Any wrappers out there?
No, Eminem, you don’t count.
Unless you are at home with unwrapped Slim Shady pressies.
I am talking about last minute gift wrappers. I have to confess that I am a chronic last minute wrapper. But you kinda have to be one when you purchase the presents the day before Christmas, right? You can call me Special K. That’s my official rapper name. And yes, we all know it has multiple meanings.
The real topic here is not my ability to jam with Marshall Mathers…it’s fun and easy ways I prettified (that’s now a word) presents with bows and tags. Every year, when Christmas comes around, I use real ribbon to tie bows. I figure that I can reuse them each year (a little cost cutter in the long run) and this year I figured that I could do the same thing with the tags. So I got to work creating a couple little name tags for cheap.
Here’s one that was made using a scrap of fabric (I didn’t even bother to hem the edges) and a bit of grosgrain ribbon. Using a slip stitch, I just affixed my letter to the textural fabric for a tag that is simple and stylish.
Maybe you are a number-er. I had some friends that introduced this method to me. They would number the presents so that the small little gifts would be opened first and the bigger, better and badder presents would be kept for the end. It added a bit of climax to Christmas. And the receiver got more and more excited with each gift.
And this mini flowery version boasting the letter J was really easy and adds a little feminine touch to my boyfriend’s gift. Plus it was oh-so-cute next to the cheap twine & yarn ribbon wrapped around the box.
Speaking of easy ribbon, these big beautiful bows are so easy to make that I even taught my boy-toy how to do them.
And that’s when it struck me…maybe you would like to get a little how-to tutorial. Keep in mind that this video was taken at 2 in the morning…so I apologize before hand about my humoungous belly (it gets bigger throughout the day so it was at maximum capacity here) and my less than enthused attitude. It must have been my Special K attitude coming out 🙂
Bower Bows from Katie Bower on Vimeo.
Here are some additional tips if you plan on tackling your own Christmas presents with big bows –
- Use wire ribbon…otherwise it won’t floof.
- I used 3 ½ yards of ribbon – which is for maximum bows – using less ribbon will just make a few less ‘curls’
- Tuck the raw edges of the ends under the bow itself to hide any unsightly frays
- To remove the ribbon, just slide the whole thing off the end of the present instead of attempting to untie. Especially if you are like my family and take turns…the time to untie can literally kill the small children waiting their turn.
So there you have it – a little video of Bower Bows and a few ideas on how to make your tags a little more fun. Anyone else make their own tags? I can’t wait for next year when the tags will read our first child’s name. Oh alright. I confess. I really want them to read my name too…Special K 🙂
I’m a pretty wrapper too. I’ve never made these because they use up so much ribbon. I just need to suck it up though!! I’ll but ribbon on sale next week for next year.
You put a lot more effort into wrapping your presents. I just wrapped them up and slapped one of those stick on bows to them. Of course putting on a bow is a lot more than I’ve ever done before. Maybe next year I’ll try my hand at being a little more creative.
I can’t wait to watch your video at home later! I just got a bow-tying tutorial last night from one of my co-workers, so this might help reinforce the concept for me. Plus, you make it sound much easier!
I was reading a blog a few weeks ago and it said to take Christmas cards from years past – and if you don’t know what to do with them, cut out the figurines (like a tree, wisemen, etc.) and then you can use them as tags the next year. Cute, cheap and green!!
Great video…big bows have always intimidated me…but this makes me think that even I can’t mess it up! Your belly is adorable…and isn’t it weird how it grows throughout the day?? I am 19 weeks and usually by 8pm I look like I could deliver at any moment!
Anyway…Merry Christmas!
I’ve made my own tags the last 2 years and this year I decided to wrap all of my gifts in brown shipping paper and accent them with doilies. Here are some pictures:
http://loveleehomemaker.blogspot.com/2009/12/santas-workshop.html#comments
That was a cute video = )
Another tip for the monogram tag is to use the steam-a-seam iron on stuff if you`re lazy like me and don`t feel like sewing!
Most awesome Katie Bower!! Such an easy bow, I love it!! Thanks and Merry Christmas!
I’ve always wanted to know how to make a bow like that. Thanks!!
Great video and suggestions, Katie! Too bad I already wrapped my presents and am lazy, so I just slapped a premade bow on all the presents and called it a day. They don’t look nearly as pretty as yours, though, but there’s always next year (and anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s/Father’s Day, and so on). I’ll bookmark this!
Thank you so much for the bow lesson! All Southern women should be experts in big floofy bows. Somehow I grew up in Alabama and never acquired the skill. I am a complete belle now, though, thanks to you! 😉
p.s. The Bump = Soooo cute!!!
Great tutorial, thanks! I can’t believe how big your baby bump is now!
What a great video!! Your bows always look so great and now I can copy! Thanks for brightening my day 🙂
I love your bow tutorial; thanks for sharing that. I am definitely going to try it. AND stock up on ribbon at the after-Christmas sales!
what’s up NSYNC in your bow ribbon video! LOVE IT! Thanks for the tut!
I’ve watched a lot of you tube videos on how to make a bow. . . yours is so much easier! I have wreaths that I made new bows for. Yours are better. I am going to do this next year!
I LOVE that bow! Now I wish I hadn’t been and overachiever who wrapped their presents early 🙂 I guess there is always next year!
Merry Christmas!
Sarah
http://timelessstyleblog.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much for the video tutorial! I’m a visual learner so this was very helpful. I’ve always wanted to learn how to make these. The gifts that haven’t been wrapped yet are sure going to benefit!!
LOVE it! I use Christmas-y Scrapbook paper for tags, but I also think it’s cute when people take a picture from a Christmas card from years past and use it as a tag for the following year! By the way, you look SO GREAT and I love that belly! Thanks for the bow tutorial!
We have the SAME wrapping paper. Now I know I am COOL! I need to reuse my bows, I spend lots of $$$ on real ribbon EVERY year, never thought to just reuse them. 🙂 Oh, and only have of my gift have ribbon (partly because my 15 month old takes the ribbon off and partly because my 15 month old has some how hidden my two spools of ribbon from me.) Good luck with that next year. 🙂
Katie, you’re the best. I was checking up on my favorite blogs in the middle of — you guessed it — wrapping presents. I was at a loss with my wire ribbon and your video saved the day! Seriously, thank you for this video. I’m going bow crazy over here!
any idea why i can’t see your video or link or even the underlined, highlighted word that takes me there?
i’m stumped, since i’ve watched several of your vids on here before, no problemo.
?
thanks special k!
so glad this link is fixed. i love your bows, and how simple they are to make!
This is so amazing, thank you SO MUCH for posting this (and linking it in your well organised Project Archives).
My Christmas wrap just gained 90% wow factor 🙂
Just saw your link on Pinterest. You made a very informative little video. I never have made bows like this, but I will from now on. Thank you for sharing.