How to Make Duct Tape Ribbons and Bows

There's just something fun about using duct tape in creative projects, especially when you get to choose from all of the bright and colorful selections of the Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape line. I wanted to use duct tape and plain white or brown wrapping paper to create unique gift wrapping, and I love how it turned out.

It's easy to create duct tape ribbon around a package (see below for a quick tutorial), but the bows are a little more complicated. Even so, they should take about 5 minutes or less to make.

How to Make a Duct Tape Bow

1. Cut a piece of duct tape about 6 inches long. (You can vary the size for different shaped bows. Just make sure that you do the same thing for the right and the left sides.)

2. Fold each half over onto itself so that you are left with a double sided piece of duct tape about 3 inches long. Try to fold flat and evenly, but it's ok if it is a little bumpy or raised up in parts.

3. Repeat the process so that you have 2 identical pieces.

4. Take one of the pieces and fold it in half.

5. Now fold that edge in half upwards. Then fold each of the edges back down in half on each side, so that the edge is now folded back and forth into fourths.

6. Wrap a thin strip of duct tape around the edge of the piece where your fingers are holding. Repeat the same process with the other side.

7. Cut a long thin strip of tape. Put the two sides next to each other and wrap them together with the duct tape. You can use more duct tape for a thicker center. Now cut a new larger piece of duct tape and fold it in half. Cut out two similar ribbon ends shapes.

8. Use small pieces of duct tape to secure the ribbon ends to the back of the bow.

I also made some bows without the ribbon ends. Play around with different sized strips of duct tape for different shaped bows.

How to Make Duct Tape Ribbon

You could just wrap a box in plain wrapping paper, then tape around it with duct tape to create a ribbon look. However, this is surprisingly hard to keep straight, and would be even harder for the recipient to open.

1. Cut out the wrapping paper you will need. There are a lot of places to find plain white or kraft brown paper, but I use rolls of coloring paper from IKEA for white, and utility paper from the paint section of Home Depot for the kraft brown.

(I am obsessed with this blue and turquoise chevron duct tape from the Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape line.)

2. Cut out long pieces of tape and slowly place them across the paper.

3. Once you have taped two strips in a cross pattern on the paper, flip the paper over and wrap your gift like a normal present. This way it will look like it's all wrapped up in duct tape, but be easy to open.

I love how this yellow bow looks against the chevron duct tape.

Do you love creating with duct tape like I do? Follow along with Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape line on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

This post is a collaboration with Scotch® Color & Pattern Duct Tape Brand. Join the community at Facebook.com/scotchcolorsandpatterns or visit scotchducttape.com to learn more.