How to Video - the best way to upcycle ribbon scraps

Did you know that ribbon is not recyclable? Well, Sandy Sandler, the creator of the Bowdabra shows you the best way to upcycle ribbon scraps and make something entirely new! We all keep those small pieces of ribbon so why not upcycle those ribbon scraps into a beautiful showpiece you can use in a myriad of ways?

Materials:

Various ribbon scraps
Bowdabra bow maker
Bowdabra bow wire
Flower pick

Upcycle ribbon scraps

First, take a piece of Bowdabra bow wire, fold it in half and lay it into the Bowdabra. Tuck the ends underneath to stay out of the way.

Next, I’m going to take my scrap piece of mesh and scrunch this in here. I come back around so I have a loop, then take the center and scrunch it in.

Then, what I’m going to do is I have already dovetailed all of these scrap pieces. I’m going to fold them in half to find the center and lay them in here. (To dovetail, I fold it in half and cut towards the fold)

Actually, it doesn’t matter if they are uneven. It’s such a great use for all the scrap ribbon you have laying around and don’t know what to do with. We all, however, save our ribbon scraps.

Next, I have this really pretty peacock feather ribbon and I’m going to push this in here. I fold it over and push that in there. Go to the center and scrunch everything down.

Keep adding ribbon scraps

Then, I’ve got this piece here and I’m going to twist it making loops back and forth. (I have to twist it so that the wrong side of the ribbon is on the inside of my loops.)

Finally, I have these really pretty flowers and I’m just going to put these in here to add to the top. Scrunch everything down. This is such a great way to use up your ribbon scraps. That is the cool thing about Bowdabra since it lets you be totally green and use up that ribbon. Ribbon is not recyclable so instead, you can upcycle!

Finishing

Insert the loose wires through the loop and pull tight while the bow is still in the Bowdabra. Remove from the Bowdabra and tie it off with a double knot. If you are going to tie it on to something keep your wire, but I’m going to clip it off here.

Shape it and adjust the bow. Isn’t this the best way to use ribbon scraps?