April 18, 2013

How to make a paper bow


I've gotten some questions asking how I made the paper bow on the bottom package in this post. Here's a quick tutorial. I made a template so you can see the parts. Download the free file you need:

The PDF template
Files for digital cutting machines:
The zipped Silhouette .studio file (double click the .zip file after downloading)
The .svg file
The .dxf file

If you print the PDF on colored paper and cut out the pieces, you'll have enough parts to make two bows. Or you can just freehand cut some pieces like I did originally; I folded my paper in half so that both sides of the bow would be symmetrical when I cut. Sort of like you do when cutting out paper hearts, you know?


Anyhow, whether you wing it or use the template, you'll need three parts for each bow: the band in the middle, the loops, and the tails.


Grab the two outer tabs on the "loops" piece, bend them to the center, and glue them down.


Layer the loops piece on top of the tails with a dot of glue, then wrap the band around the center and secure it in the back with a little more glue. All done!

71 comments:

  1. You're so nice to your readers. :)

    Mum

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  2. @ grandma g: i agree =)

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  3. Very cute bow and I know the template will come in handy! Thanks so much for sharing it :)

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  4. This bow is so cute, thank-you so much for sharing!!

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  5. Very beautiful. Thanks for the "sewing pattern".

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  6. love it!
    me and my little girl have a new little project this afternoon! :)

    thanx!

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  7. This is a great posting I have read. Thanks lot for this useful article, nice post

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  8. Could you do this with ribbon if you made the strips bigger? please write back :')

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  9. That looks so real! You're so good at these designs!

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  10. So sweet, thank you! :) /Vera

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  11. Now you had me wondering how these would look if I were to use newspapers/magazines instead of 'regular' paper :) thank you for all the awesomeness you share with us!

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  12. this is really clever! You are definitely a paper engineer. Blessings!

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  13. So perfect and beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us.

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  14. How have I not seen this before?! This is a perfect alternative to store bought bows and it could be recycled or composted afterwards. I am so doing this on the next gift I give.

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  15. I appreciate you sharing this!

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  16. mind = blown. what a really great idea....

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  17. I love these so much! Thank you for posting them, I hate buying bows! I featured this post on my blog if you'd like to check it out!
    http://littlebitsofeverythingqce.blogspot.com/2013/04/pinned-it-friday-rachel-edition_26.html
    Have a fun weekend!
    ~Rachel

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  18. These are beautiful and fun. Thanks so much for sharing the template and tutorial with us!

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  19. These are seriously beautiful! So much better than something you'd buy at a store. I'm gonna try making them. Thanks for the template!!

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  20. This is so simple and.....AWESOME.! I'm having a real tea party for my daughters birthday and this will be such a frugal way of decorating!

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  21. Just found your blog and I love this. I can't wait to find a reason to use a paper bow. So sweet. I'm so glad I found you.

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  22. Absolutely awesome - and I'm already thinking could you make them from magazine pages, like the ones you've made in the past....pass me those old magazines someone...

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  23. Adorei a ideia! Facílimo! Obrigada por compartilhar. Beijos.

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  24. I have been looking for this tutorial for ages. Than you for sharing your template as well. xxx

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  25. I love it please make more tutorials for us thanks.

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  26. So adorable and I love the simplicity. Thank you for sharing!

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  27. Awesome job! Thanks for sharing.

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  28. Hi Jessica!

    I really like your paper bows. Made my own and blogged about them today. I linked to How About Orange for the template. :) Thank you for sharing this with your readers!

    Have a great week!
    /Helena, Craft & Creativity

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  29. Great paper bow!! I just posted a link to this tutorial for my readers on my paper and crafts blog. You can see it here: http://www.etchedinpaper.com/diy-tutorials-and-ideas

    Thank you for sharing this!

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  30. Your bow design is the prettiest of them all! Thank you for sharing ♥

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  31. I specially bought a wrapping paper so the bow would stand out and it ended up looking so cute,thank you for the template,it helped a lot!

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  32. Thank you for sharing this brilliant idea.

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  33. This is awesome! Simple to realise and looks oh-so-so-so-good! Thank you!!

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  34. This bow is so cute!! I created a silhouette cut file based on your template so I won't have to cut by hand. May I share it on my blog with a link to your post?

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  35. I looked for it on Deb's site and didn't see it. Made my own! Same question--can I pass it around with the ownership statement intact on the top, with link to your site?

    Carol
    Extreme Cards and Papercrafting
    http://extremecards.blogspot.com

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  36. I looked for the file on Deb's site and didn't see it. Okay to make my own and distribute it with your ownership info. intact, and link back?

    Do you want the file to add to your post?

    Carol
    Extreme Cards and Papercrafting
    http://extremecards.blogspot.com

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  37. I always wondered how my friend made these beautiful bows! I was so jealous and i wanted to make one for myself. These instructions were very simple. Thank you!!!!!!!

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  38. Thank you very much for the cute template. It will come in handy for the christmas presents I still have to wrap :)
    Happy HOlidays!

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  39. Thanks for the template - I'm going to have a go at these as it will be nice to make them in designer papers to match my cards! Thanks for sharing.
    Helen x

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  40. Thanks forthe template, cant wait to make a couple over the weekend.

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  41. Thank you so so much! Love it!!

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  42. Thank you so much for this lovely bow template, just what I was looking for

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  43. Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!! I have been searching for this type of DIY and PDF everywhere!!!!!! This is incredible! I am SOO grateful you've shared this! You've made my Spring Cleaning Mood :D thank you

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  44. This is so clever! Thank you so much for the template!

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  45. Oh TOTALLY thank you so much for this bow. Its exactly what I needed.

    Blessings!
    Barb

    PS - hoping to share a cute download of my own in the next few days too!

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  46. Thank you this is exactly what I was looking for. I may get round to buying a die for this for my Grand Calibur, however this is the template I did a search for and found you. I want to make all sizes so it will be very handy indeed.

    I am now bookmarking you to check out all your tips.

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  47. Thank you so much for sharing this ! My daughter just loved it !

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  48. the bows looks so cute all though i am not a crafty i am sure going to try this one

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  49. You can do it! (That's your pep talk.)

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  50. Thanks for sharing simple but great ideas

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  51. I love these bows....and the tails can be rearranged to hang in a downward fashion like a traditional bow....it was super easy with your template! Thank You so much!
    Does anyone have a CRICUT compatible file for these?
    Ty xoxo

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  52. Thank-you so much!! Greatly appreciated

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  53. yearbook staff loves grandma g!

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  54. this is horrible um sorry but what can we use these for other then fun??

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  55. This is absolutely beautiful! Thank you for posting!

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  56. Thank you so much for making and posting the template! It looks prefect!

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