Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
Hey all,
I was wondering how everyone manages to tie such beautiful bows on their cards -- mine are always lopsided, crooked, twisted, or otherwise mangled. Any tips?
Someone told me that lefthanded people tie bows the correct way, so turn your work upside down if you are right handed........ I do lots of knots, not so many bows!
As far as the tying "upside down" thing, I think it works like this -- if you normally wrap away from yourself when tying a bow or knot, you should try wrapping toward yourself instead. Not sure why this works, but it does! It gives me nice, neat bows where both ribbon tails point downward, and flat, pretty knots! Sometimes I have to try a couple of times to get it perfect, though, especially when I'm using organdy ribbon.
I can't find the site anymore, but I used to have a site bookmarked that gave the steps for a "faux" bow. I know I saved the images to my computer...
__________________ Rachel Proud SU! demo and Sci-Fi Geek!
My Stampin' Up! blog "I'm a time traveler -- I point and laugh at archaeologists." 10th Doctor, "Silence in the Library"
I bought a little gadget from "The Card Ladies" that works very well. You tie the bow around moveable dowels, so you can make any size bow that you need. The only drawback would be that the bow is an "add-on", meaning it isn't attached to the ribbon you might tie around the card. You have to attach it separately. I haven't had a problem with this. I just attach a ribbon around the spine of a card gluing it flat, then with glue dots, I add the ribbon bow.
I have just the answer for you! I cannot tie small bows and have trouble with knots b/c I have acrylic nails! (The price we pay for vanity...) BUT, I went to a stamping convention/show and found this great tool that ties perfect bows from teeny tiny to large, and you can also make several loops on the bow if you like. I did need someone to show me the first time how to use it b/c I always need the visual even with printed instructions, but I can tell you everyone who sees bows I've made with there ask how I did it cuz they know I'm bow-challenged. It's called Bow-Easy from the Posi-Bendr Co. in Huntington Beach, CA - (714) 377-0871. I purchased mine from a local stamping store www.werestampinmad.com for about $5 if I recall correctly.
The bow sizes it makes are 3/4", 1", 1-1/4", 1-3/8", 1-3/4", 2-3/8" & 2-3/4".
There is a picture of a card I made with it in my tiny gallery - It's called "Sincere Dorky Thanks".
My bows usually turn out nice. I believe that I learned my technique a long time ago either in a floral aranging class or maybe some merchandising job....but here goes....
Make your first tie....look at your ribbon, make your loop from the string that comes out the bottom. Then wrap the other string around and complete your bow. Adjust it before you pull it too tight...Works for me everytime, I hope this makes sense....
I got such a kick out of this thread that I remembered it right away when I saw yours. It's called Bowtarded. I laughed so hard when I read it! Maybe this will help you.
Thanks, guys, that thread WAS awesome!
It's nice to have a few options, in case it turns out that I'm severely bowtarded and mess up more than one technique!!
Thanks, guys, that thread WAS awesome!
It's nice to have a few options, in case it turns out that I'm severely bowtarded and mess up more than one technique!!
Glad you liked it. Hope it will help. I seriously got such a kick out of that I laughed about it for days! I guess I'm easily amused.
Location: Indiana, Oh Indiana. Indiana, we're all for you! IU!
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by row4d
As far as the tying "upside down" thing, I think it works like this -- if you normally wrap away from yourself when tying a bow or knot, you should try wrapping toward yourself instead. Not sure why this works, but it does! It gives me nice, neat bows where both ribbon tails point downward, and flat, pretty knots! Sometimes I have to try a couple of times to get it perfect, though, especially when I'm using organdy ribbon.
I can't find the site anymore, but I used to have a site bookmarked that gave the steps for a "faux" bow. I know I saved the images to my computer...
Wow! I never knew the reasoning behind this, but I've been turning my cards upside down for a LONG time to tie my bows correctly. When I tell people that they must just think I'm crazy. I'm glad there's some logic to accompany my strange behavior! Thanks!
Wow! I never knew the reasoning behind this, but I've been turning my cards upside down for a LONG time to tie my bows correctly. When I tell people that they must just think I'm crazy. I'm glad there's some logic to accompany my strange behavior! Thanks!
I know this is going to sound crazy, but which way is 'upside down' on a bow? I can't figure this out. I guess I'm really bowtarded! Thanks!
I used to be absolutely scared of using ribbons because I just could *not* tie a bow! One of my friends/customers would tie everyone's bows. Then she gave me a lesson and now I'm better at it. The thing that I took a long time to realize is that bows have an "anatomy", and that it's okay to play with it after it's tied. After the bow is tied, you can pull on certain parts to tighten it. It's hard to explain, but I used to think that once it was tied, it was good or bad (and mine were always bad). Don't be afraid to play - straighten it out, pull the tails, even turn a piece over if it's upside down. Don't know if this makes any sense. It's just a matter of practice. I still love the fake bows, though, with the double rectangle punch!
I've always had so much trouble with making bows too. One day I was ordering a few things from a site that I've order from a couple of times and saw that they have a product that is supposed to help with that. Here is the link: http://www.stampin.com/online/accs/ribbon.htm
I figured what the heck for $5.00 I'll give it a try. I have to admit that maybe I'm not too smart but I had a little trouble with the directions at first, but when I figured it out for the first time it was really easy after that. The bows actually come out totally perfect just like they show - and it's neat because you can make the loops double or triple or whatever you want. I really recommend this product.
Just like someone else said though, it is a separate piece from your ribbon you might want to tie around but I just take a clear glue dot to secure it and you can't even tell. Did this with 40 Christmas cards a few weeks ago and it worked great! Hope this helps.
Someone told me that lefthanded people tie bows the correct way, so turn your work upside down if you are right handed........ I do lots of knots, not so many bows!
I started doing this a long time ago tying bows on gifts. I don't know what it is, but they always look better when I turn the box upside down.
OMG!
Thank you guys all so much -- I just tied my first ever perfect bow. Now if only I can do it again... I'll post some cards with lots of ribbon soon (I've always avoided ribbon as much as possible due to my handicap!). Thanks again!
My friend always jokes that I can tie a bow in a gnats ***** hair. I have discovered that it is dang near impossible to tie a good bow on a cut piece of ribbon. I always tie my bows while they are still on the roll, this allows me to be able to adjust them easily. I rarely waste ribbon when I do it this way. I start with a loop in my left hand, wrap around it with the ribbon in my right, use my right hand to tuck the loop through the ribbon that I am still holding in my left hand, it ends up that the loops from the bow are pinched between my thumb and forefinger on each hand and the tails are held to the ball of my hand with my ring fingers this is when I pull to adjust. Then cut the bow off the roll of ribbon.
I'm right handed but I tie my bows left handed (that's how I was taught) and I tie the bow upside down in order to get it to turn out right side up on the card. I still usually have to tie it three or four times to get it to look right though.
Ribbon Rage
Upside Down
