Gift ideas for christmas: Christmas Tree Clippie, kids craft ideas

The Christmas Tree Clippie design and photos were provided by Michelle Cooper. Credit where credit is due! Many thanks to Michelle for helping to enlarge our collection of FREE bow instructions.

Materials:
 

• Alligator Clip
• Hot Glue Gun
• Scissors
• 4 ¼" brown grosgrain
• 2 ¼" green grosgrain (2 Pieces)
• 2" green grosgrain (2 Pieces)
• 1 ¾" green grosgrain (2 Pieces)

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

	Line the alligator clip with the brown length of grosgrain...
	..., from back to the top and around the inside of the top part of the clip, as shown in the picture.
	Use one piece of the 2 ¼" piece of grosgrain and glue one end at the base of the pinch (see picture), then fold the ribbon up, and overlap the piece already glued, but slightly above it, giving it a three dimensional effect. Mirror this with the other length of 2 ¼" grosgrain.
	Continue up the clip, using shorter pieces as you go.
	At the top you may see a little bit of the brown ribbon (or stump of the tree), it is OK, as you will put your tree topper here.
	I made a tree topper out of red 3/8" grosgrain ribbon, just made a very basic bow and glued it on top of the tree, but you could use buttons and all kinds of different tops!  You could add colored sequins to the green ribbon to look like ornaments.  girlythingsbows.com

Recycling ideas: Lauren headband tutorial

The "Lauren" Headband Tutorial!

*squeal* I'm excited about this one!!

Meet the latest product of my imagination: the "Lauren" headband!

I love a girly, cutesy headband to hold back my forehead fringe. But sometimes the occasion (or outfit) calls for a little more simplicity and grown-upness.

The only thing more exciting than how easy this is, is how cheap it is!!

The version Paige is wearing was made from this old $.50 cosmetic case from the thrift store. Nice! You probably have something lying around the house that you could use!

To make it:

(adult sized measurements)

1. Cut two 15"x 3/4" strips from an old purse, cosmetic case, or whatever. It doesn't have to be real leather, in fact, the taupe version that I'm wearing is naugahyde vinyl, I believe. (From my stash, believe it or not!)

2. Start folding into two loops, a larger in back, and smaller in front, and mirror for the other side.

3. Put a dot of glue between layers. You'll need a nice, strong E6000 type of glue, as leather probably won't hold hot glue very well.

4. Glue a 2"x1/2" strip around the middle and then glue it to the headband wherever you'd like, holding it all together with a clothespin (or by setting a book on it) until the glue dries.

5. Cut small slits about 1/4" from the bottom of each side of your headband, just large enough to slide your elastic (approx. 7") through.

6. Stitch your elastic together with a zigzag, trim the excess, and you're done!

(Toddler measurements are: two 13"x1/2" strips, with 1/34"x3/8" strip around middle of bow. 6" elastic)

If you're wondering where I found the beige elastic, I just threw the elastic pieces in a small pot of boiled water with 6 tea bags for about ten minutes! Easy!

Simple and elegant.

I love it!

rufflesandstuff.com

Gift presents: Infant Hair Bows & Headbands

About three months ago I welcomed a new niece into my family.  Of course, I had to make her some bows since I just have a little boy and I've never taken the opportunity to learn how to make bows.  My sister-in-law is not into big flashy pink bows that cover most of the babies head so I had to be creative and do a lot of internet searching to come up with the perfect simple bow for her.  

I followed the basic how-to of small bow making but then played with different versions to make them unique.  

Some of the ribbon I found at fabric & craft stores or at Walmart but I got most of my ribbon off of Ebay.  I was able to get a wide variety of colors and design and quantity within my budget.  I now have so much ribbon that I'm constantly looking for projects to use it with.  I even tied some in my hair for the 4th of July!

Some of the bows I matched with specific outfits that my niece had.  

I tried to incorporate some buttons into the bows but I never was very happy with how they turned out.  

The most recent successful experiment was making a knot in the middle of the bow.  It added a new element to the simple bows.  

Another thing I discovered on my search was fold-over elastic.  I used it to make the headbands.  I could only find this online and got mine on ebay.  It is extremely soft and stretchy elastic that lays smoothly on the baby's head.  I just hot glued the ends together and then had ribbon wrapped around to hide the seam.  It comes in a wide variety of colors as well.

I've seen the white flowers at fabric stores near the ribbon.  I think they add a nice sophisticated touch to the bows.  

This final headband/bow is my absolute favorite.  Unfortunately, I can't take credit for it all.  

My sister-in-law bought a headband similar to this one and decided that it wouldn't be hard to duplicate.  She took two pieces of white ribbon and sewed them together on both edges.  She then put thin elastic through the openings of the ribbon and cinched up the ribbon.  I then sewed the ribbon together with both seams facing one way.  I then took one of the white flowers and carefully looped the purple ribbon around it and held it in place with hot glue over the seam edges to hide the seam.

 

sewincrediblycrafty.blogspot.com