The easy way I make a bow with ribbon these days involves an ‘extra hand’ you might say.

When I first learned to make bows in a flower arranging class back in the early 1980s, we did it the hard way. Many of you know what I am talking about, pinching bunches of ribbon in one hand while you keep looping it around with the other hand. If you wanted a really big bow, you got a really big cramp in your hand!

Fast forward a few years, and I discovered this fun bow-making tool called The Bowdabra! I gifted one to myself, and the rest is history, as they say.

I used two different pink ribbons with my Bowdabra to make the frilly pink bow above.

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Bowdabra

The Bowdabra is a third hand for making bows, you might say. Invented right here in the USA and sold online and in stores. Watch my Bowdabra bow-making tutorial near the end of this article.

Bows on gifts

Use your Bowdabra to create pretty bows to gussy up the gifts under your Christmas tree. I like to match the gift wrapping to the colors of my tree if possible.

Match the ribbon to the gift wrap. Use solid colors of ribbon for wrapping paper with elaborate patterns. Polka dot paper can be matched with solids, stripes, and more polka dot ribbons.

Don’t be afraid to layer ribbons and bows in matching patterns and colors. The layered look makes a beautiful gift.

Christmas Tree Bows

When we moved into our current home, we knew our little 6-foot Christmas tree wouldn’t work in a living room with twelve-foot ceilings. So, we invested in a much taller tree, nine and a half feet. I had never decorated a tree that large and didn’t have enough ornaments to cover it. Bows to the rescue. Thankfully, my Bowdabra made the job easier.

This Christmas tree is decorated with ribbon, not bows, but I made a Bow Topper for it using my Bowdabra and three different ribbons.

I get most of my tree decorating ideas from the Christmas store we enjoy visiting while on vacation. We fell in love with the little red wagon parked by the fireplace, delivering Christmas trees. The bow on the handle of the wagon matches the plaid bows on the tree for this year.

If there has ever been a product I truly love and would recommend, it is the Bowdabra. That is why I joined the Bowdabra Design Team! I get to share crafty ideas for using the bows we make on the Bowdabra Blog! Check it out y’all.

Scrappy Bow Making

I first saw the scrappy bows at one of the Christmas stores we visited on vacation. I was smitten because I thought they were unique and different.

I used my Bowdabra to make this Farmhouse-style Patriotic centerpiece. It is made up of a whole lot of scrappy bows, which I am currently crushing on. See how I made this fun Red, White, and Blue centerpiece in the complete video tutorial.

My Elf Theme Christmas tree has scrappy bows scattered about the ends of branches. These bows match the gift wrapping and bows on the gifts. Am I too ‘matchy-matchy’?

I use my Bowdabra more during the holiday season than the rest of the year. However, as with the baby shower gift shown above, I make all gifts pretty with bows using my Bowdabra all through the year.

Also see: My Gift Wrapping Tips For A Professional Look

Do you have a crafty friend who needs a gift from you? Give them a Bowdabra!

Thank you for sharing!