Bowdabra blog announces a new design team

Visit Bowdabra blog to meet the members of the all new design team.  In the coming month's you will see creative tutorials for all sorts of crafts these ladies make with the Bowdabra bow maker! Step by step instructions and videos will make you an expert with the Bowdabra too.  You can find Bowdabra bow makers at all the local craft stores and Walmart.  

Steph Ackerman

Steph Ackerman has been creating for as long as she can remember.  She creates a variety of projects from cards to canvases to mixed media projects and more.  Steph does not start out with a plan in mind as she loves to experiment and see what happens.  She feels her day is not complete if she hasn't spent some time creating.  Steph has a dedicated craft area where she creates as well as teaches a wide assortment of classes.  

Steph is a CHA Designer Member and has been published in numerous magazines.   

Steph's blog:  http://stephaniescraps.blogspot.com/

Gail Griffin 

Hi! I’m Gail, a blogger at Purple Hues and Me! I enjoy crafting/diy, sewing, upholstery, reading, travel and sometimes cooking. I also love the color purple – can’t you tell? I’m married to a wonderful man I first met at vacation bible school when we were teens.  We have one son, the writer, and live in an active adult community where I have “Let’s Get Crafty” sessions in the community clubhouse. My background is in marketing, property management, and retail management. My talented Mother-in-Law introduced me to crafts. We had a small craft business where she would create craft items and I would find places to sell them. You'll find most of my creations are easy to follow tutorials on how to create unique, eye catching crafts that are simple to make, inexpensive and require no special skills.

Chris Gibson

I had to stop crafting for a minute and am back up and running!! I have been crafting for over 20 years, that fact makes me feel really old!! I do a lot of mixed media, home decor, and tons of cards too. I have made almost everything I have hanging in my home right now...I'm pretty proud of that. I'm a stay at home Mom/crafter. Have 2 boys, 10 & 8, a husband, roommate, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 5,000 guppies, and as of today 2 sugar gliders for the summer. I'm also attending college online right now. I'm getting my BA in psychology. I honestly spend most of my day in my studio because that is after all where I'm happiest!!

Blog: http://stinkydogdesigns.blogspot.com/?zx=e5f3d7c24a0626a6

Tammy Santana

Hello, my name is Tammy Santana and I am so excited to be a part of the Bowdabra Creative Team. My background is in interior design and product development. I have always been creative, love to work in many different areas of design, and enjoy working with different mediums and tools. I am constantly challenging myself to try new things and reach outside my comfort zone. I live in beautiful Southern California with my husband of 17 years and our creative 10 yr old daughter.

Crystal Donnelly

Art, crafts and writing have always been my passions. Throughout the 90’s I designed and wrote craft projects for national craft publications such as “Crafts and Things”, “Pack O Fun,” and many more. I've had several of my creations featured on several Aleene’s Creative Living television shows and hardback craft books by the House of white birches. My blog, Make it easy crafts is based on my theory that life is busy so you just have to make it easy!

In conclusion, we hope you enjoyed meeting the designers of the all new Bowdabra design team and will return to see their creative projects in the coming months!

Easy recycled frame photo holder

Do you have an old frame without glass lying around and don’t know what to do with it?  You can make a cute recycled frame photo holder.  You attach the photos with mini clothespins so you can change them whenever you like.  I had a smaller frame but you can use a frame of any size. 

Make your frame extra special by personalizing with paint, letters, etc.  It’s not just for photos either.  You can use this frame to hold notes, grocery lists and more.

Materials:

•  
• Frame without glass
• Jute twine
• Staple gun with staples
• Mini clothespins
• Scissors
• Ruler

Instructions:

1.     Turn your frame to the back and measure from side to side.  Cut a piece of jute twine to fit across the frame with a little extra.

2.     Tie the ends of the jute into a knot.  Use the staple gun to attach the jute to each side.  Place the staple right before the knot.

3.     Continue to place jute across the frame as many as you can fit according to the frame size you are using.  Make sure there is about 6 inches vertically between the jute cords.  My frame was 11 x 12 so only two jute hangers would fit.  Add the mini clothespins to the jute cords and use them to attach photos, notes and more.  Hang on the wall as you would any frame.

