Making a ruffle ribbon flower

Making a ruffle ribbon flower hair clippie

There are many variations of this ribbon flower, and I got my inspiration from a great crafty blog www.floralshowers.com.  Her instructions for ribbon flowers were so cute, I just had to start making my own versions to add to my store for girls hair accessories.

In this tutorial I will show you how to make the simplest ribbon flower, then you can expand from there.

You will need:

• One 5 inch piece of 5/8” ribbon
• A button or brad of some sort
• A lined alligator clip – lined with coordinating ribbon
• Sewing machine (or needle and thread will work too – I just love my sewing machine!)
• Hot Glue gun (Cause what project DOESN’T need a hot glue gun??)

**For instructions of how to line an alligator clips, see my instructions How to Line an Alligator Clip.

• First, heat seal the edges of your ribbon. I do this with a standard cigarette lighter; just lightly seal each edge of the ribbon to prevent fraying. (The more you do this, the better at it you get!)

• Next baste ONE edge of your ribbon. On your sewing machine, this is your standard stitch, made as wide as possible.

• Pull on ONE of the two threads and scrunch the ribbon all together, like this:

• Tie a knot at the ends of the thread so your scrunch holds.

• Form the ribbon ruffle into a circle.

• Use your hot glue gun and apply a thin strip on glue to one edge of the ribbon.

• Place the other edge on the strip of glue, forming a neat circle with your ruffled ribbon.

• Attach button or brad to the center.

• Attach the whole ribbon flower to your alligator clip.

Here is a set of clips using these simple instructions:

Here is a larger variation I have made using the same technique, but with different size and textures of ribbon:

Check out some of my creations at The SunshineShoppe under the Ribbon Flower Clips section!

Dog Bows

Ok – so this is kinda silly, but I had this great idea the other night to try some of my hair bow creations on my dog, Sophie. Might be due to the fact that my daughter (my model) is refusing to keep anything in her hair these days. Now I KNOW I can’t use Sophie as my model in my store(s) but it sure was fun! And I think I might be on to a new market!

Dog bow:

Really? What could be cuter that a dog with a hair bow? Maybe a dog in a sweater? How about both?  If I had a sweater, I’d put it on her and take more pictures, but Sophie is 30 pounds of fur. The only outfit she wears is at Halloween, and THAT is an ordeal.

So all I really did was use a baby hair clip and snap it onto her head fur. The baby snap clips work great for hair that is as short as 1/4″ so PERFECT for any kind of  pooches!

See my instructions  on how to line a baby snap clip – then add anything on to make a little doggy hair clip!

How about a doggy flower hair clip?

I have great instructions on how to make a hair bow that you can follow as well.  Instead of making a HUGE bow like in those instructions – you can size it down by using 5/8 – 7/8 inch ribbon and use a starting cut of about 10.5 inches per bow.

To purchase your own dog bows, please visit my store The SunshineShoppe.  Check out the baby snap clip section – lots to choose from for humans and pooches, I guess!

I’m thinking these hair clips might be next for family pics!!!

How to make a lined snap clip

Girls Hair Bows

How to Line a Snap Clip

Snap clips make awesome hair accessories. They come in a ton of sizes – starting with my specialty, the baby snap clip. These babies measure only 1 1/4 inches in length, and if you find the right ones, a 3/8th inch ribbon just covers the clip in width. These make awesome clips for infants and newborns because the will hold in just baby fuzz. The bigger sizes are great for toddlers and I even wear the larger ones to pull my bangs back at least 4 days a week.

What you’ll need:

Snap clip (these instructions will be for a baby snap clip)

3/8 inch ribbon (bigger clips will require wider ribbon)

hot glue gun

embellishment

Instructions for lining a snap clip:

1. For a baby snap clip, you will need to cut 2 3/4″ length of your 3/8″ ribbon.

2. Open your snap clip and place ribbon in between the clasp.

3. Close clip, ensuring that ribbon is straight.

4. Use your hot glue to cover the top of the snap clip – leave a little room for your fingers to hold the clip! **Be careful not to use TOO much glue, or it will squish out the sides

5. Fold the ribbon over and smooth the ribbon over the clip.

6. Glue the back of the ribbon that will be folded over the back of the clip **Again – not too much glue!

7. Fold the ribbon over the back of the clip.

8. Embellish with anything!

Baby snap clips are so fun and easy to make. They don’t require many supplies and can be done in a flash. I may be known to make a quick clip for my baby girl just before walking out the door so she has something to match the outfit she is wearing!

