Ribbon Flower Tutorial

Ribbon Flower!

I love the look of flower clips and I had a lot of ribbon hanging around so I decided to adapt some techniques from some other crafters and came up with these ribbon flowers. They are pretty easy and don’t take very long to make. You can make them in any color or colors as you like to match any occasion or outfit. They also make great gifts – make a making flower on a pin or make a set to attach to flip flips.

Supplies:

• ribbon (3/8 in width, any color or type)
• alligator clips (I use clips from Sally Beauty Supply)
• Button, patch, or large rhinestone
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
• scissors
• lighter

Begin by covering a clip with ribbon. This step is not necessary but it does make for a neater final product. My method: Choose one of your ribbons, singe the edge to avoid fraying and hold it in the clip. Run a bead of hot glue along the top and fold the ribbon over. Cut the ribbon to length to cover the portion of the back wear your fingers hold the clip, singe the edge and glue down. I like to leave the bottom open, or uncovered.

 Next, cut 4 lengths of ribbon to about 8 inches.

Form a loop by overlapping the ends together and attaching with a dab of glue. Then, form the figure eight by placing a dab of glue inside the center of your loop (over where you just glued the loop together) and twisting the ribbon slightly as you press down. Repeat with three remaining pieces of ribbon.

Stack the figure eights into an *asterisk* shape, glueing to each other between the layers.

Finish the ribbon flower by adding a decorative center. In this tutorial I have used a button left over from another project but you could use a patch or rhinestone, whatever fits the look you are going for.

Finally, run a bead of glue on the top of your ribbon covered clip and press onto the back of your ribbon flower to create a hair clip. You could use a different style of hair barrette, glue to headband, or even a pin back for different uses.

I use my hair clips with crocheted headbands for my daughter.

Have fun with colors and centers! Check out this twist: http://thefrugalgirls.com/2011/08/a-new-twist-on-pretty-ribbon-hair-bows.html.

Linked up at TheFrugalGirls.com Chic & Crafty Party!