Cards In Bloom

Paper flowers invite guests to their tables. The leaves show the name and table number in easy-to-read white ink (write information yourself using a gel pen or give finished leaves to a calligrapher). Making the blooms is quick work -- especially if you ask friends to help; the more you fold, the simpler it becomes. At the wedding, set them out on a table draped in linen.

Cards in Bloom How-To
1. Begin with a perfect 3-inch square (to make large numbers of them, use a paper cutter); use a bone folder to crease all folds.

2. Fold in half horizontally, then open paper and fold in half vertically. Open up the paper, and fold in half diagonally top to bottom; open up paper again, and fold diagonally side to side. This will result in a starburst pattern of folds.



3. Refold to create a large triangle with its center point facing you. The right side of the triangle, and bring the far-right point down to meet the bottom point, forming a diamond. Flip paper over, and repeat on the back side.



4. Turn the resulting diamond so that the folded point is at the bottom and the open point is at the top. Fold in the top layer of each side point to meet the center fold. Flip over, and repeat on the back.



5. Unfold one of the side points, and reverse the folds to tuck it inside. Repeat with the remaining three side points.



6. With the shape still folded, cut off the tips of the points at the open end of the blossom, cutting through all layers and making a curved edge.



7. Open the shape, and crease all the sides again; pinch blossom into shape.



8. For each leaf, cut out the leaf shape freehand from a 1 1/2-by-3-inch rectangle; crease down the center, curving the crease with your fingers to sculpt the center vein. Use craft glue or an adhesive dot to attach leaves and blossom.

Bows

How to Tie a Bow.

A floral bow is one that has a variety of loop sizes. The larger loops are around the outside of the bow and the sizes gradually get smaller towards the center. They may have as few as four to eight loops or as many as twenty to thirty loops. The loops are spread apart to make the shape oval or round and tails are generally hanging below.





Making a Floral Bow

1. Pinch the ribbon and make a loop leaving the tail the desired length.

2. Continue making loops gradually increasing the size of the loops until the bow is full and you have enough ribbon left to make the other tail.

3. Secure the center of the bow with wire.

4. Fan out the loops.

5. Cut the tails at an angle or in points to finish off the bow.

Making Layered Bows

The layered bow is two (or more) separate bows, of various sizes, stacked on top of each other. They can be glued in place or held together by twisting all the wires together. Usually each bow is a different color, texture or pattern in addition to being a different size. The bottom bow or bows can be a floral or loopy type bow. The top bow should have a center loop to cover the wire, as done in the wreath bow.

1. Make a floral or loopy bow (see above). If layering more than two bows, make additional floral or loopy bows. Each one should be slightly smaller than the last.
2. Make a wreath bow, slightly smaller than the smallest floral or loopy bow.
3. Lay the smaller bow over the center of the larger bow and connect the wires by twisting them together under the larger bow.

How to make a Basic Bow

1. Using three yards ribbon measure about 7" for the first tail. Squeeze the ribbon together and hold it with your thumb and forefinger.



2. With the right side of the ribbon facing out make a loop on one side using 6-7" of ribbon. Pinch the ribbon together and hold it with your thumb and forefinger. as before.



3. Make a full twist of the ribbon so the right side is facing out and make a loop towards the other side.



4. The second and third sets of loops should be progressively smaller than the first set. Make a fourth set of loops still smaller than the first three. Be sure to fully twist each loop so that the right side of the ribbon is always facing out.



5. Twist the remaining ribbon around your thumb to make the center loop. Adjust the tail so the right side of the ribbon is facing out. INsert a piece of wire through the center and twist it tightly at the back of the bow.



6. Spread out the loops and cut the ends of the tails at sharp angles or inverted V's

Making a graduated loopy bow.

1.Make a loop leaving the tail the desired length.




2. Continue making loops gradually increasing the size of the loops until the bow is full and you have enough ribbon left over to make the remaining tail.




3. Secure the center of the bow with ribbon or floral wire.



4. Fan out the loops.




5. Cut the tails at an angle or in points to finish off the look of the bow.

Making a loopy bow

1. Make a loop leaving the tail the desired length.




2. Continue making loops keeping them uniform in size until the bow is full and you have enough ribbon left over to make the remaining tail.



3. Secure the center of the bow with floral or bow making wire



4. Fan out the loops



5. Cut the tails at an angle or in points to finish off the bow.

Puffy Bow

A great gift wrap bow or finishing touch to a corsage is the puffy bow. It is made by wrapping ribbon around your fingers. This gives you loops that are uniform in size. Start with five or six "wraps". To make your bow larger spread your fingers. To make it fuller add more loops.

The Puffy Bow

1. After completing the wraps of ribbon, fold the loops in half.



2. Cut a "V" into each side making sure you do not cut all the way through the center.



3. Tie the bow with a coordinating narrow ribbon in the center. You can also use a fine bow tying wire to hold the center.



4. Separate the loops one by one to the right and left from the inside out. Twist each loop towards you as you pull it from the center. Do one side at a time.



5. Trim the short ends at an angle.

Bedecked With Bows

Bow How-Tos

Cut ribbon to desired length.

Classic
As shown on the ribbon swag. We started with a 24-inch length of wide ribbon. (For a different size, make bow on the ribbon spool before cutting.)

1. Create two loops, one on each side of the ribbon. Cross right loop over left.



2. Knot by passing right loop behind left, under, and up through (make sure ribbon is not twisted or bunched).



3. Pull loops to create a small, smooth knot. Adjust loops, opening them up with your fingers; cut notches in tails.




Rosette
As shown on the napkin ring.We started with a 45-inch length of narrow ribbon.

