How to make a festive butterfly hair bow with Bowdabra

Cinco de Mayo is coming up and if you are thinking about having a fiesta you will love this festive butterfly hair bow.  Create this beautiful hair bow in minutes with some velvet or velour ribbon, or printed felt in your favorite bright color.
The festive butterfly hair is fun for Cinco de Mayo parties, however, it is perfect any time of the year!
So let’s get started…

Festive butterfly hair bow

Materials:
Bowdabra mini Bowmaker
Bowdabra bow wire
2 ½” wide velvet, velour ribbon, or optionally printed felt works great
White pipe cleaner
Butterfly pattern
Scissors
Disappearing marker
5/8” yellow grosgrain ribbon (For smaller butterfly 3/8" or 1/4" ribbon)
Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
Two red rhinestones (or small beads if using the bow wire for antennas)
If using the Bow wire for antennas use a small paintbrush to twist the wire for the curl.
Alligator hair clip

Instructions:

1. First, download the butterfly pattern. Trace each piece on to the velour ribbon and cut out. For smaller butterfly shrink the patter to 3/4 size.

2. Next, Cut a piece of Bowdabra bow wire 18” long. Fold it in half and insert into the Mini Bowdabra.  You will have a loop on one side and two loose wires at the other side, which will be your slipknot.

3. Now, insert the bottom downward facing wing piece into the Mini Bowdabra pinching in a mountain fold. Then, insert the top wing piece pinching in the same way you did the bottom wings.

4. Scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

Create the butterfly

5. Insert the two loose wires through the loop and pull tight while the butterfly is still in the Bowdabra. Take it out of the Bowdabra and separate the ends.  Turn it to the back and tie a knot and clip off the excess wire.  Adjust your butterfly’s wings.

6. Take a 6” piece of pipe cleaner and fold it in half. Use the hot glue gun to glue it to the center back of the butterfly. To make the antennas with the Bowdabra bow wire, trim the bow wire ends to 2 1/2" long.  Add a tiny bit of glue to each end and thread a small bead through.  Clip the excess.  Then, using the end of a paintbrush twist the wire around into a springy curl.  Adjust the antennae on each side.

Finishing the hair clip

7. Attach an alligator clip, which is covered with ribbon to the back with some hot glue. (You can buy them already covered at the craft store)

8. Finally, cut a piece of 5/8” grosgrain ribbon and glue to the center back over the open alligator clip. Then continue to bring it to the front and glue it to where you started on the back. This way the alligator clip is extra secure.

9. Curl the pipe cleaner antenna and glue a rhinestone on the ends. Or optionally for the Bow wire antenna follow the instructions in step number 6.

We hope you enjoyed this festive butterfly hair bow tutorial.  We love comments and suggestions!

How to easily make a cheerful spring daffodil headband

Now that is spring, soon all the daffodils will be popping up.  In fact, mine have been trying to pop up for a couple days now.  So to liven up your moods this Easter in lieu of an Easter bonnet why not wear a cheerful spring daffodil headband instead?

This little daffodil flower is super easy to make and the spring daffodil headband would look great on a baby as well. 

So lets get started!

Materials

Mini Bowdabra with hair bow tool and ruler attachment

1 ½” wide yellow wired ribbon

1” wide dark green grosgrain ribbon

White sparkle tulle cut to 1 ½” wide about 8 inches long

Yellow yarn

Headband in a spring color

Scissors

Pinking shears (paper shape cutters will not work on the ribbon)

Ruler

Clear nail polish (or lighter)

Instructions:

1.     Gather all your supplies.

2.     Prepare all your ribbon pieces.  Cut three pieces of green grosgrain ribbon 5 inches long.  Fold and cut in the opposite way you make a dovetail to make a point on each end.  Set aside.  Seal the ends with a lighter or clear nail polish.

3.     Next, cut three pieces of yellow wired ribbon 5 ½” long.  Using scissors cut around each end to make a curved shape.  Brush the ends with some clear nail polish to seal.  Set aside.

4.     Now, cut 2 more pieces of the 1 ½”yellow wired ribbon 3 inches long.  Curve the ends with pinking shears.  Use clear nail polish to seal the ends.

