Happy Winter Card with Mini Bowdabra Bow

Winter is in full swing here in New Hampshire. Send a cheerful and encouraging card to friends and family, using this simple layout. I finished the card with a Mini Bowdabra Bow.

Materials Needed:

• Cardstock
• Circle Die Cuts
• Markers
• Glitter Ribbon
• Buttons
• Mini Bowdabra
• Thin Width Ribbon

For more about Bowdabra bow making products please visit the Bowdabra Blog (http://bowdabrablog.com)

Create a Simple Boutonniere for a Wedding or Prom

The purpose of a boutonniere is to add an elegant touch to a man's suit jacket or formal coat.  Create a simple boutonniere using a flower that matches the occasion, your dates attire, or a flower from your bride's bouquet.

Boutonniere's can be made from real flowers or silk.  I chose to make my boutonniere from a real carnation.   Carnations are hardy and will stay looking fresh for a long time.  Other flowers that, I think, work great for boutonnieres are orchids and roses.

To view my full step-by-step tutorial head on over the Bowdabra Blog.

Design a Bowdabra Ribbon Wrist Corsage

Instead of buying a wrist corsage from a florist - make your own!  Head on over to the Bowdabra Blog to view my step-by-step tutorial for making a ribbon wrist corsage.

The wrist corsage is super easy to make and if you use silk flowers it will stay gorgeous and fresh all night!  Wrist corsages are perfect for weddings, proms, father-daughter dances, and other special occasions!

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Soul Mate Throw Pillows

What is a soul without its mate?  This pair of soul mate throw pillows are great gift for weddings or bridal showers.  I made the pillows using bandana fabric, I lined them with sheer fabric to keep the fiberfill tight inside of the pillow.  I finished each pillow with a grosgrain Mini Bowdabra bow.

Visit my Etsy Store to Purchase the Soul Mate Pillows

Want to make your own pillows?   Head on over to the Bowdabra Blog to view my step-by-step tutorial.
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3Birds Straight from the Nest Love Birds Congrats Card

I have gotten so much use out of my Cricut cartridge 3Birds Straight from the Nest.  The designs are perfect for so many different occasions.  I created a love birds congrats card that would work wonderful for a bridal shower, wedding, or anniversary.

3Birds Straight from the Nest Love Birds Congrats Card by Sarah Forhan

Interested in 3Birds Straight from the Nest?  I invite you to visit the item on Amazon.com.  It has received great reviews!  And, it is on sale for 68% off right now!

• Use with all Cricut machines
• Six creative features: layer/shadow, corner, slider, border, phrase, and phrase shadow
• Contains 50 images with layers and shadow
• Includes decorative corners, sliders, borders, and phrases
• Comes with handbook and keyboard overlay

The cardstock that I used to assemble my love birds card is mambiSHEETS.  I highly recommend this cardstock pad.  It is full of great designs and specialty paper.

 

To make the beautiful bow I used the Mini Bowdabra along with the Hair Bow Tool & Ruler.  Head on over, to the Bowdabra Blog for the step-by-step tutorial along with links to purchase these great bow making tools!

Click here to go to the Bowdabra Blog for Step-by-Step Instructions

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Recycle and Reuse Creative Ideas: You Made a Wreath Out of What?

You made a wreath out of what?  Just recently, I created a tutorial for the Bowdabra Blog using a bundt cake pan.  The tutorial got a lot of attention because it was so simplistic and easy.  It was one of those moments when you slap yourself in the forehead and think why haven't I done that.  The bundt cake wreath tutorial started me thinking?  What other things can you make a wreath out of?  Here is what I found -

Serendipity Refined using her noodle to make a gorgeous wreath!  She literally uses noodles - a pool noodle and macaroni noodles!  Amazing right!

Photo By: http://www.serendipityrefined.com/2012/06/using-my-noodles.html

Craftivity Designs adds simple elegance to a door or wall with fabric filled embroidery hoops.  Finish each hoop with little buttons. 

Photo By: http://craftivitydesigns.blogspot.com/2013/04/spring-spruce-up-ring-around-hoop.html

 

 

 

Create.Craft.Love designs a wreath using a garden hose.  I adore the originality and the vibrant green.  It screams spring!

Photo by: http://www.createcraftlove.com/2013/03/garden-hose-spring-wreath.html

Virginia Sweet Pea recycles a tennis racket to make a beautiful patriotic wreath.

Photo by: http://www.virginiasweetpea.com/2012/05/patriotic-wreath-for-memorial-day.html

Prior Lives shares her take on the umbrella wreath.  I absolutely love all the little details and the burlap bow.

Photo By: http://priorlives.blogspot.com/2012/04/umbrella-wreath.html

And, last but not least, be sure to stop by the Bowdabra Blog and check out my Bundt Cake Wreath Tutorial.

