Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow Tutorial

Creating a reverse stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow can be beneficial for card-making and scrapbooking.  Card-making often requires small detailed bows without too much bulk.   Bowdabra Bow Wire is a malleable wire that holds the bow tightly while still allowing you to re-adjust the loops.  However, to cover the Bowdabra Bow Wire it requires 1/4″ or 3/8″ ribbon and when it is glued over the wire it adds extra bulk.

Maggie, our Bowdabra Designer specializing in cardmaking finds that in some circumstances using 1/8″ ribbon instead of Bowdabra Bow Wire works great.  However, when using 1/8″ ribbon the easiest way to make the bow is to stack it in reverse.  Normally when a Mini Bowdabra Bow is made the bow is assembled from the bottom of the bow, to top of the bow.    The Bowdabra Bow Wire then is pulled tightly and tied in the back of the bow.

However, to make a Mini Bowdabra with 1/8″ ribbon you create it in reverse.

Materials Needed:

• Mini Bowdabra
• Hair Bow Tool & Ruler
• 1/8″ grosgrain ribbon
• Coordinating Ribbon

Instructions:

1. Place the Hair Bow Tool & Ruler onto the Mini Bowdabra.  Cut 10″ of 1/8″ of ribbon and place it into the Mini Bowdabra.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

2. Cut ribbon for the top of the bow.  This will be your first layer of the bow.  To make this bow cut 10.5″ of sheer 5/8″ ribbon.  Fold the ribbon in half and place it into the Mini Bowdabra.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

3. Fold the ribbon to create two 1″ loops.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

4. Fold the ribbon down to create two more 1″ loops.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

5. Next, place the next layer of ribbon.  This will be the bottom of your bow.  For this bow cut 14″ of 5/8″ satin ribbon.  Fold the ribbon in half and place it into the Mini Bowdabra.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

6. Fold the ribbon to create 1.25 loops on either side.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

7. Fold the ribbon to create two more 1.25″ loops.  You are now looking at the bottom of your bow.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

8. Scrunch down with your Mini Bowdabra Wand.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

9. Take the 1/8″ ribbon and tie it tightly while the bow is still in the Mini Bowdabra.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

10. Pull the bow out and up of the Mini Bowdabra.  Adjust the loops carefully and knot the 1/8″ ribbon in the back of the bow.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

11. Fluff the bow and trim away excess 1/8″ ribbon.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

Optional: Create a reverse Mini Bowdabra bow with small little flowers.

1. Place small little flowers first into the Mini Bowdabra.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

2. Create a bow using the Mini Bowdabra.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

3. Tie the ribbon and use the 1/8″ ribbon as tails.  The bow is complete and perfect for card-making.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bows are wonderful for card-making.

Reverse Stacked Mini Bowdabra Bow

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Tags: Cardmaking, Hair Bow Tool & Ruler, Mini Bowdabra, satin ribbon, sheer ribbon