Congratulations to Nicky "I am going to be positive today" You're the winner of yesterdays card give away! Email me your address and i'll send it out to you!
Today I bring you a tutorial on probably my most asked question in class and all around where I craft... How do you tie a perfect bow? Well first off mine are far from perfect. My best advice is PRACTICE. It does take a while to get it down but keep at it and you will. Here's how I do it... you can try it and see how it works out for you. Leave me a comment on how it goes, I really want to know if you're successful
So go grab a piece of ribbon at least 12" long so you'll have plenty to work with. Go ahead i'll wait... (insert elevator music)... Ready...
Step 1... Make a loop and pinch between your thumb and index finger. Leave one tail long and one shorter.
Step 2... Wrap the long ribbon tail around your thumb.
Step 3... Pinch the tail you just wrapped around between your thumb and index finger.
Step 4... Now push the ribbon with the pointy part of your index finger through the hole your thumb is creating and pull out your thumb.
Step 5... Now this is where you need 10 more fingers but since we don't have them I pinch the bow parts between my thumb and index finger and I hold the tails between my thumbs and middle fingers. Now begin to pull the bow tight, but not all the way tight. As you do continue to hold all the parts in the places you want them.
Step 6... Before it is pulled totally tight you can flip and manipulate the loops and tails till they are laying right and the way you want them.
Step 7... Now just keep pulling the ends and make the loops even.
Step 8... You're just about finished... you want to pull the bow tight enough that it stays but not too tight. When you really make it tight is when it gets all crazy and lumpy and you loose that pretty piece in the middle.
Step 9... You're done just fluff up the loops and trim the tails. Pretty perfect bow!
After typing this up I realized that there are a few more techniques I could share about actually tying a bow on a card. I'll post some pictures and tips on that tomorrow. Now go practice... Good Luck!
Nice bow! It sure beats the many thrashing sessions I've had with my old pixie bow maker- I cant even find it anymore, thank goodness! Ok I'll go practice, supposedly practice makes perfect- so we'll see. Have a great day.
Posted by: cathy somdahl | October 21, 2009 at 06:45 AM