How to use Bowdabra to make the best horse show bows

It’s spring and Horse Show season is coming into full swing. The fashion these days are for the littlest competitors to arrange their hair into two braids and wear a horse show bows on each one. Horse show hair bows can be simple or quite fancy and usually have longer tails.
The disadvantage is that Horse show bows can be quite pricey. And, it’s so easy to make horse show bows using the Bowdabra! These bows are so beautiful and elegant you don’t have to be in a horse show to use them. They make wonderful gifts and are perfect for any day or event. Dancers love them too!

So let’s get started!

Horse show bows

Materials:

For each bow, you will need

Mini Bowdabra
Hair bow tool and ruler attachment
Bowdabra gold bow wire
Eleven inches of 2 ½” wide wired ribbon (For large bow)
14-½” 2 ½” wide wired ribbon (tail) in the same color as for the large bow
Ten inches 1 ¼” wide wired ribbon (For the second bow)
13” 1 ¼” wide wired ribbon (2^nd tail) in the same color as for the second bow
Ten inches 5/8” wide satin ribbon (3^rd tail)
Horse charm, or another charm if you are not making it for a horse show
Alligator clip
Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks


Instructions:

1. First, gather your supplies and cut all the pieces of ribbon for each bow. For the ribbon designated as the tails, fold each end in half and cut towards the fold to make dovetails. (optional) Next, cut an 18” long piece of Bowdabra bow wire. Fold the wire in half and insert into the Mini Bowdabra. You will have a loop on one side and two loose wires on the other, which will serve as your slipknot. Tuck the ends under the Bowdabra to keep out of the way while you work.

2. Now using the 2 ½” ribbon for the tail, fold to find the center. Then twist so that the right side is facing up and insert into the Mini Bowdabra.

3. Next, take the ribbon for the second tail; fold to find the center as you did on the first tail. Twist to arrange the ribbon so the right side is facing up and insert into the Mini Bowdabra. Make sure that both sides of the tails are even.

4. For the third tail, using the 5/8” ribbon repeat what you did for the other two tails. Scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

5. Now, make the bows. Take the 2 ½” wired ribbon and fold in half to find the center. Insert into the Mini Bowdabra wrong side facing up. Then, bring around to the other side and tuck the other end under and into the Bowdabra. Push down into the Bowdabra to make a bow.

6. Repeat step 5 with the 1 ¼” wide ribbon to make the second smaller bow. Scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

7. Finally, thread the two loose wires through the loop and pull tight while holding the bow in the Bowdabra. Separate the ends and pull tight. Remove the bow from the Bowdabra turn to the back and tie a knot.

8. Fluff and arrange your bows and tails. To add a charm, take the bottom wire from tying the bow and thread it through the charm. Bring both wires to the back and tie a knot.

9. To finish, attach a covered alligator clip (You can purchase them already covered or do it yourself) on the back of the bow. For extra security, I like to use the excess wire to tie the clip on as well.

10. Repeat all the steps for a second horse show hair bow.

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Easy how to make - Super simple 4-leaf clover hair bow

Everyone will love this super simple 4-leaf clover hair bow.  It’s so easy to make with simple supplies you may already have on hand.  And this cute little 4-leaf clover hair bow is so inexpensive you may want to make several for a group or gifts. 

4-leaf clover hair bow

Materials:

Dark green sparkle stiffened felt sheet (you can make several out of one sheet)

Bowdabra Mini Bow Maker

Bowdabra Bow Wire

Four green teardrop cabochons

Alligator clip

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Clover pattern

Scissors

Chalk pencil to mark on dark felt

Optional clover ribbon to cover alligator clip

Instructions:

1.     First, download and print the clover pattern.  Transfer the pattern on to the stiffened felt.  Repeat for a second piece.  (You will need two)

2.     Next, cut out the two pattern pieces.

3.     Now, cut a piece of Bowdabra bow wire about 18” long.  Fold the wire in half and insert into the Bowdabra.  You will have a loop on one side and two loose wires on the other.  Tuck the ends under to keep out of the way while you make your hair bow.

4.     Insert one of the felt pattern pieces into the Bowdabra in the center. Then, insert the other pattern piece.  Scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

Finishing your hair bow

5.     Now, insert the two loose wires through the loop and pull tight while the bow is still in the Bowdabra.  Remove from the Bowdabra, turn to the back, separate the ends and tie a knot.  At this point, you can arrange the leaves of the clover.  Set aside.

6.     Arrange the teardrop cabochons around the center of the clover and use a hot glue gun to attach. 

7.     If you want you can use some thin St. Patrick’s Day ribbon and some glue to cover the alligator clip.  Glue to the back of the clover. Glue the alligator clip to the back of the 4-leaf clover hair bow.

Since this hair bow is flashy but so inexpensive it is a great project for Girl Scout and other youth groups.  If you don’t wish to use a glue gun you can, however, substitute glue dots. 

This is fun for St. Patrick's Day and you can wear it as a hair bow, or simply clip it on your collar or lapel.  Please visit Make it easy crafts again for more fun and easy crafts.

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 make a stylish Chinese New Year Fan with a stunning Bowdabra tassel

You can quickly make this Chinese New Year fan to use for all your themed events and for delightfully different décor.  It’s easy to make with paper and some slim craft sticks.  Then, add the finishing touch to your Chinese New Year Fan with a beautiful Bowdabra tassel. 

Materials:

8 slim wooden craft sticks

Drill with small bit

Heavy corrugated cardboard folded for extra thickness (For drilling holes in the stick)

Scrapbook paper (Cardstock is too thick for this project)

Tacky craft glue

Ruler

Scissors

Mini Bowdabra Bow maker tool

Gold Bowdabra bow wire

Scraps of ribbon, yarn, trim, misc. bead strings

1.     First, measure and cut two identical pieces of scrapbook paper 12” x 3”.  You will be gluing them back to back. 

2.     Using only one piece of paper begin to fan fold all the way down.  Make sure they are fairly even folds.  Set the paper aside.

3.     Now working on a prepared corrugated cardboard thickness place each craft stick and drill a hole on one end.  For the second and each subsequent stick use the first one as a model by making a mark on each stick for drilling.  This way all your sticks holes will line up evenly when you stack them together. 

4.     Next, working on the wrong side of one piece of paper, and smoothing flatter a little bit, begin gluing the sticks on.  Glue the undrilled side flush with the top of the paper. Skip sections so that they will fold with the creases you’ve already made in the paper. 

5.     When you’ve glued all the sticks on, glue the other piece of paper on the fan so that the right side (printed or colored side) is on both sides of the fan. Let the glue dry. 

6.     Now follow your creases and fan fold so that the fan folds properly.

7.     Next, put a dab of tacky glue on the end of a piece of gold Bowdabra bow wire and let dry.  This will allow it to go through the holes in the craft sticks without fraying.  Thread it through all the sticks and then tie a knot loosely. fold any excess paper over on the ends and glue to the first stick.

8.     To make the tassel cut an 18-inch length of Bowdabra bow wire, fold in half and place in the Mini Bowdabra.

9.     Begin adding lengths of miscellaneous ribbons, threads, cords or other scraps into the Mini Bowdabra.  Then scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

10. For the final step pull the two loose wires through the loop and pull tight while the tassel is still in the Bowdabra. Then, remove the tassel from the Mini Bowdabra, turn to the back and tie a knot.  Cut another piece of Bow wire and wrap around the tassel about ½” down from the top.  Continue to wrap the wire and then tie a knot and cut off any excess wire.  Trim your tassel as desired and tie to the bottom of the fan.