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So many pretty cards with bows that look perfect. How do you do it? My bows always look silly. Is there some secret that I don't know about? Pleasae help. Thank you.
So many pretty cards with bows that look perfect. How do you do it? My bows always look silly. Is there some secret that I don't know about? Pleasae help. Thank you.
Here is a great tutorial on tying "tiny bows" with a fork, of all things. It really works, honest.
My bows used to look strange too, until I figured out what the problem was. It's very simple. Turn your card (or package) upside-down, face-up in front of you. Now tie your normal bow. It should look great. It works for me every time. I also do the "bunny ears" bow. Make 2 loops and tie them together. HTH.
The YouTube video tutorial suggest by JanR #4 is great! Love the technique Monica Gale uses for tying both the bow & knot but the knot one really is an 'ah hah' one. Will use both techniques on my cards from now on. I have been able to tie the knot but it was 'hit or miss' with what I call the back of the knot being on top and showing. (front being the one with the nice smooth ribbon showing not the mechanics of the bow)
I love the "stay-put" method, too, but for a quick bow, I second the "up side down" method. I don't know what it is about putting the card the opposite way of how you want the bow to lie that makes it come out, but it does -- every time!
I also find it useful after I trim the edges to hold a lighter to the end of the ribbon so they melt slightly and won't fray.
I just looked at the video...what a great way to do a ribbon! I am going to be doing my ribbons like this from now on. Thanks for the link, I have it bookmarked.
I use the "bow maker" method for a lot of my bows, but I just use my fingers instead of the bow maker or a fork. I like the fork for really tiny bows though, I'll have to try it!! Thanks for the great links!!
What if you want the bow loops one on either side of the 'wrap ribbon'? Hard to describe but picture a card with the ribbon wrapped around it vertically, not horizontally. If you want the bow right side up, one loop and one tail will each be on either side of the ribbon going around the card. Boy, I am usually very good at descibing things. This is really hard. I hope you get it! I actually figured it out once and was going to do a tutorial but if anyone knows an easy way to remember it or if there is already a tutorial out there... ;)
__________________ RebeccaEdnie Mixed Media Artist, Paper Crafter, Jewelry Designer SCSDirtyDozenAlumni Www.Boxofchocolatescrafts.Com YouNeverKnowWhatI’mGoingtoMake
I just tried the fork method this morning. Works great!!!
__________________ Anjou My Gallery * My Blog - Dreaming in Color "Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis
If you think your "regular" bows look cockeyed, an easy way to fix it is whatever way you normally cross your ribbon before you make your loops, just do them the other way.
All of these tutorials are great. Not sure why I never thought about turning the card upside down, it does make the world of difference, thanks for sharing that tip!
....just have to add my two cents worth....I think what most people don't show in their tutorials or instructions is that there is no such thing as a magic bow. No matter how you tie it, once it's tied, it has to be 'worked'. I was just about as bow-challenged a person as ever walked the earth and then I decided...this is ridiculous...tying a bow is easy....but then once it's done you have to fiddle around with it...twist it, turn it, pull on it...whatever you have to do until it looks like you want it to look....and the old adage applies...practice makes perfect. Also....allow yourself lots of ribbon at first...as you get better you will be able to use less and less although I think a good thing to remember is that no matter how good you get there will ALWAYS be some waste. It's some kind of law or something. lol
I tie my bows a couple of different ways. I either:
1) Tie is separately from the ribbon on the card and then adhere the tied bow to the ribbon and it then looks like its all one piece.
2) Tie the bow on the card, but I will turn it upside down. I do not know what it is that I'm doing when I'm tying bows, but the tails will end up on top if I tie it right side up, so I've just learned to turn the project upside down and then voila! I have a perfect bow.....but, again, that may just be because of how I am tying it.
3) This is a super simple, easy option to use when you are going to tie it off with a button and floss/thread/twine. Fold your ribbon like you are making a 'cause' bow (like the pink ones for breast cancer or red for AIDS or heart disease, etc.) and then push down at the top of the loop and it will give you a perfect bow shape.
Just keep trying and your bows will get better! And I agree with Reddyisco, that no matter what, if you want a perfect looking bow, you will have to fiddle with it to get it there. :>
....just have to add my two cents worth....I think what most people don't show in their tutorials or instructions is that there is no such thing as a magic bow. No matter how you tie it, once it's tied, it has to be 'worked'. I was just about as bow-challenged a person as ever walked the earth and then I decided...this is ridiculous...tying a bow is easy....but then once it's done you have to fiddle around with it...twist it, turn it, pull on it...whatever you have to do until it looks like you want it to look....and the old adage applies...practice makes perfect. Also....allow yourself lots of ribbon at first...as you get better you will be able to use less and less although I think a good thing to remember is that no matter how good you get there will ALWAYS be some waste. It's some kind of law or something. lol
LOL!!! I'm loving all the tutorials, and will keep this subscription in my list, but you made me laugh. My bows have always been kind of hit or miss, but I never knew quite what I did when they came out right!!!
__________________ Kathy Wrose "Fun must be always." - Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks "It was fun." - Kirk, Star Trek: Generations
Oh, you enablers, you. I thought I was doing fine until I saw those bows made with the Bow Easy. Now I have to have one. And some of the ribbons at the No Time to Stamp site. And not just a few colors either; I ordered 6. Sigh. There goes my budget for the month. Because I'm going to order 6 more colors next month -- and the next and the next and the next. I used to have money before I came to SCS. But I didn't know what I was missing! Thanks, girls.
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Hi, Need your help, I do own a bowmaker but have not used it for a long time, now I have forgotten how to use it, and lost the instructions. If you might have those instructions can you tell me how to use it.?
Thanks,
Jogry
All of these tutorials are great. Not sure why I never thought about turning the card upside down, it does make the world of difference, thanks for sharing that tip!
Looks like I'm going to have to take my stupid computer to the shop after all (IT'S stupid because I can't figure it out! Hah!) so that I can finally get the Adobe Flashplayer problem worked out, since I couldn't look at some of these videos. Funny--I've managed to survive without it for 2 months now, but let me not be able to see something on SCS and then I HAVE to get it fixed!
Meanwhile, thanks for the info that I COULD see. My aunt taught me bowmaking 35 years ago for florals and the THEORY applies, but it's so very much tinier on cards/scrapbooking. And all this info REALLY helps.
__________________ --Terri "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul..."--Emily Dickinson
My blog: TLC-Terri's Little Corner of the World
Need Help With Bows
