Wednesday 21 September 2011

WOYWW 120

Caramba! Wednesday again and time to show and snoop. Huh, the new Blogger photo enlargement does give a slide show I agree, but you don't get the chance to REALLY enlarge a photo for a jolly good nosy :( Unless anyone knows differently, and no, I ain't got time to cut, paste into a document and then enlarge that many images when I'm blog hopping. Speaking of desks, this is the state of play here - and I had trouble loading the photos and can't get rid of the blank space above this posting - thanks again Mr Blogger:
I've dug out my favourite wood mounted Christmas stamps (are you banging your head on the desk yet?). Sorry, but I ain't a fast crafter so need to get my a*se in gear act together if I'm not to be caught out running late on card making for Christmas - The Crafty Elf frightened me into action, along with a few other bloggy friends:) So, now I have a constant reminder leering at me from my little shelf unit.

Onto the desk - ahem, pretty clear for me to the right hand side. Ha, let's just hope I get all the junk removed from our bed before this evening!
Still got the little red/pink glitter tray there as I'm making sparkled snowflakes and poinsettias whenever the mood takes me so I have a little stock of them to hand. And what's a fork doing there - have I been scoffing whilst crafting? Nope - making bows and the following pictures should explain - firstly using the bow maker so you can see the stages more easily:
Cut a length of your chosen ribbon, thinking about it you could probably keep the left hand end on your roll or full length of ribbon. Take the right hand end over the left hand end.
Tuck what is now the left hand end of ribbon underneath the back of the ribbon and bring it to the front over the top and tie a single knot. Result!
 
The front part of the bow is now facing away from you, just slip it off the pins of the bow maker. So far, so good. In truth, a bow maker is a bit of a luxury and some would say why spend money on one when you can tie perfectly good bows yourself. Well, this way does give you a lovely bow every time, it's quick and easy, the 'tails' hang down perfectly and I refuse to feel guilty about having a few tools to make life easier or the results a bit better.
But, teensy little bows can be a nightmare to make no matter how skilled you are. I need some for a card or three I have in mind and I suddenly remembered this little tip that I'd used in the past - I originally saw it on a craft show on the 'Tee Vee' and it's great if you're not very dexterous (hee, hee, got the big word for today in there!). So, get your narrow ribbon and raid the cutlery drawer for a fork!
Follow the same process as when using the bow maker and cross the right hand bit of the ribbon over the left hand bit
Tuck the 'now left hand bit' of ribbon between the prongs of the fork and bring it through the prongs, over the looped part to the front. Sheesh, I look as if I've got hairy backs on my fingers here. I promise it's just wrinkles in the skin - I've been and checked under a magnifying glass!!!
Tie a single knot, the same as you did on the bow maker bow
 
And here are the results :)) Have fun - it's almost addictive! 

I'm off now for my weekly hop around your desks. If I'm not there straight away it's just because I do spread it over a couple of days. To join me, go to Julia's here, she looks about to be buried under a pile of scrap stock!!

Happy WOYWW.
Di
x

25 comments:

  1. Oh a quick comment before I go off and raid the cutlery drawer! Dexterity problems are my downfall with ribbons!! Happy WOYWW!

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  2. Wow, that bow maker is fantastic. I'm really cack-handed when it comes to fiddly stuff like that - wonder if my DH could make me one?? A clever and useful tip, thanks for sharing :D
    Hugs, LLJ xxx

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  3. Hi Di

    I have the bow maker and love it!!

    I also have forks but have never thought of using them for the little dinky bows .. .. thanks very much for that.

    I can see lots of crafty bods scurrying to their cutlery drawers.

    Thanks for the inspiration.

    Love Jules xx

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  4. I have a slightly different bowmaker to you but the same principle but never thought of using forks! You know they say you learn something new every day!!
    I see you have some HM stamps there - I now have a few too thanks to our friend Sandra!! Oops!!