Photo by: http://bowdabrablog.com/2013/04/10/upcycle-a-bundt-cake-tin-into-a-beautiful-wreath/

Recycled Altoid Dispenser

So....we have a serious addiction to Altoids here at my house.  However, we like licorice and ginger and I can only buy those in bulk.  I came across a wooden dispenser at Goodwill that I think is some sort of pipe box.  I knew instantly that it would be perfect for an Altoid dispenser to hold all our little metal boxes.

I bought the box at Goodwill for $1.99.  Before transforming it I wiped it down with a wet washcloth to remove all the dust.  I then finished the wooden box with Martha Stewart Paper, Antique Mod Podge, and a Mini Bowdabra Bow.

Here is a list of my materials:

For the full tutorial please visit my detailed instructions on the Bowdabra Blog.

Spring Home Decor Pinwheel Tutorial

Pinwheels are a classic spring and summer kids toy and craft.   Using DIY handmade pinwheels I designed an easy inexpensive spring home decor tutorial.  Please follow my tutorial below along with visiting my fellow Bowdabra Designers and their pinwheel tutorials.

Materials Needed:

• 5" x 5" Double-sided Cardstock
• Mini Bowdabra Bow With Button Center
• Dowels
• Curling Ribbon
• Basket
• Styrofoam
• Basket Filler
• Ruler
• Straight Edge 
• Thin Hole Punch

Instructions:
1. Begin by creating a Mini Bowdabra Bow with button center.  Click for here for the tutorial. 

2. To make the pinwheel cut double-sided 5" by 5" cardstock.

 

3. Using a ruler draw lines from corner to corner to find the center.  Use a straight edge to cut from the corner, 3" in.  Cut a circle for the center.

4. Hole punch a small hole into every other corner.  Thread the Bowdabra Bow Wire through the first flap.

5. Thread the next flap.

6. Thread the third flap and final flap.

7. Knot the Bowdabra Bow Wire in the back of the pinwheel.

8. Make several pinwheels.

9. Wrap dowels in curling ribbon and then place the dowels in the back of the pinwheel.  Twist the dowel around the Bowdabra Bow Wire to hold it in place.

10. Fill a small bread basket with a rectangular piece of Styrofoam.

11. Place the pinwheels in the basket and fill with basket filler.  *I used green construction and my paper shredder to make the basket filler.*

Be sure to visit my crafty friends and fellow Bowdabra Designers for their own pinwheel craft tutorials.  Click on the badge or here for a full list of the tutorials.


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How to Make a Mini Bowdabra Bow with Button Center

Learn how to make a Mini Bowdabra Bow with button center with my tutorial below.  This style bow is perfect for hair bows, card making, scrapbooking pages, and so much more!

Be sure to tune in tomorrow when I show you how to use this style bow for making pinwheels for springtime home decor!  Plus a Blog Hop tomorrow with my fellow Bowdabra Designers for even more pinwheel crafts.  Woot! Woot!

Materials Needed:

• Darice Bowdabra Hair Bow Making Kit   
• Darice Bowdabra Wire 50 Feet 
• Thin Width Ribbon
• Button

Instructions:

1. Begin by placing the Hair Bow Tool & Ruler (metric side) onto the Mini Bowdabra.  Cut 18" of Bowdabra Bow Wire and fold it in half.  Place the wire into the Mini Bowdabra.

2. Place the end of the ribbon into the Mini Bowdabra leaving a 4cm tail.

3. Fold and press the ribbon to create your first loop.  Press the loop at the 2cm mark.  Make a matching loop on the other side.

4. Make two more 2cm loops.

5. Cut the ribbon at the 4cm mark to make a matching tail.

6. Scrunch down with the Mini Bowdabra Wand.

7. Thread the two loose ends of the Bowdabra Bow Wire through the loop.

8. Pull the wire tightly.

9. Remove the bow and thread the loose ends of the wire through a coordinating button.

Welcoming Spring with a Banner and Bowdabra Bows

Here in New Hampshire, I am more than ready for spring!  What better way to welcome spring than with a banner!

I cut the scrapbooking paper using my Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine, I then adorned each letter with a bow using the Mini Bowdabra and Hair Bow Tool & Ruler.

I hung the banner above my sink to add some cheer and fun in our kitchen.

 

For the step-by-step tutorial for making this spring banner visit the Bowdabra Blog.

Here are some of supplies I used:

Wired Burlap Ribbon by FloraCraft

Burlap is a hot craft trend, right now!  So it completely makes sense that I would find wired burlap ribbon by FloraCraft, at my local craft store.  At first glance, I only saw FloraCraft Ribbon Burlap Garland 5"x 10yd.  Then I noticed the wired ribbon and I did a little happy dance (happy dance on the inside that is - there was no dancing in the craft aisles).

The burlap ribbon made the perfect bow for a spring home decor project, I was working on over at the Bowdabra Blog.  It was easy to use with the Bowdabra Bow Maker and I made a bow in no time. Because it is wired burlap it holds its shape nicely.  I even love the fraying on the ribbon tails that you get with burlap.

 Click here for the tutorial link.

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