Newspaper Bow

Bow Instructions

I do not like to buy wrapping paper so most often I will wrap packages in newspaper, but I do not like to give boring looking packages so I dress them up with bows and “ribbon” around the package. I started doing this in 2001 and at the time I had access to the local newspaper [white gray in color] and the financial times [pink/salmon in color]. I liked to use these two to give contrast in my wrapping, now since I do not have access to the financial times I try to use a very colorful section of the news paper for the bow or I might use the add inserts to get the same color variation effect.

The steps are fairly straightforward but it takes some practice and possibly some finesse to get the bows just right.

NOTE: when wrapping with newsprint the ink might rub off on the item. In some cases this does not matter but if the item is cloth then it is best to cover the item in a plastic grocery bag of two to protect it.


1.Gather the materials you will need, newspaper, clear scotch tape , scissors, and a stapler.

2. Select the paper, you wish to use for you bow and cut into stripes as wide as you want, typically I cut them about an inch wide. They do not need to be perfectly even across the length of the strip. I usually cut a couple of sheets of paper thick with each cut and the paper is bound to wiggle as you cut, which helps to give you these odd widths. You only need a few stripes of full length newspaper for each bow. I typically use about 3 stripes for a 3 inch or so bow.

3. Take these three stripes and tape them together. Tape is only necessary on one side. You can always add more strips as you go along but I have found three finishes most bows.

4. Make your first loop with the strip and keep the layers folded between your thumb and index finger. The loop almost looks like an awareness ribbon.

5. Make two more loops in the same manor. This is beginning to almost look like a Celtic knot.

6. Staple these three loops in place.

7. Continue in the same manor adding three loops at a time. It is best to angle the loops to fit in the in-between spaces of the previous set of loops, to create a full appearance. I find doing more than 3 loops at a time gets too much to hold and I wind up having to start from the beginning when I try to do more than 3 at a time.

8. Continue adding three more loops.

9. Last two loops. Just judge as you are making it what size the loops need to be, they will be bigger at the beginning and smaller at the end.

10. Now we are almost done with the three strips we started with, so if you need more length you can add another strip or part of one if needed. To make the final loop I add a looped piece of tape to the bottom of the strip and fold it over in place to create a more polished look if you don’t want to see the staples. Though this step is not necessary and you could finish the bow in step 9 by making 3 loops and stapling them into place. THE BOW IS DONE.

11. Now it is time to make the embellishments. My goal is to make the “ribbon” around the outside look as much like real ribbon as it can be. To make the “Ribbon” around the edges tape three or so stripes together to wrap around in the traditional pattern with one part of the strip on each side of the package.[not pictured] After this is done there should be about 5 inches or so of the strip that is left over [though it can be done with more or less, the less excess length the less of the curl will show]. What I like to do with this is curl the ribbon. To do this first cut each strip into three smaller stripes, again these do not need to be even.

12. Take these smaller stripes and roll them around the end of the scissors

13. Pinch the newsprint to keep it in this new bent shape.

14. Voila! Curled ribbon!

15. The finished package