cheap & another way to reuse something!

    ReplyDelete
  46. These are fantastic! Love the map one :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love it... bows are so expensive at the shops. The one I just made was quick and easy to construct, looks so much cooler than store-bought bows and it didn't cost me a cent :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. OH my goodness! This is what I'm going to do with all those Highlights magazines that my children are done with! Thanks for the tip and full tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  49. That is gorgeous, and clever beyond anything!!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. I love the bow out of maps! I'm going to try that!

    ReplyDelete
  51. So cute I linked to this from my own blog: http://mollyleecards.blogspot.com/ (hope that you don't mind!)

    Molly
    http://mollylee.etsy.com/
    http://mollyleecards.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  52. I printed out the instructions on your website to send to my sister, then trimmed them up to mail. I made my best bow yet with the strips left over! The white with your orange header, plus little snippets of your sponsors/fabric/ etc mixed in is quite fetching! Fortunatley, "being loopy" is the key to pretty bows! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  53. Wow, I love this. Love, love, love practical crafting!

    ReplyDelete
  54. That is so awesome. I now love your blog even more!

    ReplyDelete
  55. That is awesome! I want to go wrap something now! I tried at my first giveaway, be sure to check it out!
    Http://pharescausey.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  56. Fantastic! I've been visiting your terrific site for some time now and I love it. These bows are brilliantly simple and yet I had never thought of it. Thank you for generously sharing all that you do.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Wow, these are awesome! What a great way to spend a few fall tv nights...you'd be all ready for the holidays! Thanks so much for the directions, I'll be linking.

    ReplyDelete
  58. these are sooooo much FUN! ... thank you for sharing. I am going to try these with scrapbook paper leftovers, ribbons .... the ideas keep coming LOL - thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Excellent project - One of our best tutorials! I will never purchase another bow.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Oh. My. Goodness! This is amazing! I'm in love and will be making bows on top of bows out of magazines, old scrapbooking paper, everything. You rock!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Too cute! Just in time for the holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  62. My daughter made some of these last year. They are fabulous! Thanks for the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I think this idea is amazing! What a way to use up papers and recycle! I love it

    ReplyDelete
  64. You're the best! I just made a bow out of the funny pages for my 14-year-old nephew's birthday and he SAVED it. Whoa.

    Marcy

    ReplyDelete
  65. When I was a kiddo, we had a bow maker that used a plastic piece with a pointy tip for the attacher thing, which sat upon a green base. The base was shaped much like a plus sign with only three arms instead of four. These worked as storage for the little plastic tacks.
    We used a long piece of that plasticky ribbon and just turned the ribbon and pushed it down on the pointed part of the plastic tack thing as we went.
    It worked really well and was fun to make bows with. I was so excited to see a new method for these as my mom's bow maker has been long lost.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Who knew it could be so easy? This is an absolutely wonderful tutorial, THANK YOU!

    ReplyDelete
  67. I cannot WAIT to make these for Christmas! I just recycled a BUNCH of magazines, but I'm sure I'll accumulate enough by Christmas :) Thanks for the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  68. I totally feel like a genius after making these bows. Super Cool! Thanks for the tutorial. :)

    ReplyDelete
  69. I love this tutorial. Need to make them while watching tv. Thank you so much for sharing.
    hugs

    ReplyDelete
  70. I want to make one of these! Thanks for posting!

    ReplyDelete
  71. I will never buy another overpriced bow as long as I live! Take that, Hallmark!!

    ReplyDelete
  72. This is fabulous. Love the map bow. I have some old maps that I've saved for wrapping paper, but I think the bow has more impact.

    I can also see customizing the bow paper for the gift or the recipient. Comics? Stock pages? Crossword puzzles? Too fun.

    And great for my MIL, who is pretty darn picky about bows. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  73. Seriously, if I gave you some hydrogen and oxygen you could make water (without an explosion and it'd be cute!)

    I am mentally scrounging around for the fun paper to recycle.

    ReplyDelete
  74. wow! i so love text and now can use the atlas and spoiled books i have collected. christmas packaging, here we come!

