Have you ever wondered what to do with all those ribbon scraps you’ve accumulated from making bows? Have I got a pretty solution! Here’s how to make an elegant feather from ribbon using simple ribbon scraps! And you won’t believe how pretty and luxurious they look and feel! Perfect to add as an accent on a bow in wrapping presents!
Here’s how to make ribbon feathers:
Materials:
- Ribbon – 1.5 width
- Double-sided tape
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Large safety pin/seam ripper/small brush
- Cutting board surface
- Floral stem wire (16-18 gauge)
- Bowdabra and wand
- Bowdabra bow wire
- Asst. ribbon – 2.5″, 1.5″
Instructions:
Let’s begin by cutting about 20 – 5″ ribbon strips to make one feather. Next, add double-sided tape to one of the short end edges. Do this for all the ribbon strips. Then cut the side edges, sometimes called the welting, off of the ribbon strips.
Now it time to start removing the fray threads from the end of the ribbon!
Use the tip of a large safety pin to scrape the fraying threads off to reveal soft silk-like fibers. I like using a small cutting board as a work surface to scrape the ribbon. It’s nice and sturdy and seems to make it all work better.
Use a small brush to help remove the gathered loose threads that bunch up from scraping the ribbon . . .
creating a nice smooth silky fringed piece.
Add the ribbon fringe to stem wire to create the feather
first, remove the backing from the double-sided tape and place the tip of the wire on the edge of the tape and begin rolling the ribbon fringe around the wire stem . . .
until the ribbon fringe is secured around and onto the wire stem. Isn’t this beginning to look fabulous!
Now, continue adding the ribbon fringes to the stem wire, staggering the tape slightly below the previous ribbon fringe. Adding each fringe on – one by one until you have a beautiful-looking ribbon feather! Have fun making as many feathers as you like!
How cool does this look! Can you believe this is actually a feather from ribbon?
Make a bow
For a decorative look on a wrapped present, let’s make a bow using the Bowdabra. Fold a 36″ piece of Bowdabra wire in half and lay in the Bowdabra, tucking ends under. Pinch the end of the 2.5″ wide ribbon and insert down into the Bowdabra.
Fold over a five-inch loop and press into the Bowdabra.
Then, fold the ribbon on the opposite side, making a five-inch loop, inserting down. Make two more 5″ loops for a total of four loops on each side. Use the Bowdabra wand to scrunch down the ribbon.
Continue making more five-inch loops for a different 1.5″ ribbon design.
For a total of four loops on each side. Then scrunch down the ribbon loops using the Bowdabra wand.
While the bow is still in the Bowdabra, tie off by threading the two loose ends of the bow wire through the loop at the other end. Pull the bow wire tightly before removing the bow from the Bowdabra, then take the bow wire ends around to the back of the bow, tying in a knot to secure tightly. Then fluff bow!
To decorate a wrapped present
Tie the ribbon around four sides of the box and tie it together in the center. Dovetail the ends by folding the end ribbon together and cut at the fold on a 45-degree angle down to the ribbon edge.
Place the ribbon feather across top and place bow on top tying around ribbon using the bow wire for a fabulous decorative look!
