Benjamin and Lyla both love to color, but right now all they do is scribble. I have stacks of sheets that Benjamin has colored all over and I was hoping to do something fun with them.
I saw this tutorial at Smile Monsters for making your own paper gift bows and I immediately wanted to turn the scribbles into bows. These are such a great idea for wrapping presents (especially for the grandparents).
Lyla helped color with markers. She loves the little (very washable) markers and gets them all over her face and hands. Lyla made the pink scribbles and Benjamin did the blue one.
First, cut the paper into strips 8 and a half inches long and 3/4 of an inch wide. If you have a paper cutter this step is very quick and easy. You will need 5 – 8 strips per bow.
Next, fold the strip in half to mark the middle. Then fold back and glue down each side with a hot glue gun, or another instant adhesive. Scotch tape would also work well.
Try to keep the ends somewhat pointy.
Once you have made all of these figure 8 petals, start gluing them one at a time. Glue down the first 3 petals so that you have what looks like a 6 petaled flower with a gap in the middle.
Next, add the last two folded up inside of the others. You can use any number of petals. For the pink bows I used 5, for the blue bow I used 6, and for the newspaper bows I used 7.
For thicker paper (like regular printer paper or scrapbook paper) it seems to work well to use only 5 or 6 petals. You can experiment with different numbers of petals and different sizes of the strips. I found that as long as they fit, the more petals you use the better it looks.
DIY newspaper gift bows
){kind=link}
What a wonderful post! I love the idea of using precious little one's scribbles for making bows. How fun! And I see your beautiful adorable talented Lyla has some lines across her face 🙂 She is precious!
Beautiful idea. The grandmas will love this at Christmas! I'm following you from the Monday Mingle hop. You can find me at TheMamaZone.com
OMG! I love this project!!! I HATE buying bows at Christmas…but this, I could so do…My kiddos are all older now 🙁 But still young enough maybe they would like to join in…Ok, they are all boys, but I can hope…LOL I bet some clearance scrapbook paper would be cute too!
Found you thru TipJunkie 😉
What a lovely way to include the little ones in gift giving for holidays and birthdays!
That is awesome! Great idea!
Hi! I’m blog hopping today and I’m following your blog. Please stop by and say hi when you get a chance. I’m offering a HUGE Back to School Sale on Blog Designs. For 1 week only receive $40 off a custom design order. Come take a look at my portfolio. Hope your having a sweet week.
April
A Mommy’s Blog Design Studio
Blog Hops Everyday
Review and Giveaway Blog Directory
Thanks for this great idea and tutorial! I appreciate the drawings too. I saw your post over at "Crafty Lassie Tuesday".
I cannot believe I ALMOST threw out my 3 yr old's crafts this weekend and said "no, I'm going to do something with these…"!!! Now, I can have bows on Christmas presents!!!!!! New follower from Monday Mingle!
This is sooo cute! I have never made a bow before, but I am going to try now!
Stopping by from The Monster Hop.
~your newest follower
http://www.theclumsycoquette.com
Wow, cool! I stumbled this post for you! I wanted to stop by and thank you for joining the Planet Weidknecht Weekend Hop. I hope you'll join in again.
This is such a fabulous idea!! Thanks so much for your visit, what a fun blog!! I think I have all the kinks worked out for the link up and buttons…
take care
kristin
great tutorial! They look great!
I would love it if you would share this and/or any other projects you have been up to at Tuesday Talent Show at Chef In Training! Plus there is a fun giveaway too! Thanks so much and I hope to see you there!
-Nikki
http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com
Fantastic idea!
What a fun way to wrap up presents. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for the tutorial! what a great way to use up all of my junk mail!
What a great way to "recycle" kids artwork. Thanks!
This is what I call creative recycling.
Adorable! Your little girl makes it even better. 🙂 What a great idea!
Thanks for sharing this @ Show & Share!
Wonderful idea, I'm pinning it! Have a good day! Oh, and I'm a new follower. I saw you at Family Ever After's blog hop.
I meant new liker on FB!
Hi, there! You've got so much creativity and I'm admiring them all. Can you share your creative posts at my Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop? Hope to see you there 🙂
I saw you over at Homemaker on a Dime and I love your idea. What a great way to use your kids' scribbles! Thanks for sharing.
love this! so cute and what a cute way to use a child's artwork! Thanks so much for linking up to Tuesday Talent Show! I would love to have you stop by and link up again tomorrow with more great projects!