    ReplyDelete
  75. http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=247280.0

    ReplyDelete
  76. What an excellent idea. I probably HAVE one of those old bow-makers around - maybe I'll try with that. Because I don't have glue dots around, and don't the staples get a little bulky? AND this is an Ab Fab idea. I'm going to recruit the kids. They get very enthusiastic.
    Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  77. Hi Alex. The staples didn't seem to get bulky, since I stapled randomly and they all ended up in different places by accident. I don't think they were actually stacked on top of each other. You could use double-stick tape to stick the pieces together, too. But the bow-maker sounds fun! Do you have to use ribbon (or something that's one long, continuous piece) in it?

    Anonymous, thanks for the link to more samples. Cool; hadn't seen those. Looks like a brad works well, too.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Very nicely done - thank you so much for sharing.

    I've been working on a blog about gift wrapping (http://thegiftedblog.wordpress.com) and am always on the lookout for tutorials to try! I will link back once I get a chance to try this!

    Thanks again!
    Charissa

    ReplyDelete
  79. absolutely lovely idea. I can't wait to try it. I donate a lot of my magazines, but sometimes they are too beat up to pass on, but I hate just recycling all that lovely glossy paper. Problem solved!

    ReplyDelete
  80. Great tutorial!! Thanks!
    I was thinking about making one with ribbon. I've seen some attatched to hair bows that where so cute.

    ReplyDelete
  81. I love theese bows. I'm going to make tons of them. Thanks for a good tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Oddly, I *do* see my street... that's Skokie, Illinois (a Chicago suburb) and I totally lived there for most of my life. AWESOME.

    What a great project! :)

    ReplyDelete
  83. This is genius!! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  84. this. is. true. genius. Giddyup!
    Oh I'm doin THIS. thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  85. beautiful! thanks for sharing :-)

    ReplyDelete
  86. wonderful idea!!!
    thank you for sharing the idea.
    i definitely use this technique for my friends birthday gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  87. love this creative way to recycle and repurpose!

    ReplyDelete
  88. So, so awesome! I'm going to have my (k-12) students do these as part of an art project. What a fun way to teach about recycling and how to plan a project that uses multiple parts. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  89. These are fantastic - I have spent a large part of the day creating them from everything from scrapbook paper to our local telephone book! I fastened them with staples and a brad through the middle - looks excellent especially with a blingy brad.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Love this and totally making these for Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  91. wow I never realized how easy they are to make!

    ReplyDelete
  92. i like making my own bows from scrap parers but never knew how easy it was to make an official bow! thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  93. Those present bows are so creative!! Love'em!

    ReplyDelete
  94. Hey thanks for sharing this how to! What a cleaver and creative recycle! I love it and plan to use my own recycled bows on upcoming holiday gifts!

    ReplyDelete
  95. Love this, thanks for the how-to! Maybe this is how I can get my kids to help me wrap....

    ReplyDelete
  96. this is brilliant! love this :D

    ReplyDelete
  97. Hi Jessica!

    Wanted you to know I posted a link to this tutorial on my blog.

    Thanks for all the great tuts you have...I love telling my readers about them.

    Nancy Ward
    http://paperfriendly.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  98. How wonderful! This is a great way to reuse items and create custom bows. Thanks so much for showing us!

    ReplyDelete
  99. Thank you! I used this tutorial to make a map bow of my own for a baby shower gift. I can't wait to make more. :)

    ReplyDelete
  100. Thank you for sharing! and what great timing since the holidays are coming up :D

    ReplyDelete
  101. Wow this is pretty good! Only one problem...
    When you cut it, you have to cut it lengthwise. I tried to cut it landscape, only it wasn't long enough. >.<

    ReplyDelete
  102. Victoria, thanks for adding that! I forgot! I updated the post.

    ReplyDelete
  103. Thanks for the great step by step photos! I've been making bows like this but have been having a hard time keeping the size and shape uniform, this is going to help me tremendously!

    ReplyDelete
  104. Love this,TFS!
    Thanks and have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  105. Just tried this out the other night. Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  106. Just tried this out the other night. Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  107. thanks! this is great - green, frugal and easy!

    ReplyDelete
  108. I love this tutorial! Just made my first one and it worked perfectly :-)

    ReplyDelete
  109. love it! I had this bookmarked and came back to make one today with my 3 year old. Great activity while muffins are baking! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  110. your tutorial made it look so easy.. i am going to try one soon as i get home from work.

