How to - make a tails down bow

The bow I have for you today is the tails down bow. Another basic bow to add to your collection. Once you have the basic bows down you can then begin to layer them add little extras and really make some awesome bows. Gather your bow making supplies again. This time you won't need your ruler but you will need a small piece of cardboard.

I have a system of bow tools that I use for many bows, I will share that later. For now here's a little trick to help you out. Use a piece of cardboard from something around the house. I used the cardboard ric rac comes wrapped around. Cut the cardboard to a width you would like your bow to be and make it a little shorter or just as tall, then cut a slit up the center just passed the middle. My piece is 2.5in tall and 3in wide.
For the ribbon in this bow I am usnig a 5/8 white ribbon and a 7/8 polka dot for the bow.

Now onto making a bow! Step 1: lay the ribbon out then lay the card over it, most bow makers will tell you to cut the ribbon a certain length. I like to work right off the spool when I can. It uses the least amount or ribbon and allows for adjustments.

Step 2: wrap the ribbon end across the cardboard to the bottom right hand side, clip to keep in place.

Step 3: Now lay the other end of the ribbon across the bottom left hand side, cut the ribbon and then clip to hold in place.
Step 4: Take your needle and thread and make one or two stitches in the center of the bow. The slit will allow you to sew with the cardboard.

Step 5: When you get to the top of the slit slide the bow off hold it like this. Then finish stiching up the bow. Try to keep the stitches even.

Step 6: Slowly pull the thread down and the ribbon up until you get a nice gather.

Your bow should look like this!

Step 7: Cut and heat seal the ends. I cut them in a simple angle but you could use a V cut also. Remember to just pass the ribbon close to the flame.

Step 8: Apply a small dot of glue on the back of your bow then attach the ribbon. Then wrap the ribbon around the bow and apply glue. Cut the excess.

And there you go! I a simple tails down bow...no tieing involved.

Theres is so much you can do with this bow!

Here's a bow I made for Cadence's ballet class.

Add a double layer for a cool look.

How to - make a double loop bow

I'm back with another easy bow to make! This one's a little more complicated but great for beginners! These bows work really well with all ribbon sizes. They are nice and flat to clip on the side or in a pony. They work with little hair or lots of hair. For this tutorial I showed you step by step with a clip and a ruler. However, once you've done it once of twice you probably won't need to keep it next to a ruler or clip it each layer. Really it's folding accordian style...here you go...

Gather your bow making supplies. Plug in the glue gun then thread a needle and knot the end.

Your bow can be any measurements you would like. For this bow I used 7/8 ribbon and made a 3 inch bow. As you can see the top layer is 1 3/4 in. and the bottom is 3in. I will use these measurements for example.

Step 1: Heat seal the end of your ribbon by running the ribbon end close to the flame...don't stick it in the flame! I work right off the spool with this bow to use as little ribbon as needed.

Step 2: Lay the ribbon down beside your ruler and fold back the end of the ribbon, you need it to be over the half way point of your top layer. I stopped just after the 1in.

Here's a close up so you can see where I started.

Step 3: Fold the ribbon at the 1 3/4 mark and then bring the ribbon forward. You now have your top loop.

Step 4: Slide you loop back 1/2 in. Then fold the ribbon back again taking the spool to the top.

Step 5: Fold the ribbon toward the front again adding 1/2 in to the length, for this one you will fold at the 3in mark.

Step 6: Cut the ribbon just past the half way mark, pull away a little and heat seal the end.

When you flip your bow over it will look like this. Two loops the top smaller then the bottom.

Step 7: Hold your ribbon like this so it layes flat. Then take your thread and make three stiches starting from the underside. Try to keep them even.

They should look like this....two on top and one on bottom.

Step 8: Hold you bow at the bottom and pull the thread down to make the ribbon gather.

Step 9: Wrap the thread around the gather then tie it off. Step 10: Make a knot with another piece of ribbon. Unless you would like a flat center.

Step 11: Put a dot of glue on the top of the bow and apply the knot.Step 12: Add a drop of hot glue to the back of the bow then wrap an end, trim, then wrap the other end and trim. Heat seal the end sticking out.

Step 13: Wrap a clip in ribbon and glue to the back of the bow. (as explained here)There ya go! These are a great to make in lots of different solid colors to have around to match all kinds of outfits. I made these to cordinate with the colors of the fall. Perfect for their pumpkin and turkey outfits :)

How to - make a little bitty bow.

