Our house is overflowing with The New Yorker. I’ve been saving the covers for the day when we own our own home and I can properly wallpaper a bathroom like my mother-in-law because, well, it’s awesome. However, the day of home ownership is far on the horizon. In the meantime, I thought I’d put some of those covers to use and create upcycled magazine gift bows. A totally unique, earth-friendly touch to any gift.
GIVEAWAY ALERT: If you’re lacking in a stash of old magazine covers, or calendars, or even brown paper bags, Skyler’s Party and Bella Violetta are giving away upcycled gift bow sets that are sure to set your present apart! And Green Eyed Monster will send you a set of three New Yorker gift bows to boot! To enter, comment on this post and tell us what you hope to receive wrapped up with an (upcycled) bow. Ash is yearning for a pair of preppy Sperry boat shoes and Kimmy wants a flowery sundress.
Materials:
Magazine cover
Glue gun
Stapler
Paper cutter (or scissors)
Materials
Directions:
1. Rip out the front cover of a magazine and cut into 1/2″ slivers. Cut one strip slightly wider (3/4″).
1a.
1b.
2. Pull four full length slivers out of the pile. Now group the rest into three sets of three. Cut 1″ off three, 2″ off three, and 3″ off three. With the slightly thicker strip, cut down to around 3″.
2.
3. For each strip, fold in a figure-8 and staple in the center.
3a.
3b.
4. With the 3″ wider strip, glue in a circle.
4.
5. Begin layering the strips, starting with the longest. Put a dot of glue in the center of each as you layer.
5a.
5b.
5c.
5d.
6. To finish the bow, glue the wider circle strip into the center of the bow to cover the staple.
6.
7. Wrap up a gift with some old newspaper or a brown paper bag and top off with your magazine bow! Happy giving!
7.
Photo: Courtesy of Green Eyed Monster®
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Don’t Wanna DIY
Here are some upcycled gift bows. Win one of each set!
Bella Violetta
Skyler's Party
A bit big…but I would love a new retro looking coffee table wrapped w/ a bow for me!
I would love to receive a big batch of yarn wrapped in one of these bows – love yarn! Would love to see a picture of the bathroom done in magazine covers – how cool.
I would like an antique stained glass window wrapped up with one. There’s a store here that has a ton of them and I’ve asked for one for my birthday. I plan to make it into a table!
A new hot glue gun or a new camera. The two things I wear out the fastest. lol!
I’d love to come home and see brand new windows for my house wrapped up in these bows, for my honey and I to install. They are so darn expensive!
I can’t help it, I ‘d love to see a box of dark chocolates topped with one of these fine bows! Also, love the tutorial. I get a lot of Garnet Hill catalogs, which are full of great color and I hate tossing them but couldn’t think of a use. I’ll try this when next I receive one.
I’ve made these before! They are so awesome and easy…but when you tell folks you made them, they are always impressed
To be completely shallow: I would love to get a big fat anthropologie gift card wrapped up with one of these bows on it. sweet!
These bows should decorate a handmade gift.
I would like a new shirt to go with the skirt I knit!
wow..i am going to male it, but it will be nice if i had some insperation…:)
i love to get books, i hust love reading..anything..
Very cool DIY! LOL – I’d love to receive Eric Northman all wrapped up with an upcycled bow. ; D
Oh okay, I guess I’d settle for the Sookie Stackhouse boxed set.
oh! I wanta try this tute out! Maybe mine will look as beautiful as the photos.
The bellavioletta paper flowers are way cute too! I’d love to win some. Pick me! Pick me! ( =
I’d love to receive an ipod (any size, any style!). I think it would help me on those workouts I never want to do! Music is inspiring!
I have a craving for natural yarn and cotton fabric. Any of those two will make me SOOOO HAPPY — I need to prepare my wish list for Xmas
I love these! I am totally bookmarking this page to make these later!!
Hmm. Let’s see…I would like to receive a new tulle skirt wrapped up with one of these bows!
What a crafty idea! Wrapped beneath this beautiful bow, I’d want a book of poems…
I’d love some grey flats to match the new purse I just got for my birthday!
Very cool! I would love to receive one of the yarns bowls I have seen from other etsy sellers topped with one of these bows.
my hubby maybe…i miss him…he works all week over 2 hours away…so we only see him once a week…sometimes once every 2 weeks…
I’d like to get a new camera!
karma dot points at yahoo dot com
Lovely idea – the tutorial is clear and makes it simple. Would like this bow on SmittenKitchen’s cookbook when it comes out!
I’d love to get one of those credit card gift cards that I could then spend on anything I wanted! Obviously with one of these bows right on top!
I would want a kindle.
books, books, and more books please LOL I love to read it is my favorite escape in a bath with bubbles preferably
what a fantastic idea – the bows look great. I would love to see this bow on a pearl necklace!
I’d love to open a box filled with checks written out to my mortgage company!
All of this DIY stuff is really making me think I need to purchase a glue gun. But they scare me. Nonetheless, I think I can make these bows – thanks for the instructions. And I hope that I have a plane ticket to anywhere waiting for me!
A sewing machine! Just another thing to add to my list of crafts…..but I really want one!!
I would love to open a bow-decorated package and find either a new pair of boots or sandals in there!
I’d love a little red cocktail dress with silver jewelry to match!
Books books books…tons of books!
Great giveaway! I’d love to be entered.
Please count me in. Thanks.
avalonne83 [at]yahoo [dot]it
I want to receive an E-book reader, with a lovely big bow on it!
OOH! Or a Kitchenaid mixer, in bright red, so it goes faster.
Kate1485 at hotmail.com
I would love a maxi dress. I am really bad about spending loads on my family, and forgetting to get anything for myself.
would be a lot of fun.
A new phone, hopefully a smart phone :>
A Tiffany’s necklace would be very nice
I would wrap up homemade chocolate or candy with these!
I’d love to get books or Vera Bradley.
I would love to receive some vintage jewelry! Yay!
Apartment in new york city
Congrats, Christina!
TOOO Cute!! I can’t wait to try these! Such a great idea to reuse & recycle.
I can’t wait to make some of these bows for X-Mas presents. I’m thinking some Southern Living magazines will look great.
I’ve been hoping for a cheese-making kit, so I hope I get ones of those!
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These bows are adorable! And what a great idea to make them from recycled papers! I would love them on a present that had a paper cutter in it so I could make more : ) thanks for the chance to win some of my own.
This is fantastic- I can’t wait to get started.
These look so amazing!! I’m for sure gonna try and make these for the holidays!
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