Girls Hair Bows with American Craft Ribbon

I’ve been crafting and creating lot and lots of new girls hair clippies!! I have an upcoming local show and am always worried that I won’t have enough inventory. Then, as I’m hauling in boxes and boxes of HAIR CLIPS, I realize that I may have overdone it once again.

I love my sets of alligator clips that I make with American Craft ribbon, and was recently informed that they are going to stop making the boxed sets!!! I nearly had a heart attack. I searched around the internet and was able to find a couple places that still had some of the boxed sets. Most places wanted about double the price I am used to paying, but I finally found a site that had them for a decent price, and although they didn’t have EVERY combo that I wanted, they had enough to satisfy me. Can’t wait for that shipment to come! I love internet shopping. It’s like Christmas in your mailbox!! (except you’ve peaked at what’s inside already)

Here’s a few of the lined alligator clip sets I’ve been working on with the American Craft ribbon:

FASHIONISTA BABY COLLECTION

BRIGHT GEMSTONE COLLECTION

PASTEL GIRLY COLLECTION

THINK SPRING COLLECTION

You can find these in my etsy store at www.sunshineshoppe.etsy.com

How to make hair bows

How to make a hair bow

These instructions to make a hair bow are for a 4 inch pinwheel bow.

You will need a few things to get started:

*Your choice of ribbon – 23 inches long. In this tutorial I have used 1.5 inch width. I think this makes very full looking hair bows. I love the look of satin ribbon, but it is slippery and harder to work with, so I recommend using grosgrain to start with as this type of ribbon is very easy to shape into a good looking hair bow.
*Sharp scissors
*Craft wire
*Coordinating ribbon to tie around the center (about 6 inches). I generally use a 3/8 inch ribbon when making a 4 inch bow with 1.5 inch ribbon
*Lined Alligator Clip (see previous instructions)
*Hot glue gun
*Heat source (I use a plain old cigarette lighter) to heat seal ribbon ends to prevent fraying)

Part 1 – instructions for how to make a hair bow

This is how to make hair bows with alligator clips!

1. Cut the ribbon ends to make a “V” – I fold the ribbon in half and cut a diagonal line, like this:

2. Heat seal the ends of your ribbon – I use a cigarette lighter – you just need to get the heat close enough to the ribbon to heat it up – it just takes a second. You’ll be able to see when it is sealing.

3. Fold ribbon over at about the 4 ½ inch mark – with the “right side” of the ribbon on the outside.

4. Repeat this folding over three more times – folding the ribbon over on top of itself

**The ribbon ends should not hang over the edges much, if they do – it’s OK, unfold and make that first fold a bit longer.

5.  Pull the two ribbon pieces that are the cut ends of the ribbon out so they line up in front of the ribbon bunch.

6.“Bunch” the ribbon together in the middle – making small folds in the center and pinch with fingers.

7.Wrap some craft wire around the center – twisting in the back to assure placement. Clip the wire ends so there is not excess wire hanging off the back.

8.Turn bow over a “fluff” or pull ribbon loops until you are satisfied with look of bow. At this point, you can fix your bow and make it exactly how you want it.  If you think that it looks like one side is bigger than the other, slide your craft wire around until satisfied.

9.Wrap smaller ribbon piece around the center of you bow – tying a knot in the back of the bow.

10.Clip the extra ends off of the knot in the back, use your hot glue gun to “seal” those ends to the back of the bow.

11.Embellish center of the bow with gemstone, button, or any decoration!

12.Attach the bow to the lined alligator clip (click here for instructions) with your hot glue gun.

***To make a 3 inch pinwheel bow, you need approximately 15 inches of ribbon to start with, then follow the same directions – your first fold should be approximately 3.5 inches to begin.

***To make a tiny 2 inch bow, you need about 11 inches of ribbon – the 1.5 inch width is too big for these bows, but 5/8-7/8 inch will work great.

