Cutting a paper ribbon bow freehand is not as tedious as creating a template for it. But tedious in a fun and relax way as I made a template for my bows.

I tweaked my version into a 3-piece bow. Download the template to give it a try, if you like. Here’s how it works:

1. Lay the cutouts as shown.
2. Glue one end of the bow to the middle spine.
3. Followed by the other end.
4. Apply glue within marked area to adhere the 2 tails one on top of the other.
5. Then place it behind the bow. Dotted area indicates the top portion of the flap.
6. Fold the flap over and behind the bow centre.
7. Glue in place.
8. If you avoid gluing the flap directly onto its tail body (made in step 4), the ribbon bow is free to hang onto something.

For example it latches onto a book easily as a page marker.

When using two-sided paper, the underside shows up as a contrast at the “knot” section.