-Nikki
http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/
Thanks for linking up to last week's Tuesday Confessional on Confessions of a SAHM. You've been featured, so stop by and grab a brag button!
http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/09/features-from-last-weeks-tuesday.html
~Macy
Thanks for linking up! We have featured your package bows, so come on over and grab our featured button!
http://www.SewStylishBoutique.blogspot.com
Heather & Rose
What a great idea. Love how pretty the scribbles look when they're turned into bows! My kids are so doing that this Christmas. 🙂
Hi Rachel!!!
I found this idea wonderful and publisched it in my blog.
Here is the link:
http://petitepoohmonamour.blogspot.com/2011/10/gift-bow-fiocco-regalo-do-it-yourself.html
Hope you will like it!!!
Hugs
Aretusa
This was so fun, so easy, and best of all, I didn't have to feel bad for all the hundreds of pieces of kids' artwork I've saved over the past 3 years . . . now I can use it! I linked to your tutorial because I could not possibly do it better 🙂
http://cameronhomemadetips.blogspot.com/2011/10/and-list-rolls-on-with-other-random.html
Thanks for the tutorial – I found it very easy to follow! I've drafted a blog post about making bows and linked to this tutorial. I'll be posting it on my blog next week 🙂
Not very easy to do with flimsy paper…
make sure your newspaper is fresh and laid flat
Such a wonderful idea! 🙂 Thanks for sharing. I will definitely use this DIY for this holiday. 🙂
xoxo
Ida
oh my. that is adorable! what a great idea!
These bows are so cute. Thanks for the tutorial.
I am in love with this idea. Ooh I might have to do a wrapping tips round up. I'd love it if you'd add this to my link party over at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/2011/11/link-party-what-we-wore-and-made_29.html
Such a cute idea- and a cute baby! My little ones have given me ample fuel for this project. I better get crafting! 🙂 Thanks so much!
what a great idea!!!!
would love it if you could share this on my link party Serenity Saturday at http://www.serenityyou.blogspot.com
Natasha xx
Oh thank you so much for this tutorial! I love these so much!!!
Hug´s,
Verena
I love to recycle and this is a cute and easy way to do it. I would love to get a scribble bow on a gift!
This is so fun & clever! Thanks for sharing
I found this to be very hard to follow. There was only one picture on how to fold it, and it was very difficult to attempt. Maybe instead of posting pictures of kids, you should post some helpful durections. I'm extremely disappointed in this post.
– Bowless in Birmingham
Bowless, I'm sorry you were so disappointed. This is a post about turning baby scribbles into bows, so I think a couple pictures of my daughter making the scribbles is appropriate. I have been thinking about making a video tutorial for these bows, because it is a little complicated knowing how to twist them. I just wish you had emailed me or left a more constructive comment. There is a picture on how to fold it, detailed written descriptions, a drawn diagram, and a link to another tutorial. I'm sorry this wasn't enough for you.
I agree with Bowless in Birmingham….I thank you for the bow tutorial but WHY did you need to post a picture of your baby? "…..my daughter making scribbles is appropriate.' NAH, it's not appropriate nor necessary for this. Next time stick to the bows and omit the scribbler!!
I disagree! I think the "scribbler" adds to the adorable factor of this post! SO cute!
Love this tutorial. I find your instructions SUPER easy to understand.
~BowFULL in Dallas
It's her blog. If she wants to show a photo of her daughter she very well can. If you don't like it, then find another bow tutorial maybe??? Remember, these ladies do these tutorials for FREE, she's not a large company showing you these things. If she wants a photo of her daughter in there, which is perfectly appropriate for this post, then who cares? Constructive criticism on a post or emailing for clarification is perfectly understandable, but complaining about a photo of her daughter? Ridiculous. Rachel, this is a fun idea and I love your post. Ignore this silliness.
Thanks for the support Abbey! 🙂
I wonder if the paper strips could be coated with wax or laminated to make them permanent keepsakes?
That's a fun idea! Let me know if it works if you ever give it a try!
Oh my word. This is so cute! And easy enough for a 10yr old child to follow. Maybe these people are just not as crafty as they though they were and must get over themselves. Post as many pics as u want of your little cutie pie. Screw all these negative know-it-alls!
You should try the Sunday funnies, more colorful and you have an adorable little girl!