Click here to see creations from my etsy store made using this method!

Here are some pictures of bows I have created using this method.  Soon you too can learn how to make a hair bow.

Part 2 – Making a double layer hair bow

In addition to the previous “ingredient list”, for a layered bow, you will need…

* A four inch bow (made above)

*A three inch bow (made above)

*(optional) 4 strips of coordinating ribbon cut about 5-6  inches long.  This ribbon is for behind the layered bow, so generally a width of 5/8 to 1 inch works best – but it’s up to you!

How to make layered hair bows

**Follow the previous instructions twice (once for the 4 inch bow, once for the 3 inch bow)

Once you have made both size bows, follow these instructions next:

1. For added effect, cut 4 pieces of varying coordinating ribbon into 6-7 inch strips.

2. Cut the “V”s into the ends of each of these ribbon pieces.

3. Heat seal each end to prevent fraying.

4. Place a small glue dot in the middle of your first strip and place a different ribbon strip ontop creating an “x”. Repeat this with your two remaining strips.

5. Place another small glue dot on the top of your stack of strips and place the 4 inch bow on top of this.

6. Add one more small glue dot to the middle of your 4 inch bow and place the 3 inch bow on top of this.

7. Press the whole stack together tightly, then wrap with you smaller ribbon pice, tying a knot in the back.

8. Trim the ends of this knot off, and seal with some hot glue.

9. Attach your master piece to a lined alligator clip and embellish the center of your bow with a button, or gemstone, or anything pretty! (Click here for instruction of lining an alligator clip)

Click here to see some examples of creations made by me on sale at my etsy shop.

Here are some examples of my layered bows:

How to line an alligator clip

This is a two part tutorial – enjoy!

Part one – How to line an alligator clip

You will need a few items:
1. Single or double pronged alligator clip. (I personally prefer the double pronged – seems to grip hair a bit better)
2. Sharp scissors for cutting ribbon
3. 4 1/4 inch piece of ribbon (3/8 inch wide to fully line the clip)
4. Ruler
5. Hot glue gun
6. Lighter

How to line an alligator clip

Hair Bows

Step one – Heat seal the ends of your ribbon to prevent fraying. I use a regular cigarette lighter and just barely touch the ribbon ends. You’ll be able to tell when it is ready. It only takes a brief second to seal.

Step two- Clip the ribbon inside the alligator clip, placing ribbon end just after the prongs (don’t put all the way to the end or you’ll fall short in the end!)

Step three – Place glue up and down the front of the clip – don’t overdo it or it’ll get goopy)

Step four – Pull the ribbon tight over the clip and smooth down with finger

Step five – Flip the clip over

Step six – Place glue on the bottom of the ribbon sticking out

Step seven – Pinch the ribbon into the clasp of the clip, then smooth the rest of the ribbon over the back

Step eight – add any embellishments/bling for a stylish hair clip

Easy peasy!

Click here to check out some of my creations that stem from using this very simple technique at my store

Part 2 – How to line an alligator clip – Hair bow

For this additional piece, you will need a few more items:

1. Your lined alligator clip
2. One 3 1/2 inch piece of ribbon (3/8 inch wide for this example)
4. One 1 1/4 inch piece of coordinating ribbon

Step one – Take your 3 1/2 inch piece of ribbon and heat seal the ends as before.

Step two – Place a small dot of hot glue to one end.

Step three – Fold the ribbon into an “0″ – connecting one end to the other on top of the glue dot.

Step four – Place a small dot of glue INSIDE the “O” right on top of where you connected the two ends.

Step five – Making sure you are in the center, press down the top of the “O” to the glue. Making an “eight” of sorts.

Step six – Using your 1 1/4 inch ribbon, place a small dot of glue in the center and place the “bow”, top down, on the ribbon.

Step seven – Using small glue dots again, fold over the ends – essentially wrapping the small ribbon around the center of the bow.

Step eight – Take your lined alligator clip and cover the top with hot glue (don’t go all the way to the ends or some glue may show)

Step nine – Place the small bow on the alligator clip, press down firmly.

Click here to check out some of my creations that stem from using this very simple technique at my store