The Art of Adding Bow-tiful Flair to Artificial Christmas Wreaths and Garlands
When it comes to artificial Christmas wreaths and garlands, many people find that they get the basic items and dress these up each year to not only fit in with their decor but to add a dash of color to the artificial Christmas wreaths and bows. And one of the more popular ways to decorate your artificial Christmas wreaths and garlands is through using bows. Yes, you can find bows at the store that you could simply pin to your artificial Christmas wreaths and bows. However, many people want to tackle making their own bows so that they can choose a ribbon that fits in entirely with the decor of their tree — plus make these the size that they envisioned using.
And believe it or not, making a bow is much easier than what you realize. Follow these steps and you will be making awesome bows that you can use on wreaths, garlands and even presents under the tree!
The Art of Choosing the Right Bow
To bring your home closer to a personalized Christmas, all you need are some scissors and wired ribbon. Wire scissors are optional as you will find that as long as yo have some sharp scissors you will be fine. Choose a wired ribbon in either a fun pattern or traditional red velvet.
Your final bow will be larger and plusher the wider your ribbon. Smaller gifts and table decorations benefit greatly from narrower ribbons.
Cut a length of ribbon roughly twice as long as the length you want for your bow. After you have tied your Christmas bow, you can always cut a longer strip and trim the excess. Twist the ribbon to secure a small strip at the top of the fold after folding it in half. As a result, your ribbon should have a small loop at its center, with the loose ends spread out to either side.
The first side of the “bow” shape is created by making a slightly larger loop on the right side and twisting it to secure it. Left-to-right, repeat. Adjust as necessary to ensure that both sides are level and that there is sufficient ribbon left over on each side to accommodate additional loops.
Create two larger loops on either side of this base to serve as a frame for your original bow. To secure, twist off. Before treating additional ribbon ends, ensure that both sides are level and make any necessary adjustments. Trim the excess ribbon to keep the shape of the bow or create trailing ribbon by cutting the end at an angle. Your bow will have warped or been flattened from all the folding and twisting. If the bows are too plush, you can flatten them or fluff up the loops with the wire. String floral wire through the back of the center loop of the Christmas bow and wrap it around branches or pine boughs to attach it to wreaths or garlands. The wire bow can be bent to hold place cards on a table setting or taped to gift wrap to add drama.