Avoid using thick paper, such as cardstock.
Finish folding the paper in the back. This will make the bow symmetrical. If you finished folding in the front, cut the paper shorter until the last fold is in the back. The back of the paper is the blank or white side. If you are using construction paper, there is no blank or white side.
Alternatively, roll and glue the strip into a small ring. Close 1 side of your bow, slide the ring onto it, then open it back up again.
The mustache shape will eventually make the bow loops. The bow tie shape will actually make the bow tails!
Construction paper, colored cardstock, or patterned scrapbooking paper will all work great for this.
Scrapbooking paper has a blank side and a patterned side. Make sure that you are gluing to the blank side of the paper. If you don’t have hot glue, use a glue dot instead. It’s a double-sided adhesive circle that comes on a roll or sheet. You can find it in the scrapbooking section of a craft store.
If you are using scrapbooking paper, make sure that you are gluing the looped bow to the patterned side of the bow tie shape.
If you are using patterned paper, make sure that the colored side is facing up.
If the paper is too long and sticks out over the edges of the bow, trim it down. Don’t wrap the paper so tightly that it crinkles.
3 large strips that are 1 by 11 1⁄2 inches (2. 5 by 29. 2 cm). 3 medium strips that are 1 by 10 1⁄2 inches (2. 5 by 26. 7 cm). 3 small strips that are 1 by 9 1⁄2 inches (2. 5 by 24. 1 cm). 1 tiny strip that is 1 by 3 1⁄2 inches (2. 5 by 8. 9 cm).
If you need to, fold the strip in half first to find the center, then unfold it. When you fold the end of the paper to the middle, the front of the paper will be visible. Twist the end so that the back is visible.
Always work from the back of the paper. If you are using wrapping paper or patterned scrapbooking paper, it will be the side that’s white.
If you don’t have hot glue, use a glue dot instead.
