How to dress up a fun candy bar for Valentine's Day

Looking for a way to present a treat for Valentine’s Day, that is easy and allows you to make a bunch of them in minutes?  Well, dress up this fun candy bar for Valentine’s Day.  It’s a great idea for a party favor or a classroom.  Easy step-by-step tutorial. I've used the Bowdabra to create the bow for this craft. You can optionally substitute a premade bow if desired.

Materials:

• Flat candy bars, square or rectangular
• Heart scrapbook paper
• Tacky glue
• Scrunchy ribbon
• Mini Bowdabra
• Bowdabra bow wire
• Heart-shaped foam stickers
• Ruler, pencil, scissors

Instructions:

First, measure your candy bar and cut the scrapbook paper to fit around with the ends open. Glue on the bottom first, then wrap around the two sides and glue.  Your candy bar is wrapped. Set aside.

First, measure your candy bar and cut the scrapbook paper to fit around with the ends open. Glue on the bottom first, then wrap around the two sides and glue.  Your candy bar is wrapped. Set aside.

Next, cut a piece of Bowdabra bow wire.  Then, fold it in half and insert it into the Bowdabra.  You will have a loop on one side and two loose wires on the other side.  This will serve as your slipknot. Tuck the ends under to stay out of the way.

Cut about 12” of scrunchy ribbon and cut in half lengthwise.  Begin feeding the scrunchy ribbon from the top down, like an accordion. Scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

Thread the two loose wires through the loop and pull tight while the bow is still in the Bowdabra.  Remove and separate the ends, turn to the back and tie a knot. Clip the excess wire.

Now, glue the scrunchy bow on the front of your wrapped candy bar.  Attach a foam conversation heart to the center and a couple of smaller ones on the front.

Now, go ahead and make a bunch because one fun candy bar is never enough!

How to make a super simple two-season wreath, summer, and fall

 

Make this two-season wreath with just a few supplies and two different Bowdabra bows.  Using four sunflowers and one pumpkin pick you can quickly change the bows in the center to reflect summer or fall.  All you need do is switch out one sunflower with a pumpkin pick and tie on the corresponding bow.  Easy peasy! 

 

In the summer wreath, I used a printed summer ribbon for the bow, and I made my loops on the bow a bit smaller than the fall Bow.  It is just a matter of whatever your preference on how many loops or how big they are.  

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So, let’s get started!

 

Materials:

 

Wreath form, grapevine, or similar wreath

Bowdabra bow maker

Bowdabra bow wire

Summer print wired ribbon 1 ½” wide

Fall print wired ribbon 1 ½” wide

Five sunflowers in different sizes, cut from a pick

One small pumpkin pick

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Scissors

 

First, create your simple wreath.  Insert four sunflowers along one side securing with hot glue. Wait until your bow is complete to put the last sunflower on the other side simple inserting it into the wreath without gluing for easy removal.

 

Make your bows

 

I will demonstrate the Fall bow, and please note that you create the summer bow in the same way. First, cut a piece of Bowdabra bow wire 35” long.  You want it to be extra-long so that you can tie it in a bow to the wreath for easy removal. Fold the bow wire in half and lay in the Bowdabra.  You will have a loop on one side and two loose wires on the other.  This will be used as a slip knot.

 

Next, from the printed ribbon cut a 26” piece.  This will be your tail.  Twist to make sure the right side is facing out and place in the Bowdabra.

 

Now cut six or eight pieces of printed ribbon 20-22 inches long. If you want your bow loops to be bigger cut the longer length. The pieces of ribbon you cut will determine how many loops your bow will have. (The summer bow had 8 loops and the fall bow has 6 loops)

 

Next, take one of your pieces of ribbon and twist to make sure the right side is facing up and lay it into the Bowdabra. This is when you can adjust the size of your loops.

Continue taking the ribbon pieces, twist, and insert into the Bowdabra. Make your loop on one side, then, reverse the loop on the other side. Keep going in this way till you have placed all your ribbon pieces. Scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

 

To finish, insert the two loose wires through the loop and pull tight while the bow is still in the Bowdabra. Remove the bow turn to the back and tie a knot, tie another knot.

 

Dovetail all the tails. To dovetail fold in half and cut at an angle towards the fold.  Fluff and arrange all the loops and tails on your bow.  This is the reason why a wired ribbon is helpful.

 

Tie the bow with the excess wire into a bow for easy removal when it is time to go back to a summer wreath. Remove the single sunflower and replace it with a small pumpkin pick.  You now have a fall wreath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.  

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.