How to make adorable patriotic horse show hair bows

So horse show season is in full swing and with the fourth of July coming up soon what could be better than some patriotic horse show hair bows?

The current style for little competitors is to wear two braids and huge bows with long tails in each braid.  These patriotic horse show hair bows would be perfect for all the upcoming shows. They would even be perfect to wear them separately on the Fourth of July holiday! 

• ·      Mini Bowdabra
• ·      Hair bow tool and ruler
• ·      1 ½” wide patriotic grosgrain ribbon
• ·      7/8” wide white satin ribbon
• ·      ½” wide white ribbon with sparkle stars
• ·      18” Bowdabra bow wire
• ·      Charm or bead
• ·      Ribbon covered alligator clip
• ·      Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
• ·      Lighter to seal the ends from fraying (You may substitute clear nail polish if desired)

1.    Gather your supplies.

2.    Cut 18” bow wire, fold in half and insert into the Bowdabra. You will have a loop on one side and two wires on the other.

3. Cut a 15” piece of 7/8” wide satin ribbon. Fold the ends in half and cut at an angle to dovetail. Use a lighter to lightly go over the ends to seal from fraying. (You may use clear nail polish if desired) Fold in half to find the center and insert into the Bowdabra guiding the tails downward.

4. Cut a 15” piece of 1/4” wide white ribbon with sparkle stars, and seal the ends with the lighter or nail polish as before. Fold in half to find the center and insert into the Bowdabra. Guide the ends down as you did before.

5. Cut an 18 ½” piece of Patriotic printed wire edge ribbon. Seal the ends with the lighter. Fold in half to find the center and insert into the Bowdabra wrong side up. Bring the right end over and insert the tail end into the Bowdabra. (See photo)

6. Bring the other tail end over and under the first loop forming an X and insert the end in the Bowdabra.

7. Push down both pieces of ribbon into the Bowdabra forming the bow.  Scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

8. Insert the two loose wires through the loop and while the bow is still in Bowdabra and pull tight. Remove from the Bowdabra, turn to the back and tie a knot. Adjust the bow and tails.

9. Using the wires from the back, bring back around to the front and insert a bead or charm of your choice through one of the wires.  Bring the wires back to the back of the bow and tie a knot making sure the charm is centered on the front of the bow. Cut off any excess. Add an alligator clip, small elastic, or French clip to the back of the bow.  Repeat all the steps for a second bow.

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.