Crate Paper Bow Making w/Amy Heller

Hi Everyone! Amy Heller here today to give you the quick and easy step-by-step instructions to making your next cards shine with a tutorial on creating the basic bows and knots often used in card making! I know for myself, when I started making cards, I was completely stumped on how people made such beautiful bows and knots on their cards. It's very simple, you just need to know a couple tricks, then all your cards will look chic every time!

 

Basic Bow

I know when I started card making, I thought you just tied a bow, like you do on your shoes - use the ends that you tie around the card, to tie the bow. Well, you can do that, but likely you'll end up with a bunched ribbon from the knot, behind your bow. The trick is, you adhere your flat ribbon (what looks like the ends) to the card. Then here is where the bow comes in.

1. With a separate piece of the same ribbon you adhered to your card, create two loops.
2. Criss Cross the loops.
3. Then take the front loop (the one of top) and pull it behind the bottom loop.
4. Put it through the opening at the bottom.
5. Pull taught.
6. As you can see here, with my ribbon, the back side is different from the front. With this type of bow, that's easy to remedy. Simply turn it around. It will look a little wonky in the back, but that's okay, because you won't see that.
7. Adhere to your card on the ribbon you placed flat with a strong glue dot, or fabric tape to your ribbon. Voila!

 

 

Multi Ribbon Bow

This is a really fun bow to create. I've seen it done with fabric in the center or with a button tied in the center. Either way, it's adorable, and super easy!

1. Cut 3 pieces of ribbon. You canuse 3 different types, or for mine, I used two for the bow and another for the center. The piece that you cut for the center should only be long enough to wrap around the ribbon.
2. Layer your two longer pieces on top of one another, with a longer piece on the bottom.
3. Grab a glue dot or two and wrap and adhere the center piece around the center of the two pieces of layered ribbon. Wrap it tightly so that the ribbon bunch slightly in the center.
4. Trim the layered pieces of ribbon in opposite directions so that it appears layered.
5. Adhere to card using a fabric tape or glue dot. 

 

Basic Knot

Basic knots are a great addition to any card. Especially when you have a casual or masculine card that you want to add ribbon to without getting too frilly with a full bow. For my card, I simply used a know as a decorative piece, but I also like using them as a full border piece to a card, stretching from one edge to another. 

1. No big secret here, simply loop your ribbon.
2. Pull a knot through.
3. Depending on how flat you want your card, your knot will have two sides, one with a higher peak, and one with a flat base. I prefer the look of having the flat part of my knot showing, but I know there are those who prefer the opposite so that the ribbon will lay completely flat. This really is just personal preference. :)

 

Button Bow

These are probably my favorites! It really adds a super wow factor to cards. And again, I was a little perplexed by how these were put together at first. I used to create basic bows then adhere a threaded button on top. But this is so much easier, quicker and you don't need any adhesive. 

1. You'll need ribbon, a button and a fine piece of twine or floss.
2. Start like you are going to make a basic bow by creating two loops with your ribbon.
3. Criss Cross your loops over the top of one another. It will look like a finished bow with the tails at the bottom. Set aside.
4. Thread your button with the floss, leaving a large opening under the bottom of your button.
5. Take your ribbon that you set aside and position it center through the loop under the button. Tie it so it's taught.
6. Tie a bow in your twine/floss, trim, and you're ready to adhere it to your card! So simple!

 

Slip Knot

This is one of my favorite things to do - I use it of course on tags but also on layouts a lot. It's a basic slip knot. However, I was always going back and forth between pulling the ribbon through the back or the front. But now I think I've finally, remembered:

1. With a tag and a piece of ribbon, create a V-Shape with your ribbon.
2. Pull the ribbon through the FRONT of the tag.
3. When you get it through, create a circle shape with the ribbon.
4. Pull the tails over the ribbon and through the looped circle.
5. Pull taught.

This is where I kept confusing myself - Pulling it through the back of the tag will not only leave you with the less exciting side as the front, but it will also leave you with a bulky backside that won't lay flat on your card or layout. So remember this: through the FRONT! (This is a reminder to me, too!);)

I hope you've enjoyed this lesson in ribbon and bow making and try one of these fun and simple techniques for your next card or layout creation! Have a wonderful day!

Comments

[Rebecca]

Awesome!! Thank you so much, Amy!!! This is so helpful!!

[Julie Tucker-Wolek]

Such AWESOME tips!!! Loving the cards and your tag!! TFS! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

[June]

These cards are so cute! & thanks for showing us different ways to make bows!

[Virginia L.]

Fantastic tutorial, Amy!! Love the bow effect!!

[tracy]

sometimes hitting on the basics is a great thing to do.Thanks for posting this tutorial.Im passing it on to my sister who is beginning cardmaking and is having a hard time with bows.

[Lagene Sands]

Thanks for the tutorials!

[Elisa]

amazing!!! thanks so much for the tips :)

[Andrea MacDonald]

I have never been able to pull off a basic bow. Thank you sooooo much for the step by steps!!!

[Rosana Garcia Hess]

Thanks for the tutorials!

I´ll feature on my blog
hugs from Brazil

[Suzanne Sergi]

Fabulous tutorial Amy!!! Thanks for the reminders, and tips(:

[Kathy Martin]

Wow Amy! You put together a super tutorial! Awesome job! My face is the multiple ribbon bow! :)

[Jessica reyes]

I always wondered how people put a button on the ribbon and it stays flat! This is going to print & refer to these tutorials! Thanks so much!!