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  5. Hi Di, Wow great tutorial with the bow l was wondering what the fork was for until l got to the bottom of your tutorial and its amazing how a simple everyday tool can produce a lovely little bow that that its just great to get tips from other bloggers thank you l shall be using this technique and its cheaper............lol:) Sandra H

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  6. Had never thought about making a nice perfect bow that way. Thanks for the tips!

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  7. Thanks for the bow making tips - why have I never thought of the fork method before - it looks so simple! Off to knit a tiny cardi for little Lexi now. x Jo

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  8. Oh bl**dy hell . . . you know I'm going to rush over to the cutlery drawer and TRY this (and probably make a total hash of it) don't you?

    Happy WOYWW

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  9. Mmmmm, love that bowmaker! My bows are rubbish, so I think this is a must have, Jo x

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  10. The boys are raiding the cutlery drawer and my ribbon stash as we speak!!! I remember trying this once before when I needed some smaller bows. Works a treat. Hugs Mrs A.

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  11. Another good chuckle Di...Fa la la la la....la la la la! Look at you getting all Christmas on us! Good for you girl and what a fantastic tutorial for bows!!!! You might want to share where you got that bow maker maflickything (my big word). The fork is great but I know someone that would love that bow maker and it would make for a great Christmas present! Just asking!

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  12. I gave up on bows LOL nice work and space !

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  13. I can feel smug this year as I have a box of Christmas cards already made from last year due to a cancelled Christmas Fayre!!!!
    Thanks so much for the bow demo. My Mum gave me an unloved bow maker and it's sat in the cupboard as there were no instructions with it!!!! Now I can have a play. Love the fork idea too!!! You are clever.
    Happy WOYWW
    Hugs Lisax

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  14. I love my bow easy...I end up stabbing myself when I use a fork..lol

    Thanks for sharing, have a great WOYWW!

    xoxo Marjo #36

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  15. Great trick with the fork for the little bows... love them.

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  16. OK - the bow maker my little Elfin Friend and others, has been in my possession for eons, so I can't recall where I bought it - despite my file full of 'crafty stuff' receipts which, if found, make me a dead woman!

    But, I know it's made by Joycrafts (who are either Dutch or German) and can be bought from The Craft Barn in the UK and from other outlets (Emerald Crafts) even cheaper (about £4.00) if you shop around and watch the postage costs.

    I can't find any stockists over the 'Pond' but am sure that if you Google 'Joycrafts bow maker' something will pop up :)) Di xx

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  17. I really can't do bow, this is a great tutorial. Thanks Di.

    Kath x

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  18. Hi Di!

    Sorry I haven't been around for a while - life took over but hopefully I am back on track now! I agree with you about bloggers new way of displaying piccies DON'T LIKE IT ! You can't get the lovely detail you need when snooping ha, ha! Where did you buy the bow maker - I want one but I find your fork tutorial very useful too! Loved your post today!
    Lots of hugs,
    Cardarian

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  19. I see Penny Black and House Mouse have made it to the shelf! You've got ones I don't have and I've got plenty believe me!! One of these days I'll get organised and send you some images, won't be soon though. Great tip for small bows, I'll have to remember that!

    Hugs
    Brenda 88

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  20. Now just look at you and all the cute ideas your sharing today...
    A bow on a fork...now who would have though to do that????

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  21. Thanks for the tutorial. I have to give this a try! Those bows are really pretty. And your stamps are really cute. I am sure your Christmas cards will turn out beautifully. Hugs!

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  22. Crafty elf also did that to me ...lol But still not in christmas mode ,even though the shops are.Have creative week
    hugs judex

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  23. Hoe cute is that itty bitty bow? Have to try that at once, so I am sorry, I have to go.
    Happy belated WOYWW

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  24. What a brilliant idea to use a fork for those tiny bows. All you need now is the very tiny ribbon to do them with.

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  25. wow what brilliantly clever step by step instructions there Di and love the storage layout on display, love it, thanks for sharing and happy WOYWW! Shaz in Oz.x

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