    ReplyDelete
  111. WOW! Thank you so much for sharing this! This is such a money saver and fun maker project.

    Thank you and so many greetings from Germany!

    Michaela

    ReplyDelete
  112. I like this. I featured it at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  113. This is terrific! I certainly will be trying this, thank you for sharing this idea. I would like to post this to my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  114. Fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  115. This rules. Thanks for sharing with us!

    ReplyDelete
  116. Wow! Who knew making bows was so easy?

    You can spice it up a little by using fancy-edge scissors to cut out the strips.

    ReplyDelete
  117. Amazing! I cannot wait to give this a try. This week is "no television week" at my daughters school. I think we will have one night of family bow making! Thanks so much for making this project look so simple :-)

    ReplyDelete
  118. I see Skokie and Evanston in the last bow! haha

    ReplyDelete
  119. Very nice. Instead of a dot of glue, double sided tape works great.

    ReplyDelete
  120. nice howto. very useful especially this coming christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  121. Made one out of aluminum foil, looks AWESOME!

    ReplyDelete
  122. Brilliant -- thanks for sharing! I think I might try printing off some favorite pics and using them...

    ReplyDelete
  123. AWESOME! I can't wait to try this and to think I was throwing magazines out.

    ReplyDelete
  124. This was just a brilliant post. I sat in front of the TV last night making these to top my Christmas gifts. It was very easy, even for a not-too-crafty girl.

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  125. Interesting! I wanna try to make like that also. Thanks for guiding me through this. Rarely do I find good entries that would walk me through. Great post.


    -fern-

    ReplyDelete
  126. This is one of the best tutorials I've seen in a long time. Great job, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  127. This is such a brilliant way of adding a personal feel to anotherwise off the shelf decoration.

    ReplyDelete
  128. Brilliant - simple, clear and absolutely brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  129. I am SO in love with this! Is it pathetic that I can't wait for my kids to go to bed tonight so that I can start working on them to use on Christmas gifts? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  130. che dire????

    FANTASTICO! ^__^
    lo userò subito per questo Natale!

    ReplyDelete
  131. This is my first comment but I feel like I should have been making loads of comments now because I always like your stuff. Maybe comments are for more hit and miss blogs than your own. When you maintain a consistent level of high quality output I reckon people are less inclined to comment because they have come to expect it from you. Just a theory.
    christmas gifts

    ReplyDelete
  132. I LOVE this project, especially the version made from the map. I'll be featuring it with a link back to your site on my blog, http://scrimpalicious.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  133. Terrific idea!
    I use blueprint paper for wrapping presents because we have so much of it at work...i hate just sending it out for recycling. anyway, i shall make several bows this year with it! it will be perfect to go with wrapping instead of buying ribbon...i'll forward a pic if you wish!

    ReplyDelete
  134. Instead of staples, or glue, or tape, I used a needle and thread to secure my bows!

    Thanks for the great tutorial! :)

    www.kellicanady.com

    ReplyDelete
  135. This is fabulous! Can I repost it, credited to you, at Crafting a Green World?

    ReplyDelete
  136. You can link to it with a photo and description, but I'd ask that you don't lift the entire post and republish it. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  137. Wow, I just came from the Fiskateer blog and this bow is amazing! Thanks for sharing!

    Sandy Fiskateer #4165

    ReplyDelete
  138. I love the bows that you made.Youre bows are great.They look so easy to make.

    Joan Fiskateer #808

    ReplyDelete
  139. always wondered how did make these!!Thank you for doing the tutorial! It was so nice of you to share it with us fiskateers!!
    viji5858

    ReplyDelete
  140. What a great idea. Thanks for sharing this on the Fiskateers blog. I can see how making custom bows to fit that persons interests or personality would be a big hit.

    ReplyDelete
  141. I've been reading your blog off and on, being partial to orange myself (Fiskateer). I had tried these bows once, and I flopped. But your tutorial is excellent, I should be able to successfully make one.
    TFS with the Fiskateers this weekend!
    kimberlee #2494
    PS--do not let anyone borrow your nice scissors!! :P LOL

    ReplyDelete
  142. this is so cute, thanks for sharing, I've often wondered if there was some way I could make these bows by myself.

