Scented Gift Bow Made of Recycled Perfume Ads

For topping off the wrapping of a very special gift, make a one-of-a-kind bow with the added surprise of carrying an exotic designer scent!  Your recipient need never know that this lovely and festive gift bow was made out of junk ads  -- unless, of course, you want to gain big repurposing DIY cred by revealing this.

Materials: One fold-out paper perfume sampler advertising insert (the kind you rub on your wrist).
Tools needed: Scissors and a bit of scotch tape.

Step 1: Locate Smelly Perfume Inserts in Newspaper Ads

The Sunday newspaper, especially around holidays, carries several pounds of glossy advertising inserts. Many of the department store flyers contain inserts for designer perfumes, the sort containing a scent sample you can unfold and rub on your wrist.

Choose one of these, preferably one with a strong yet pleasant aroma. (Or pick a particularly stinky ad if intended for a disliked co-worker whose name you drew in the office pool.)

Step 2: Fold and Artfully Shred

Fold the ad in half lengthwise.

Then take out long scissors. Leaving the perfumed part folded inside on one of the free ends, make thin parallel cuts along the folded side - about 1/4 inch wide at most. Stop about 1/3 inch away from the fold. This will give you one piece of paper with long shredded strips and a margin along the top.

Step 3: Roll It Up and Tape It Closed

After the length of the ad has been given its cut, take the solid end and begin to roll the strip up. Roll it fairly tightly, allowing the shredded parts to stick out rather like flower petals or fireworks. 

After the roll is complete, ensure it will not unroll again by holding it shut with a small piece of scotch tape.

Step 4: Voila! Affix to a Special Gift.

Fluff it up a bit on top. Some of the shorter perfumed bits may emerge from the longer loops; this is okay and even gives it a bit of zing. Arrange these unruly pieces in an artistic fashion.

Flatten the taped bottom, and use that as a base to tape it onto your wrapped gift.

Voila!

Give to the recipient. Once they notice the nice aroma, watch them delight in your creativity. (Or watch them recoil in horror, depending upon recipient and perfume ad of choice.)