4.     Attach the mini clothespins to the jute and add photos or notes as desired.

Make a korker fireworks dog bow tutorial

This little korker fireworks dog bow makes me think of the colorful fireworks that they set off every year in the park.  I made mine in red, white, and blue but it would look cute in any color.  You can easily make korker ribbons out of scrap ribbon you have hanging around so it costs practically nothing!  And it is so easy and fun to dress your furry friend up for the holiday. 

This bow uses an elastic loop to slide onto your pup’s collar so you can make more than one and change them around.  This July 4^th your pet will be dressed to the nines with his fireworks dog bow. 

Materials:

3/8” or ¼” wide grosgrain ribbon in your choice of colors

Mini Bowdabra bow maker with hair bow tool and ruler attachment

Bowdabra bow wire

Dowels

Wooden clothespins

Home oven and cookie sheet lines with foil

3/8” wide elastic 3” long for small collar but you can adjust size for other sizes

Stiffened felt circle ½’ diameter

Stiffened felt rectangle ¾” x 1”

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Small sparkle pompom

Instructions:

1.     Make the korker ribbon.  Wind the ribbon around a dowel and hold at the ends with wooden clothespins. (You can alternately tie the ribbon at the ends)  Place on a cookie sheet lined with foil.  Heat in the oven at 275 degrees for 20 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes before removing.

2.     Gather all your supplies.

3.     Cut a piece of Bowdabra bow wire 18 inches long.  Fold in half and insert into the bow maker.  You will have a loop on one side and two loose wires on the other.

4.     Cut the korker ribbon pieces 5 inches long.  Cut 6 ribbon pieces.  I cut two each of red, white, and blue.

5.     Insert the korker pieces into the bow maker one at a time alternating colors.  Make sure there is the same amount of ribbon on each side.

6.     After you have added all the colors, scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

7.     Insert the two loose wires through the loop and pull tight to make a slipknot while the bow is still in the bow maker.

8.     Remove from the Bowdabra and tie a knot in the back.

9.     Cut a ½” diameter circle from stiffened felt and use the hot glue gun to attach to the back of the bow.  Cut a 3/8” x 3” long piece of elastic and hot glue it to the back of the bow in a loop for sliding on the collar.

10. Add a small sparkle pompom to the center of the bow.  Slide on to your pet’s collar.

You can find Bowdabra hair bow tools at your local craft store, online, and at Walmart.  Visit Bowdabra blog for more free craft tutorials, recipes and more!

Duct tape tissue holder DIY

It’s allergy season and who doesn’t carry some extra tissues with them?  Follow this tutorial and you can easily make a duct tape tissue holder to carry those tissues. This tissue holder is so simple to fold using easy origami folds and duct tape.

Duct tape comes in a myriad of colors and patterns do you can find one to fit your very own style.  You will want to make one in several colors and patterns!  

Materials:

Duct tape in your choice of colors

Sheet of printer paper

Pocket pack tissues

Plastic cutting mat

Xacto or craft knife

Scissors

Ruler

Instructions:

1.     Cut a piece of printer paper 7 ½” x 7 ½”.

2.     It’s easy to work on a cutting mat where you can measure and cut the duct tape.  You can use scissors to cut the tape, but it is easier to cut the duct tape with a ruler and craft knife directly on the mat. Cut several strips of duct tape 8 inches long.  Begin to cover the paper square.  Continue to add strips of duct tape to the square until you completely cover the side. Turn it over and cover the opposite side.  Trim up any excess duct tape.

3.     Fold the duct tape covered square diagonally.  Run your finger over the crease.

4.     Open the square and fold the left edge over about halfway.

5.     Fold the point back to the left lining up the seam with the center fold line.

6.     Fold the right side back over the first point and crease.

7.     Fold the point over to the right and line up the crease with the center line like you did on the other side.  Turn over.

8.     Fold the two overlapping points on each side to the back.

9.     Fold the top and bottom points to the back as well and crease.

Back side

10. I like to put a tiny piece of duct tape to hold the points on the back until the final piece of duct tape is applied.  (I’ve used a different color so you can see)

11. Cut two pieces of 4 ½” long duct tape and attach to the back to finish and secure the tissue holder.  Turn over for the pocket area.

12. You can fill the tissue holder with tissues.  If you use a pocket tissue pack I usually discard the package they come in and put about half of the tissues in the holder at a time.