This year the focal point of our Thanksgiving table centerpiece will be a thankful jar beautifully decorated with a fall inspired bow. As guests and family members gather, each person is asked to write their name and one thing they are thankful for on a slip of paper. The paper is folded and dropped into the thankful jar. At the end of the meal everyone draws a slip from the jar, and shares who wrote it and what they are thankful for. The thankful jar can become one of your Thanksgiving traditions.
Supplies for the Thankful Jar Bow
- 4½’ length 1½” polyester twill patterned ribbon
- 4 yds. natural raffia ribbon
- 4′ length olive ¾” grosgrain ribbon
- 6′ length light green 1/8″ satin ribbon
- Two 8″ length of burnished gold ½” satin ribbon
- 18″ length brown ½” grosgrain ribbon
- 24″ length Bowdabra bow wire
- Bowdabra Bow Making Tool
Instruction for Making the Thankful Jar Bow
- Cut ribbons into appropriate lengths, and quickly pass the ribbon ends through a flame to seal the ends. Cut dovetail ends on the patterned ribbon by folding the ribbon in half lengthwise and cutting away the tip at an angle.
- Fold the Bowdabra bow wire in half and place in the Bowdabra. You can tuck the ends under the Bowdabra so they are out of the way.
- Leave a 6″ tail and place the patterned ribbon in the Bowdabra.
- Make a fold-and-twist bow with the patterned ribbon, ending with another 6″ tail.
- Make layers of bows with the remaining ribbons, beginning and ending with a 4″ to 6″ tail, in the following order: raffia, ¾” grosgrain, 1/8″ satin. Lastly, lay the two 8″ lengths of satin ribbon in the Bowdabra forming tails without bow loops.
- Compress the ribbons in the Bowdabra with the Bowdabra wand.
- With the ribbons still in the Bowdabra, pass the ends of the bow wire through the loop, and tighten.
- Tie a secure knot on the reverse side of the bow. Leave the wire end long to attach the bow to the jar.
- Fluff the bow. Attach the bow to your thankful jar (I used a glass vase). Tie the 18″ length of ½” grosgrain ribbon around the top of the vase to cover bow wire.
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