Ultimate Bows

Hello Friday!  

Todays post is a DIY template tutorial for some of the best [in my opinion] bows for decorating with.  

With a sheet of paper and the four templates I've created, you can make yourself an endless supply and use them for so many projects [more posts on that to come later] - paper, card or fabric - reduce or blow up the size, these will help you create perfect bows everytime.  Let's get started.

What You Need:

Bow Template

    [right click and 'save as' to your desktop to print]

Paper / Card / Fabric

Pencil / Scissors / Craft Knife

Glue / Cellotape

To start, print your template, preferably on to card so that you can trace round it and keep the templates for future use, or print straight on to the back of the paper / card you want to make the bows from.

To make my bows, I bought some fab glitter plastic-coated card stock.  It's a little pricey, but well worth it as the bows not only hold a great shape, but keep it and withstand any small knocks carrying them or using them multiple times may cause.  A 12x12 sheet cost £2.50, but I created all the bows shown in todays tutorial with a little to spare for the scrap folder.

Each template can be used in multiple ways and will allow you to create a bow, double bow and tails.  The method is exactly the same for every template, so I wont repeat myself, but try and show as many variations as I can so you can see how versatile they are.

To Make:

These apply for all of the bows that the templates allow you to make

• Each bow has a greyed template - the white lines indicate those to follow to create the bow and the grey lines indicate those to follow for the tails.  
• Two bows can be created from each template [either with or without the white diamonds removed to create a 'pillow' effect].
• Fold each end of the bow into the centre and secure in place with glue, tape or a staple [I found a glue gun worked best - it was quick to dry and secured the card easily].
• Place the bow on top of the tails.
• Fix the two together by wrapping the smallest strip of card around the centre.  Secure in place again with glue or tape at the back to hide any fastenings.

Variations:

These apply for all of the bows that the templates allow you to make

• Add a second bow to the centre back of the first bow, adding the tails to the centre back of either side of the second bow for a full, larger bow with great impact:
• Cut the centre of the bow to widen them - particularly effective if you keep the bow on top in tact and then add the sides of the second bow to the centre back.  The same can then be done with the tails.
• Mix up the templates bows and tails.

Template One: Straight Bow

• cut the entire template [shaded grey].
• use this as a template for the bow, both straight and by cutting the white diamonds away with a craft knife to create the pillow bow.
• to create the tails, cut along the grey dotted lines either end.

Template Two: Full Bow

• cut the entire template [shaded grey].
• use this as a template for the bow, both straight and by cutting the white diamonds away with a craft knife to create the pillow bow.
• to create the tails, cut along the grey dotted lines either end.

Template Three: Structured Bow

• cut the entire template [shaded grey].
• use this as a template for the bow, both straight and by cutting the white diamonds away with a craft knife to create the pillow bow.
• To create the tails, cut along the grey dotted lines in the centre.

Template Four: Diamond Bow

• cut the entire template [shaded grey].
• use this as a template for the bow, both straight and by cutting the white diamonds away with a craft knife to create the pillow bow.
• To create the tails, cut along the grey dotted lines.

....and there you have it.  I wont bombard you with the variations swapping the style of tails and bows around between templates can create - pretty much endless / too many for my maths skill to work out.

I really hope you enjoyed todays post - I'll hopefully be able to post some projects using the bows for a whole range of DIYs soon - but if you do use them, in any way, I'd love to see!
Any questions, or if I have rambled anywhere, please let me know
[you can contact me via Twitter or email]

[bow art? - bit much?.......]
P.S - Glitter is blimmin' hard to photograph - hope this post hasn't hurt your eyes.

see you next time x