If you've been sitting on a stack of old book pages wondering what to do with them, this short tutorial shows you how to turn them into paper bow embellishments — with a paper clip built right in so each bow doubles as a functional closure for journals, envelopes, tags, and gift bags.
What we cover
How to cut and fold book pages (or any scrap paper) into layered paper bows, attach a paper clip so the bow can clip onto almost anything, and finish each one with inked edges and a small embellishment to hide the staple. I also show a second, larger variation using catalog paper and bow tails, so you can see how far the basic method can stretch.
What you'll learn
How to cut the main bow strip from a single book page, folding it double before you cut so the finished strip has extra body and holds its shape better than a single layer would.
How to cut the layered petal pieces, including:
- Folding a remaining piece of paper into four layers and cutting a half-heart shape to get soft, symmetrical petals
- Cutting a simple petal shape freehand if you prefer
- Adjusting size on the fly — start your cut closer to the fold for a narrower middle, further out for a bigger bow
Why inking the edges matters — before the petals are layered, the shapes blend together and you can't really read the bow. A quick pass with an ink pad (distress ink works well; so does shoe polish if that's what you have) brings each layer into focus and gives the whole thing a finished, vintage feel.
How to attach the paper clip so it functions as a closure, with the short side facing forward and the long side running along the back — so you can slip the bow onto an envelope flap, a journal cover, or a bag handle without the clip getting in the way.
How to assemble and staple the bow, including:
- Positioning the staple vertically, right through the center of the paper clip, so both the clip and the petal layers are secured in one step
- Using glue as a no-stapler alternative if that's what you have on hand
How to hide the staple and paper clip with a center embellishment — a button, a small butterfly piece, a collaged scrap — whatever suits the bow. The center piece does double duty: it decorates and it covers.
How to make a larger bow with tails, using a strip of patterned catalog paper layered underneath the main bow for a more elaborate look. The tails don't need to be perfectly even — Natasa's words, not mine, and she's right.
How the finished bow works as an instant tag or closure, clipping onto plain paper, envelopes you've sewn or folded, journal covers, paper bags, and gift bags without any additional adhesive or sewing.
Tips & gotchas
Fold your main strip double rather than cutting a single layer. It takes one extra second and the bow holds noticeably better — single-layer strips tend to feel flimsy once the bow is shaped.
The size of the bow is decided at the cutting step, not at assembly. The further from the fold you start your half-heart cut, the larger the finished petal. It's worth cutting a few test pieces before you settle on a size, because there's no correcting it later.
Ink your edges before you assemble, not after. Once the pieces are layered and stapled, you can't get the ink pad into the right places cleanly. Even a light pass around the visible edges of each piece makes a real difference — without it, the layers blur together.
If you don't own a stapler, glue works fine. Press each layer down firmly and give it a moment to set before you handle the bow — the center is the stress point and it needs a solid bond.
The paper clip will be visible at the back of the finished bow, and that's completely fine. The front is clean once you've glued your center piece down. If the paper clip bothers you on the front too, you can maneuver it slightly before stapling to tuck it further under the petal layers.
Batch production makes this genuinely relaxing rather than fiddly. Cut and fold all your strips first, then ink all the edges, then assemble, then do all the embellishing together at the end. Trying to complete one bow start-to-finish before starting the next slows you down and interrupts the rhythm of each step.
They're light enough not to add bulk and functional enough to actually hold things closed. And because they're built from book pages and scraps, the cost is essentially nothing — just a paper clip and a bit of time.
