How to Make a Christmas Bow to Decorate Your Home and Tree

Learn how to make Christmas bow, as there’s nothing quite like the look of a home and Christmas tree that’s dripping with ribbons and festive bows. It can be especially lovely when several different complimentary colors and styles of ribbon are used. By adding bows to your other precious ornaments and decorations, you just might be surprised at how easy it is to generate a magazine worthy appearance for very little money. Here are 5 of our favorite projects that include step-by-step directions and photos.

Project 1 – How to Make a Christmas Bow That’s Double Layered

This can be made as big as you want and is the perfect accent to the tree or home décor.

What You Need

• 1 Roll of 21″ Mesh in Red;
• 1 Roll of 3″ Poly Mesh Ribbon in Red, Lime and Gold Stripes;
• Five 3″ Wire Balls in Lime Green;
• 1 Roll of 2″ Poly Mesh Ribbon that matches the 3″ Roll;
• 1 Roll of 2-1/2″ Red Lame’ Ribbon;
• 2mm Aluminum Craft Wire in Red or Metallic Tinsel Rope in Green;
• Wire Cutters;
• Scissors;
• Lighter;
• Hot Glue Gun.

Step-by-Step

To Make to Deco Mesh Bow

1. Take the end of the deco mesh by the center with one hand and gather into a bunch until you get the size bow you want. If you fold as you go you’ll get a fuller bow so keep going until you’re satisfied with the size. You’ll end up using about 6 or 7 feet of the roll.
2. Cut off the remaining mesh at the bottom.
3. Wrap the wire around the center and twist it at the back being sure to leave equal size tails of wire to use later.

To Make the 3″ Poly Mesh Ribbon Bow

1. Cut off 4 yards of poly mesh striped ribbon.
2. Make a 5″ loop 20″ from the end of the ribbon.
3. Twist the ribbon at the center and make another 5″ loop to form a figure 8.
4. Continue working in the figure 8 pattern stacking one on top of the other and pinching the center until a 20″ tail is left at the other end.
5. Wrap the wire around the entire middle to secure then twist the wire then trim the tail and flatten the wire on the back.
6. Place this bow on top of the first one and wind the wire from the back of the first bow over the front center of the 2nd bow twice then twist it off at the back.
7. Match the tails and cut at a slant.
8. Leave the wire tails at the back for the next step.

To Make the Lame’ Ribbon With Wire Balls

1. Cut the lame’ ribbon into 5 strips beginning with a piece as long as you desire and cutting the remaining pieces successively shorter.
2. Feed one end of a ribbon strand through the top of a wire ball and tie it off with a knot. Trim the end of the ribbon.
3. Do the remaining ribbons and balls the same way.
4. Wave the raw end of each ribbon below the knot through a flame to seal it.
5. Fold the other end of each ribbon over to create a small loop and glue it in place.
6. After it dries, feed the tail of one piece of wire through each glued loop staggering the lengths and push them toward the center.
7. Cut 2 lengths of 2″ poly mesh ribbon 6″ longer than twice the longest lame’ ribbon and ball.
8. Angle cut the ends, fold the ribbons in the center and pinch to mark them then lay them open centering them over the middle of the twisted wires.
9. Wrap the wires in opposite direction around this section and twist the wires again at the back then trim the wires near the twist and flatten.
10. Roll the ends of each of the 2″ ribbons around your finger to curl them then fluff the bows to achieve the desired look.

Project 2 – How to Make a Christmas Bow That Look Like Santa Boots

If you want to jazz up the look of your home with some Santa boots then these may be just the right touch on the tree or mixed in with your holiday home décor. Smaller sets can also be made to adorn packages and gift bags.

What You Need

• 2″ Red Stain Ribbon That’s 2-Sided;
• Sparkly White Cardstock;
• Black Cardstock;
• Sparkly Gold Cardstock;
• Scissors;
• Hot Glue With Glue Rods.

Step-by-Step

1. Make a template of the Santa boots with 2″ tops then copy onto black cardstock and cut them out making sure they’re cut opposite each other.
2. Cut 2 rectangles out of the white, glittery cardstock a little wider than 2″. Trim the corners so they are rounded.
3. Cut a small square out of the gold cardstock large enough to cover the knot of the bow as well as a smaller black square.
4. Make as many boot sets as you want to ensure you end up with enough sets to complete your desired look.
5. Make bows out of the ribbons by cutting lengths of ribbon about 2′ long.
6. Fold the right side over the center making a loop at the top and leaving a tail long enough for a leg. Do the same on the left.
7. Take the 2 loops and tie a knot by folding the right over the left, around to the back and up through the center.
8. Use the hot glue gun to attach the boots to the ribbon tails making sure they face in opposite directions.
9. Glue a white glittery rectangle on top of each boot.
10. Glue a gold square over the knot of the bow and a black square in the center.
11. Fluff the loops of the bows.
12. Make as many sets as desired to achieve the final look.

Project 3 – How to Make a Christmas Bow For a Tree Topper

Bows can be used for more than just wreaths and packages. Although this tree topper is shown in bronze, it can be made in any color and/or combination of colors. Just remember that whenever working with glittered materials, it’s very messy so plan for that. You’ll also duplicate whatever you do on the front onto the back.

