Gift Wrapping : How to Make a Fancy Bow using a Comb
[ Follow-Up : I’ve figured out a second way to use a comb to make a gift bow, so after you’ve had a look at this post, please click over to this one : How to Make a Gift Bow Using a Hair Comb – Version 2. Thanks for reading! ]
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Hello and welcome!
I was going through the drawer in the bathroom the other day and found a bag of combs that’s been taking up room in there for a couple of years now. I’m pretty sure I’ll never use them up because I can’t get that type of fine toothed comb through my hair. The reason I got them in the first place was because I needed ONE small comb, to help keep my bangs in order, when I got them cut. After checking a few different shops, I could only find them in packages containing many combs of different sizes and colours.
Now, combs aren’t really something you can give away, right? So, I’m left with seven of them taking up space in my drawer. Well, actually, now I am left with six of them, since I’ve found an alternate use for one, making these gift bows.
Do you have an extra comb lying around, and have a gift to wrap? Well then, today is your lucky day!
This works with fabric ribbon or with inexpensive curling ribbon. Using thinner ribbon turns out better than wide. I made mine on the small side, for wrapping smaller gifts, but you can make them as wide and as full as you’d like, using more ribbon and wrapping it as wide as you want.
How to use a comb to make gift bows :
Choose a long comb and break 4 tines off, side by side, to make a gap in the middle. Mine just snapped off, but you might need to use scissors pliers to do that.
Take some thin ribbon – I used about 26 inches to make small bows that are about 2 inches wide. Take a second piece of ribbon that is long enough to go around the gift you’re wrapping, plus and extra 2 inches. Or, if you just want to tie the bow onto something, the second piece should only be about 5 inches long.
Wrap the first ribbon around the tines of the comb, keeping the gap centred, as shown in the photograph. Make sure the end of the ribbon is past the gap, so it will be included when tied with the second ribbon (as described bwlow).
Take the second piece of ribbon and pass it through the gap, above the ribbon loops. Pull through until the loops are in the middle and tie the second ribbon in a tight knot.
Pull the loops off the comb, and fan out the ‘petals’ of ribbon.
Attach to the gift by taping the ends together on the underside of the package.
Once you get the hang of it, you can make one in under a minute.
↑ I see faces ↑
To give you an idea of the size of the bow, here it is beside an egg.
Here’s a red one. These are good for attaching a small card to a gift of wine …
↑ In my next post (found here) I’ll show you the greeting card making technique, used to make this card, which uses gift wrap. ↑
Here’s the inexpensive curling ribbon in action …
I hope you had a good weekend, and will have a great week.
Thanks for dropping over,
xo loulou
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Also: Your “crafting comb” is not only useful for making gift bows! See how to use it to make tassel earrings too, over at this post!