It seems I get more bow questions then everything else combined. Understandable, who doesn't love a little girl with a bow? Good bows are hard to come by and can get kinda pricey. With a few supplies and some nap time crafting any mommy can make their sweet little girl bows. You don't have to be able to tie a bow...who can? I will be sharing bow information all week so check back for more bow ideas!


We'll start with something easy. A little bitty baby bow. These are so incredibly easy!Here's the supplies you will need to gather for almost all bows. Your choice of ribbon, scissors, a lighter, clips, thread, a needle, a glue gun, ruler, and shelf liner. I buy alligator clips 100 in a box for $5.00 at Sallys. For this bow you won't need the needle or thread.Step 1: Cut 3 pieces of ribbon 4in each. Cut a a strip of shelf liner 2 rows wide and just over an inch long.Step 2: If you would like to have a knotw in the center tie one strip in a lose knot do not tighten. If you would like a flat center skip this step.Use the lighter to heat seal the ends of the ribbon. Just slowly run it close to the flame don't let it go into the flame! This will keep you ribbons from fraying.
Step 3: Apply a bead of glue about an inch long on one end of a ribbon.Then carefully slide it under
the straight prong of the alligator clip. You should be able to hold the ribbon just after where the glue is at.Step 4: Apply hot glue along the clip and then wrap the ribbon around, there should be a small tail left.

Step 5: Put a dot of glue on the bottom and finish attaching the ribbon.

Step 6: Put a dot of hot glue in the middle of the clip. Lay your third piece of ribbon on that dot and then bring it around in a circle and then back down on the dot, you may have to add another dot of glue. You should now have a circle.

Step 7: Put another dot of hot glue in the center then push the circle down on to it.

Step 8: Put a dot of glue on the top middle of the loop and then attach the knotted ribbon. Unless you do not want a knot. If not glue a regular piece of ribbon around the clip.

Step 9: Open clip with fingers and apply a small dot of hot glue with the other hand. Then wrap one side or ribbon around the inside of the clip. Trin the ribbon the do the same with the other side.

Step 10: Line the ribbon on the inside of the clip with hot glue and then apply the shelf liner strip. This will keep these little bows from slipping out of the hair.

Tada! All done. Wasn't that easy?

Would you like to make one with two loops? No biggie just cut an extra 4 in piece of ribbon. Cover your clip. Then follow these steps.
Step 1: With a single dot of glue make two loops into circles.
Step 3: Apply a dot of glue inside the circle and press down.

Step 4: Glue the two loops together.

Step 5: Glue on the knot or wrap a flat piece of ribbon around the center.

All done! We have so many of these around our house. They are perfect for babies or keeping big girls hair out of their face. So easy and cute.

The possibilities are endless with these! Add gems, buttons, or anything you want to glam them up :)

Giant beer cake!

Hey guys! I hope everybody had a great weekend! Tomorrow will start bow week! A whole week on bow making info. But for now here's a cake I made a few week's ago. We're not exactly the beer drinking kind but I still got a kick out of it!

This was a grooms cake ordered by the bride. The cake was about 14 inches tall! The cake was a banana cake with buttercream icing and then covered in marshmellow fondant and airbrushed silver. The lable was done with edible icing sheets and the bubbles are buttercream! I of course couldn't find anybody who had a beer can in their fridge and I didn't want to buy some just for the cake so I went off internet pictures. But I think it came ok great!
Transporting this thing 45 minutes away was scarey!

Caramel Apple Cupcakes...and shirts!

I make/bake/create so many things that there's no way I can share them all here. But I try to share my favorites! I've been trying to create a new seasonal flavor every two weeks for our bible study group. Last week I almost didn't make any (gasp) because I was so out of it after the moving news but at the last minute I threw together an experimental recipe..and I'm so glad I did! Not only did they turn out really fun, they totally got me out of my funk and put me back to "me". Nothing a cupcake can't do in this house :)

For these caramel apple cupcakes I baked an apple cupcake with fresh apple chunks baked in, iced with a caramel buttercream and then topped with caramel and chopped peanuts.
The sticks are a must...they totally finish the cupcake. Wish I had time to tie some bows on them. Man what happen to the wrappers???

So while I'm at it I figured I would share these caramel apple shirts I also made the same week. I thought they would be fun for the twins.

Aren't they cute?!

Red for Bailey Boo.......and green for Miley Moo!

What projects is everybody working on now??? I will be back this week with some tutorials!