What You Need

• Glittery Dried Floral Branches With Curly Ends;
• 4 Glittery Bunches of Grapes;
• 2 Fake Poinsettia Flowers;
• Stems With Glitter Balls;
• 3″ Wide 2-Sided Ribbon With Wire Edges (5 yards);
• Thin Gauge Floral Wire;
• Medium Gauge Floral Wire;
• Scissors;
• Wire Cutters;
• Hot Glue Gun and Rods.

Step-by-Step

To Create the Base

1. Use the thin gauge wire to fasten the curly stems and stems with balls together.
2. Attach the poinsettia to the front and back.
3. With the Ribbon make 4 bows as shown below.

To Make Bows

1. Roll the end of the ribbon into a small loop and hold it between your thumb and forefinger.
2. Twist the ribbon behind the loop so it’s turned completely over.
3. Fold the ribbon under the piece extending from the small loop to make a large loop and catch it under the small loop between your thumb and forefinger. Be sure and hold it tightly.
4. Twist it again and make a loop on the other side.
5. Continue the pattern until you’ve used all the ribbon.
6. Run thin gauge wire through the center of all loops and twist it at the back making it secure.
7. Cut a length of ribbon for the tails and attach it with the remaining wire at the center so the tails hang evenly on both sides.
8. Hold the tails together and trim them off at an angle so they’re the same length.
9. Make 3 more bows.

To Put it Together

1. Trim the stems of the base so they are no longer than 10″ top to bottom.
2. Use the wire remaining at the back of the bows to secure them to the base by twisting the wires around the base several times and twisting them together at the back(2 bows on the front and 2 on the back).
3. Trim all the wires close to where they are twisted and press them flat.
4. Use the glue gun to secure the grapes into the arrangement on the front and back.
5. Using the heavy gauge wire to attach the topper to the top several branches of the tree rather than to just the top branch. Be sure to wrap the wire around several times going up the branches in order to balance the load.
6. Adjust the streamers down the sides of the tree bending them slightly so they’re wavy.

Project 4 – How to Make a Christmas Bow for a Chair

For an elegant, formal style during your next holiday dinner, feature a bow and embellishments on all your chairs.

What You Need

• 1 Roll of White Tulle;
• 2 Rolls of 2-1/2″ White Glittery Wire Rimmed Ribbon;
• 2 Rolls of 2″ Gold Glittery Wire Rimmed Ribbon.

For Each Chair

• 2 Pine Cones;
• 3 Pieces of Silver Fruit;
• Glittery Greenery;
• White Floral Stems with Beads;
• Floral Wire;
• Hot Glue Gun and Rods;
• Chair Flower Holder Clips.

Step-by-Step

1. Glue the gold ribbon down the center of the white ribbon a little at a time.
2. Leaving a tail, make loops to the right and left being sure to keep the gold on top by twisting the ribbons at the back.
3. Make 3 sets of loops (3 loops on each side) and leaving a tail at the other end.
4. Cinch the middle and wind the wire around the center to secure the loops in place then twist it at the back.
5. Take the ribbon tails and tie a knot on the front then tuck the tails to the back.
6. Place the greenery in a star pattern and fasten them b the stems with the floral wire.
7. Attach the beaded stems, fruit and pine cones on top with wire.
8. Attach the arrangement to the bottom of the bow.
9. Tie the tulle around the top of the chair fanning out the sides and tie a knot. Trim it off so the tails are of equal lengths and fan out the tails.
10. Hook the floral chair clip over the top of the chair and wire the bow arrangement to the clip hook. If you have bars or a weaved rattan pattern on the chair you can wire the bow directly to the chair back then trim the wire tails close to the twist and press flat.

NOTE: Be sure that the wire is secured on the back of the chair and not the front as the ends of the wire could tear clothing.

Project 5 – How to Make a Christmas Bow That’s Also a Swag

Bows can be used for more than just wreaths and packages. This is the perfect bow and bough swag for stairway, door or wall.

What You Need

• 3 Rolls of 3″ Wire Edged Ribbon in any Colors and/or Patterns to Match Your Theme (For example, 2 solid colors and one patterned with the solid colors included in the pattern);
• 1 Fir or Pine Bough;
• 3 Gold Bells;
• 2 Tassels;
• Thin Gauge Wire;
• Heavy Gauge Wire;
• Floral Snipers;
• Wire Cutters;
• Scissors.

Step-by-Step

To Make the Bow

1. Cut your main ribbon into 12″-18″ lengths.
2. Fold the ribbon about 1/3 the way down to the center to create a loop and pinch the center.
3. Use the wire to secure the loop twisting it in the back while leaving the tails of wire at the back longer.
4. Do the same with all pieces.
5. Wire all the pieces together to form the bow after fluffing. The more loops you add and the more varied the sizes, the bigger the bow.
6. Do the same with the other 2 ribbons beginning with 18″-20″ lengths.
7. Stack the three bows with the primary bow on top and wire them together.

To Assemble

1. Lay the fir or pine bough on a table face up.
2. Place the bow at the top and wire it in place.
3. Wire the tassels just below the bow.
4. Stagger the bells and wire them to the swag.
5. When attaching to the wall, door or banister, use the heavy gauge wire.

Summing Up

Decorating for the holidays can be stressful, but the goal here is to inspire you with some easy bows that can change the look of any space or arrangement quickly, easily and inexpensively. Not only will they be beautiful but fun activities the entire family can participate in as well. Additionally, learning how to make a Christmas bow to decorate your home or tree can open up new possibilities you hadn’t thought of before.

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