Monday 28 July 2008

The Crafters' Way 58 - Paper Bows

I write a weekly Craft Column for a local paper. I share it here for bloggers or you can view it online at http://www.northlakesmessenger.com.au/







These bows look fabulous made from wrapping paper, newsprint or comic strips. For the bow in the photos I used shop catalogues. I have placed a pen in the finished bow photo to demonstrate size.

You will need: Paper (see above), sticky tape, a small piece of cardboard, decorative scissors or paper trimmer.

Step 1: Cut or tear your paper into strips approximately 10 cm long and 2 cm wide. Don’t be too fussy about this. From your cardboard, cut a 4cm square.




Step 2: Fold your first strip into a loop leaving approximately ½ cm overlap between top and bottom piece of paper. Place the sticky tape on the overlapped end extending the tape ½ cm past the ends. Place this first loop on the center of one side of the cardboard. Make three more loops and place each one in the middle of the remaining sides.




Step 3: Making 8 more loops. Place 1 each side of the centred loops.





Step 4: Make a further 4 loops and place on the corners. Bow should now look like this.



Step 5: Continue making loops. Place in an alternating pattern filling in the cardboard square. When cardboard is completely covered fluff up your bow. Use a small piece of double sided sticky tape to attach to parcel.





Variations: Alter the size of your bow by cutting strips shorter and thinner
Use fabric scraps
Trim fabric strips with pinking shears. If doing this activity with children don’t let them confuse you paper and fabric scissors.
Cellophane paper makes a lovely floppier bow.




Back to more Free Craft Projects.

2 comments:

rubyredstudios said...

I love it. Thanks so much for sharing your talents.I Have so much paper ephemera that's crying out to be transformed. Your etsy store looks fabulous too best Brissy wishes to you.
x Helen

Anonymous said...

Your work is really remarkable,keep posting.