5.     Cut a piece of sparkle tulle 1 ½” wide x 8 inches long.

6.     Cut a piece of yellow yarn, fold in half and insert into the Mini Bowdabra.  You will have a loop on one side and two loose ends on the other, which will be your slipknot.  Tuck the ends under to keep out of the way while you make your daffodil.

7.     Now, insert the green grosgrain ribbon pieces, pinching to a mountain up fold as you insert them. 

8.     Then insert the longer pieces of yellow ribbon into the Mini Bowdabra.  Next, insert the smaller pinked edged pieces of yellow ribbon into the Mini Bowdabra.

9.     Finally, insert the tulle from the top like an accordion.  Scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.  Insert the two loose pieces of yarn through the loop and pull tight while the daffodil is still in the Bowdabra. Remove from the Bowdabra, separate the ends, turn to the back and tie a knot.

10. Now shape your daffodil.  Fan out the petals and cut the center around the tulle.  Since the petals are wired it is very easy to shape. 

11. Use the excess yarn to tie to a headband.  If this is for an infant the yarn is gentle on the babies head.  

How to make the best Easter Bunny wreath

It’s time to get your Easter on.  And this Easter Bunny wreath is so easy and fun to make in a matter of minutes.  Burlap ribbon roses are so in vogue right now and you can make them with some ribbon, glue or a stitch here and there and they will be ready for your wreath.  I add some glitter ribbon roses for some extra flash and my Easter Bunny wreath is ready to hang.

Materials:

2 ½” wired natural color burlap ribbon

2 ½” Glitter ribbon in pink

Wire wreath frame

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Medium gauge wire for hanging the wreath

Bunny head on a wooden stick (available in craft stores)

Lighter

Instructions:

1.    Center the Bunny on the wire wreath frame.  Weave the stick on the Bunny through the bottom wires of the wreath.  Use some hot glue to attach the back of the head to the top of the wreath. 

2.    Next, using the burlap ribbon wrap all around the wreath frame to cover and glue to secure.  Set aside.

3.    Now, make the ribbon roses. Cut a piece of 2 ½” natural colored burlap ribbon 24 inches long.  Begin by burning both ends with a lighter to stop any fraying.  Next, twist the ends around for the center of your rose and put a dab of hot glue to secure. (You may alternatively use a needle and thread to add a stitch instead of glue) Continue twisting and turning, and occasionally adding a dab of glue. Always twist and turn in the same direction. Continue until you reach the end.  Secure with a dab of glue.  Make 5 more so you have six burlap roses. 

4.    Then, repeat step (4) with the 2 ½” pink glitter ribbon for four more roses. 

5.    Attach the roses with some Hot glue to the frame using the photo as a guide. 

6.    Finally, poke a 6-inch piece of medium gauge wire through the top back center and twist to make a hanging loop.

7.    Glue Bunnie’s bow tails to the bottom center to secure. Hang your Bunny Easter wreath on your door or wall.

How to gift a book with a personalized ribbon bookmark

At Christmas, some of my friends and family are avid readers.  While they do have tablets with EBooks on them, nothing beats the turning of real pages.  So as I purchase these books I make a simple but personalized ribbon bookmark for each book.  The supplies for the ribbon bookmark are easily available and inexpensive.  And best of all they adjust to the book.  Use buttons that your friend or family will love. 

It’s so easy you will want to make several for yourself as well!

Materials:

Elastic hair tie

Grosgrain ribbon to fit snuggly around the book

Unique button, or cabochon, embellishment

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Scissors

Lighter to seal ribbon

Instructions:

1.     Gather your supplies.  To begin, wrap the ribbon of your choice around the book.  Keep in mind that you will be folding the ribbon under as a seam.  Cut the piece of ribbon and run a lighter lightly across the ends to seal.

2.     Next, Add the hair tie and fold under.  Add some hot glue (or you can sew this if you desire) to attach.

3.     Now make sure the opposite end is folded to where each end meets and the seams face the same direction and hot glue or sew that ends as well. (See photo)

4.     Then, attach a button of the folded end with hot glue or sew it on.  Make sure your button or embellishment is tall enough for the elastic to attach.

5.     Add the bookmark to the book attaching the elastic around the button or embellishment to secure the place.