    ReplyDelete
  143. Thanks for sharing your tutorial! We fiskateers love orange too! Off to browse more of your site!

    ReplyDelete
  144. You make the bows looks so easy to make. I love the one made out of city maps. Sure glad Angela sent me over to check them out.
    thanks Debbie Fiskateer #4668

    ReplyDelete
  145. Thanks for sharing this with the Fiskateers - I am going to make one now :) TracyM

    ReplyDelete
  146. I followed a link to your page on the Fiskateers board. This bow idea is amazing. I love it!

    Kimc
    Fiskateer 5612

    ReplyDelete
  147. oooops - was so keen to get out and make one that I forgot to mention that it is especially nice because it is orange - and your site is so orange - just what a Fiskateer needs :) TracyM 6773

    ReplyDelete
  148. Thanks for letting the Fiskateers share your work. This bow is way too cute and the possibilities for it are endless. Off to make bows. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  149. i love making these bows! so fun!

    ReplyDelete
  150. Also, I wanted to share my bow! I'm a fiskateer by the way! #6394

    http://www.fiskateers.com/community/photo/51389/

    ReplyDelete
  151. Love your bows! They are so sweet. And orange is such a great color.

    Fisk-a-teer colors are so nice!

    ReplyDelete
  152. Wonderful tutorial! Thanks so much for being on the Fiskateer blog. I love your bow!
    Lesa, Fiskateer #5200

    ReplyDelete
  153. Thanks for sharing this on the fiskateer blog!!What a creative way to make a bow! love the oranginess!!

    ReplyDelete
  154. WOWeeeeeeeeeeee! You made that look easy but I most especially love that you are using something that has been used before! Seeing the words show through makes it really fun and exciting! Amazing work :)

    ReplyDelete
  155. This is such a wonderful idea and green too! I can't wait to give it a try this holiday season. Thanks for sharing.

    Kelly #6558

    ReplyDelete
  156. Thanks for the tutorial, I tried it and though mine didn't turn out as professional looking as yours I'll keep trying.

    Fiskateer #1485

    ReplyDelete
  157. What a wonderful and easy way to recycle... thanks for sharing this awesome idea :)
    -Sylvia #5019

    ReplyDelete
  158. love this ///printed off and put in my idea bank..Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  159. Hello, everyone. Greetings, Fiskateers. There seem to be a bunch of you popping in lately! Howdy, and thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  160. Yep, and here is another Fisk-a-teer who loved you bow turorial! My husband asked if I plan to make all of our Christmas bows. At first I didn't think so, but I am thinking that since we draw names and don't do a whole lot of gifts in our family, I just might try it! Thanks so much!

    Oh, while I was here I thought I would become a follower of your great blog!

    ReplyDelete
  161. love this, ever so! had to post it to my blog... xx!

    http://innerbeautyla.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/top-five/

    ReplyDelete
  162. this is so addictive!! now I'm just making them for no reason at all other then making them!

    ReplyDelete
  163. Stumbled apon this post a few weeks ago....GENIUS! I have been so inspired by your blog (and others) that I decided to start by own craft blog and linked to this post in my latest entry. Thank you!

    http://fabricpaperbeadsohmy.blogspot.com/2009/12/green-christmas.html

    ReplyDelete
  164. Thank you very much for the tutorial. it's very useful for me who have long been looking for an inexpensive gift wrapping idea.

    ReplyDelete
  165. LOVE your site!!! I am definitely making this!! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  166. As a long standing admirer of your blog, I am always excited about your projects. I hope you don't mind if I share this brilliant idea at 973 Third.
    Many thanks for sharing your genius!

    ReplyDelete
  167. OK, this age me. I remember making those when I was a kid. I got a "job" wrapping the neighbors gifts one year. And I was really good at making bows. Great job, nice bow. And you recycled on top of it.....
    Ms. Jackie #3017

    ReplyDelete
  168. This is amazing! I will do this!! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  169. Wahoo !! It is fabulous !! I like this idea and will try to use it for my Christmas gifts..
    Thanks a lot
    xxx
    Lili

    ReplyDelete
  170. This is brilliant! Along with recycled gift tags and scrap fabric bags, my Christmas is going to be really green this year.

    ReplyDelete