May 08 2009
Bow-Easy Tutorial
This is a Bow Easy Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial. I realize the instructions prepared by the manufacturer that come with the Bow Easy are not the easiest to follow, and I prepared this tutorial to assist my customers in learning to use the Bow Easy. This tutorial is available in larger print form to be emailed to you upon receipt of payment of your Bow Easy. Just request it by asking — email me at ssj@up.net.
As an added bonus, you may view a Video Tutorial by Jerri Kay on using the Bow Easy as well.
You may learn more about the Bow Easy by reading this post.
Thanks so much for purchasing your Bow Easy from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. If you’d like to place an order or have any questions, my email is ssj@up.net.
I hope my creations contained throughout this Blog will help to inspire you! You may click here to see some more Bow Easy creations.
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BOW-EASY TUTORIAL
Written by Sharon Johnson, Stamp Simply
http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
This photo tutorial is meant to serve as a supplement to the instructions that come with your Bow-Easy. I think often it is easier to follow photos than drawings. Please refer to the drawings that came with your Bow-Easy to see the 7 different leg configurations of the Bow-Easy, allowing you to make 7 different sized bows.
Photo 1: Hold the Bow-Easy in your left hand as shown. (These are written for a right handed person.)
Photo 2: Cut about a 12” length of ribbon for practice. I’m using a ribbon that is 3/8” wide. It’s best to use a medium width ribbon for practice — not too narrow, not too wide. Though once you learn, you can use any size ribbon. I am also using a striped ribbon as I think that may help you to follow the placement and path of the ribbon better. Place the ribbon across the legs as shown. The short ribbon tail is to the left of my left thumb. The remaining length of ribbon is off to the right.
Photo 3: With the length of ribbon that is in your right hand, wrap it around the legs from behind, come up and across as shown.
Photo 4: Now take the end of the ribbon tail and run it through the opening between the legs. You are going above the ribbon first placed down, down into the *hole* and through to the bottom. It helps to do this if you cut your ribbon end at a sharp angle to form a point.
Photo 5: Once through the *hole*, you can pull it down from behind as shown. Don’t pull it super tight, allow a bit of slack to insert the ribbon end through as explained in the next step.
Photo 6: Taking your pointed end again in your right hand, draw it up and pass it under the loop created in Photo 5, as shown. (During this entire process your left thumb continues to hold the short, left ribbon tail in place.) This is probably the most critical step. If you don’t run it properly in this step, it just won’t work, so try again! No worries!
6A: I probably should have had another photo between Photos 6 and Photo 7, but my cameraman is gone and I can’t do this alone – sorry! To make the transition from Photo 6 above to Photo 7 below, just pull on the ribbon tail in your right hand to make it tighten up as you begin to form your knot.
Photo 7: Keeping your left hand on the same little tail it’s been on from the beginning, and keeping the tail you’ve been working with in your right hand, pull the ends up and tight as it forms the knot. You are pulling up and away from you. What you have just created and what you see in this photo is the back of the bow. And it is also upside down, so to speak. But adjusting those ribbon tails up, they will be hanging down when removed.
Photo 8: Turn the Bow-Easy over. This is what the right side of the bow looks like. Now merely slip it off the legs.
Photo 9: The completed bow. Tail ends were clipped after removing from the Bow-Easy.
There, now wasn’t that fun! Each one you do gets quicker and quicker. If you mess up your first time or two, no problem. Just start over. It won’t take long and you’ll be getting perfect bows!
To make a double-looped bow, refer back to Photo 3. Just continue to wrap the ribbon around one more time before proceeding to Photo 4. For a triple-looped bow, wrap it 3 times.
Again, you can use any width ribbon once you get the hang of it. The link I am providing below shows a card I did with a bird and blue bow. On this card I have a double bow using 1.25” silk ribbon. The ribbon is wide, but being so soft and lightweight, I can easily squish it onto the legs of the Bow-Easy. Once removed from the Bow-Easy, just fan out the 2 loops to your liking. Also shown on this link are numerous sizes and styles of bows from single looped to multi-looped prepared so kindly by Jenny Gropp. Thank you, Jenny! Here’s that link:
http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2009/05/05/bows-made-easy-with-bow-easy/
I hope this photo tutorial has been helpful.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH for purchasing the Bow Easy from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store! Much appreciated!!!