How to: Making Perfectly Perfect Small Bows

September, 2010 ~ UPDATE!  As I keep track of visitors to my blog, I find there is a large number of people who find this post by googling (or using some search engine) to find instructions on making small bows.  I would truly appreciate it if you would leave me a comment and let me know whether or not you find this post helpful and why.  I truly appreciate your visiting, come back soon, Becky

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I have been making greeting cards for years. In fact my first cards were quite crudely made using clipart images and printed on my very first clunky old PC and printer more than ten years ago. But it's only been in the last year or so that I've become pretty much obsessed with making pretty greeting cards for family and friends. Of course the home computers and crafty products available have come a long way since then, too!

On February 14, 2008 (yes, Valentines day) I was home alone, worrying about my husband who was out of state dealing with his sister's illness and eventual death - alone - or at least without me! That day I stumbled across the wonderland called Scrapbook.com, and fell in love! I found out there were other crazies like me who were addicted to papercrafting and the products you used to make those crafts. As I began posting pictures of my cards, a common theme seemed to arise . . . "How do you make your beautiful small bows???"

Like many of you I always had trouble making pretty small bows for cards and other craft projects. Then one day I developed this simple method using templates, and haven't looked back. I posted these instructions on my 'blog' on Scrapbook.com on February 23, 2008, and hope you find them helpful.


Step One - The Templates



As you can see, I make them from whatever I have handy! One is from the back of an old card someone sent me, another is from a cracker box, and yet another is made from a Kleenex box. I write BACK on one side of each one, and that reminds me to work from that side so the bow is pretty.

Step 2 - Wrapping the Ribbon


I wrap the ribbon of choice onto the top part of the template. I usually do either 1, 3 or 5 times, because odd #'s somehow look prettier. When I finish wrapping, I drop the tiniest of drops of glue (I prefer FabricTac) on the center so that the end of the ribbon is stationary, then cut the bow away from the ribbon card.
Step 3 - Tying the Ribbon

Here I cut a length of ribbon, slide the base of the bow down to the bottom of the template, and tie a single knot. Then I put one more tiny drop of glue, tie one more single knot, and arrange the tails the way I want them.
Step 4 - Nice and Straight

As soon as I put on that last drop of glue, I straighten the tails, and tuck them under the ends of the template and let them dry straight. Usually I cut the angles in the tails while it's in this position - I find it's easier this way.
Step 5 - The Finished Product

After that last drop of glue has dried, I slide the bow off the template, fluff the layers of the bow, and it's ready to be added to my card or whatever project I'm working on.
Once again, Ihope you find this easy tutorial helpful. If you do, or if you don't, please leave me a comment and let me know! Thank you for visiting today, and may you have a joyful day! Becky