1. Hold four fingers on one hand together, and wrap with ribbon, making certain it lies flat. The fullness of the bow will depend on how many times you wrap it around (we wrapped ours ten times; for larger bows, wrap ribbon around your whole hand). Slide the ribbon off your fingers, and pinch it together at the center. Cut a notch through all layers on each side. Tie a piece of string around the center of the ribbon, slipping it into the notches; pull string taut, and knot.



2. To form the rosette, spread loops outward, and twist, shaping them into a fluffy ball.




Figure-Eight
As shown on the wreath. For the wreath, we started with two 38-inch lengths of wire taffeta.

1. Make loops: Form a loop at one end of ribbon; glue in place.



2. Wind the rest of the ribbon back and forth, forming a figure eight with each layer and making each a little larger than the one before it, until you've created three stacked figure eights. Glue figure eights together at the points where the ribbon crosses. Let dry.



3. Knot the second length of ribbon around the loops at the center; rotate the knot so the smooth side is at the front. Slide 20-gauge wire through knot at back for hanging; trim ends.




Layered Loops
1. Make loops: Bend an 8-inch-long ribbon into a circle, attaching ends with fabric glue. Repeat to create two or three more circles, each ribbon 2 inches longer than the one before it. Pinch each ribbon together at center; put a tiny dab of glue there to secure. To create the topmost loop, wrap a piece of ribbon around your thumb, and glue ends together; if you would like to add tails, notch a length of ribbon at both ends. Stack loops, smallest to largest with tail underneath.

2. To connect loops and tail, wrap them with a short piece of ribbon: Slip it through the topmost loop and wrap around all of the layers; glue its ends together at bottom of bow. Let dry.




Medallion
As shown as ornaments. We started with 1 yard of wide grosgrain ribbon.

1. Make a series of accordion folds (our folds are 1 inch), holding the folds in place with your fingers as you work. Finish with both ends of the ribbon facing the same direction. Thread a needle and knot it, leaving a 1-inch tail. Pass the needle and thread through the layers, about 1/4 inch from the selvage edge.



2. Bring ends of thread together; knot, close to the ribbon. Cut off excess thread. Glue ends of ribbon together, covering the knot. Shift folds so they're evenly spaced.



3. Press the center of the bow to flatten, rotating the folds in one direction.




Sash
As shown on the wreath. To make the sash bow with the extra-long tails, we started with four pieces of satin ribbon: one 16 inches long, one 20 inches, one 24 inches, and one 4 yards (for the tails).

1. Make loops: For each of the three shortest ribbons, fold ends toward the center, overlapping them; secure with fabric glue. Stack loops. Lay the 4-yard piece across the center of the loops, and knot.



2. Rotate knot to back of bow. Trim ends of tails at an angle. Slide 20-gauge wire through knot at back for hanging.




Winged
As shown on the chandelier.

1. Cross left end of the ribbon over right.



2. Knot by passing left end behind right, under, and up through opening (make sure ribbon is not twisted or bunched).



3. Pull on the ends of the ribbon to create a tight, smooth knot.



4. Adjust to desired shape, and notch the ends.




Tuxedo
As shown on the ribbon card holder, the candy tray, and the votives.

1. Fold ends of a piece of ribbon in toward the center, overlapping them; secure with fabric glue. Flatten at center and glue to secure. Cover center with a second piece of ribbon, gluing at back of bow; for a cinched bow, wrap center more tightly.

2. Adjust to desired shape.




Ribbon and Bow Accessory How-tos

Petal Bow-Ornament

The petal bow is similar to the medallion bow. For the petal bow, make 2 1/4-inch accordion folds in ribbon (ours is 5/8 inch wide and 45 inches long); end with the raw edges facing down. Pass needle and thread through bottom, about 1/4 inch from edge. Hold together, and pull taut; knot. Spread petals; tie silver twine around thread to hang.

Figure-Eight Ornament
This is made with 15-inch-long, 3/8-inch-wide satin ribbon. Follow instructions on page 102 to make three figure-eight bows, but start with the cut edge at back of bow instead of at front, and make two layers instead of three. Cross and glue two of the bows. Glue a loop of silver twine at the front center. Glue a third bow across the middle, as shown, concealing twine.



Card Holder
This project uses a tuxedo bow.

Tools and Materials
scissors
4-inch-wide ribbon card envelopes
9-mm-wide ribbon fabric glue (such as Magna-Tac 809)
20-gauge wire self-adhesive hook, for hanging

Card Holder How-To
1. Make tail: Cut a 40-inch (or longer) length of wide ribbon. To make an even notch in the bottom, fold ribbon in half lengthwise and cut on an angle from outer edge to fold; unfold. Since you’ll likely be making this before holiday cards arrive, lay out five or six card envelopes along front of ribbon, some horizontally and others vertically, keeping 1/2 inch between them. Lay a narrow ribbon down each side (about 1/2 inch in from edge); trim ends to match angle of notch. With envelopes as your guide, glue narrow ribbons to the wide ribbon between envelopes. Slide envelopes out.



2. With a 25-inch-long wide ribbon, make a 12-inch tuxedo bow; wrap center tightly to cinch bow. At back, knot narrow ribbon around center band, then rotate narrow ribbon so its knot is concealed inside. This will be the loop from which bow will hang.



3. Cinch top of tail: Twist a piece of wire into a loop. Fold top corners under about 1 inch (top edges should be flush); at the same time, press the top center in with your thumbs, forming shape shown. Secure ribbon with dabs of glue, and glue wire to center. Using a removable self-adhesive hook, hang tail first, and then bow.