Happay The Month of December

The season of joy has finally arrived. I love this month of year because it allows me to spend so much time with family and friends, sharing stories and swapping gifts. My favorite part of gift giving has always been making the gift and things for the gift. Today I want to share with you a bow that I first invented when I was just a kid. I would save every scrap of wrapping paper that my presents came in and beg my mom for pieces of wrapping paper that we had for presents. (I was a recycling crafter even way back then!) Then, I'd sit in front of the tv for hours content to make these bows. This was back in the days when we didn't have circle cutters so I'd have to trace around cups and plates to get just the right size circle for my bows. I had to hand cut each of the circles. My fingers would get stiff from making so many bows and sticky from the Elmer's glue. Today the process is easier but still the same. I actually can't believe I've never made these out of the beautiful double sided scrapbook papers that are available now. I have never seen anything like this in the scrapbooking world before. Here's what the finished product looks like:

To make this bow you will need the following:
1 piece of 12x12 Paper Trunk double sided pattern paper. I've used paper from the Rockabilly line
Scissors
Sharpened Pencil
Circle cutter
Helmar Professional Adhesive or another quick drying glue

Step 1:
Cut 5 circles from your patterned paper and then fold them where the black lines are shown. The folds are made by folding each circle equally in half 4 times to make 8 even sections

Step 2:
Cut from the edge of the circle 3/4 of the way into the circle. Do not cut all the way to the center of the circle


Step 3:
Place the sharpened tip of the pencil at the edge of the paper in the center of one of the 1/8 slices.

Step 4:
Pinch the slice around the pencil tip.


Step 5:
Roll the pencil to the side and tuck the corner of the slice under the pencil. Then roll the pencil back to the center of the slice. At the center, the paper will be wrapped around the tip of the pencil.

Step 6:
Add a small bit of glue to the other corner of the slice and wrap it around the pencil. You will have to hold it in place until it dries enough to remove the pencil.When the pencil is removed, you will have made the first point on the bow.

Step 7:
Continue making points out of the remaining 7 slices of the circle and three of the remaining 4 circles. They will each look like this

Step 8:
Cut off 1/4 or 2 slices of the 5th circle Then roll the remaining slices into points as you did with the previous 4 circles

Step 9:
Stack the circles, alternating the points. Glue them together in this position. The 3/4 circle goes on the top of the pile.

Final Step:
Attach finished bow to package! It's sure to wow your friends and bring a little joy to your holiday!


After the holidays are over, I can show you some other variations I have made of this bow. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise and show it now! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Merry Christmas and happay creating for the holidays.

Rachel Theall aka happay scrappay