How To: How to Make Boutique Style Ribbon Bows

Hi friends, I've been super busy lately and that would explain partially, my lack of posts. The other part is that I'm really lazy. Anyway, enough about slacking and further slacking. I have a bow tutorial for you all today!

Supplies Needed:
- grosgrain ribbon that measures 1.5 inches
- smaller ribbon to wrap around the middle (I used one that measures 3/8 inch)
- a glue gun & glue sticks
- any kind of hair barrette you want (I used a long metal barrette these long barrettes.)
- a lighter

LET'S GET STARTED!

First of all measure out and cut two 8 inch segments from your larger 1.5 inch ribbon. Heat seal your ends then fold this ribbon directly in half (do for both edges on both pieces of ribbon).

Leave a small crease in the ribbon with your nail if you are able. Then fold each end of the ribbon in to meet that middle crease.

Add a thin line of glue from your flue gun and glue and secure those ends to the middle. Do this twice with the two separate pieces of ribbon. One will be for the top of the bow and one for the bottom.

Next, fold your glued ribbon in half 'hot dog style' and hold with your fingers to create a small crease, add a small dot of glue directly in the middle of your crease and hold until dry and cool.

Next, fold the top part of the ribbon you just glued back from the dried glue and glue that portion of the ribbon to the back (on top of) the glue you just allowed to dry. Repeat for the bottom. See images if this makes no sense.

Now you are going to want to make sure everything is fluffed out the way you want the bows to look and line up the ribbons so that they are stacked upon each other. Once you are satisfied glue them into place.

Place these ribbons aside to dry and measure out your 3/8 into one 4 inch segment and one segment that is long enough to cover and slightly overlap your barrette. Heat seal all of these ends. Go ahead and glue down your shorter segment of ribbon to cover your barrette and overlap and glue your edges down to the bottom of the barrette.

Once the glue has dried, line up your barrette to the back of your bow and glue the middle and ends down to the ribbon. Now you can align the other piece of 3/8 ribbon and begin to wrap and glue it around as you go. Mainly glue down the backs and sides as necessary.

And that's it! Fluff them out and slap them on your head as a last minute accessory! Play around with different ribbons and cabochons if you are feeling adventurous. My tribal / aztec bow actually has 3 eight inch segments of ribbon and a really cute cabochon glued to the front of it.

WILW 12.18.13 Christmas Wishlist Edition

It was nearly impossible to compile a Christmas wishlist because (aside from a huge pile of money and a car) I have everything I could possibly want. Here's a few things I've been swooning over lately, however.

1. Nacy Blue lacey ballet flats from Mod Cloth. I have some sort of obsession with the color blue lately. I don't know what it is. I think it stemmed from really being into sapphires (my birth stone). These shoes are so perfect.

2. I want a chained set of hairclips. End of story. I've been doing much more with my hair since I cut my bangs. I'm just trying to have more fun with it.

3. I keep trying to bid on this eyeball bracelet on Ebay but keep being outbid. I won the ring about a week ago and would love to win the necklace as well. Kind of an oddball piece. Like I need another one of those.

4. This beautiful black fitted dress from Mod Cloth. How pretty is this? And paired with a colored cardigan and some matching shoes? Blah. I love this dress.

5. This set of celestial tea set photographs. I would hate to change the colors in my kitchen (black, white and red) but I may make an exception for these!

So to appologise for my lack of posting, how about a playlist?

1. Terraplane Sun - Get Me Golden
2. Strange Talk - Climbing Walls
3. Stroke 9 - Little Black Backpack
4. Capital Cities - Kangaroo Court
5. Jake Bugg - Lightning Bolt

(SSS) Stylish Smithereens Shop Update #2

Hello friends. I thought it was time for another shop update since I've listed more things in my shop and I figured that I would show off some of the stuff I've made.

Halloween Black Cat Dangle Earrings with Swarovski Crystals

Hello Kitty Bow Ribbon Statement Necklaces

Multi-Colored Owl Mug Cozys

Faux Druzy Bobby Pins

And back by popular demand are my Skeleton Hand Hair Clips. I swear that between work and Etsy, I have sold around 40 pairs of these.

I have really been hitting the knitting needles hard since autumn and winter are just around the corner. I will soon have Hello Kitty beanie hats and boot cuff/ leg warmers available so that's exciting.

That's all I have to announce. I hope you all had a great weekend! I'm ready for a productive then relaxing birthday week and vacation ahead of us!

SSS (Stylish Smithereens Shop) Update and Future Plans

I haven't really done anything tutorial or review related all week, but do have a nail art tutorial coming soon. I thought I'd take this opportunity to update you all on my shop and what the future holds for it.

First of all, I have been making jewelry like a fiend. I will spend my day off secluded in the craft/game room and design and create jewelry and other goodies with YouTube blasting for... hours. That's almost sad to say, but I find it nice to listen to music, watch my favorites, or learn something while my hands are busy.

Here are a few pictures of my most recent creations:

Polymer Clay Cookie Necklaces

Sailing Ship Beaded Bracelet

Caged Pearls Dangling Earrings

Elegant Lady Skeleton Cell Phone Charm Dust Plug

Beaded White Dream Catcher w/ Mixed Feathers

Various 4 Packs of Ribbon Elastic Hair Ties

These are just a few of the items I have been working on (click on the massive orange banner on the right to purchase...erm, I mean, support me!). I have other projects coming soon as well which include an upcycled military jacket, lots of knitted goodies (just in time for fall/winter!), more dream catchers, and some upcycled vintage items. I look forward to working on all of these things this month!

Making Ribbon Elastic Hair Ties

I have noticed that these hair elastics which are no pain, all ages friendly, and very simplistic are everywhere, and sometimes are even being worn as bracelets. I decided to find the materials to make my own.

First of all you can now find the elastic trim at Hobby Lobby. I'm sure JoAnn's, Michael's and other craft stores have them as well, but I found mine in both the sewing department and in the wearable art department at Hobby Lobby (also, they were half price at the time as they go on sale with ribbons and tulle spools). I know there are stores on Etsy that sell the material for these by the yard so there are probably many other vendors besides Etsy that sell it too.

The materials needed aside from the elastic trim are a pair of sharp scissors and either a lighter or clean nail polish to seal your ends. I went with the latter of these options.

First of all measure out around 9.5 - 10 inches of the trim and cut it at an angle.

Make sure both cuts are running the same direction when trim is folded in half.

Next, lay these out somewhere where they won't be disturbed for a few minutes and coat the ends of each cut with clear nail polish. Let them dry so that the ends can seal.

Once dry, bring both ends together to begin the knotting process.

Make a knot and pull it closer to the ends. Pull on both the end pieces and the now longer loop piece to secure the knot once it's where you want it to be.

That's it! (Don't my fingers look weird here. It was an odd angle now that I reevaluate the picture.) But now you have some fashionable hair ties that were really easy to make!