How to Make a Peacock Feather Barrette

The rich hues of peacock feathers compliment all hair colors.

The visual appeal and rich jewel tones of peacock feathers are perpetually in style, making the feathers a fitting embellishment on hair accessories like barrettes. As a result, peacock-themed barrettes are easy to find in the marketplace. However, even the smallest barrettes come with a hefty price tag in a boutique. Rather than letting affordability hinder your look, craft your own barrettes so that you can display your style in a way that would make any peacock proud.

Things You'll Need

• Metal alligator clip barrette
• Grosgrain ribbon, 1/2-inch-wide
• Scissors
• Seam sealant
• Hot glue
• 2 small peacock craft feathers

Instructions

1. Measure the length of your alligator hair barrette. Double the measurement and add 1 inch to determine your sum measurement.

2. Cut a piece of 1/2-inch-wide grosgrain ribbon to match the length of your sum measurement. For example, if your barrette is 3 inches long, cut a piece of ribbon that is 7 inches long.

3. Dab seam sealant on the cut edges of the ribbon to prevent fraying. Allow the sealant to dry for 10 minutes.

4. Apply a thin, 1-inch line of hot glue down the center of the ribbon, starting at one end of the material.

5. Pinch the alligator clip to open it. Press the glued end of the ribbon on the underside of the barrette's top half, immediately next to the hinge. This side is on the interior of the clip.

6. Apply a narrow line of hot glue down the center of half the remaining, unglued ribbon. Press the ribbon along the bottom of the top barrette piece. Release the end of the clip to close it.

7. Pull the ribbon over the unhinged end of the top piece. Press the remaining glued ribbon to the top of the barrette.

8. Apply a line of hot glue to the section of the barrette's top that remains exposed. Press the ribbon into the glue to finish covering the top half of the clip.

9. Apply a 1-inch line of hot glue to the underside of the barrette, starting at the hinged end. Wrap the ribbon over the wide, hinged end of the clip. Press it into the glue on the underside of the barrette to secure the remaining loose ribbon.

10. Trim the quills of two small peacock feathers below the eye of the feather. Cut the quills with large craft scissors. Trim one feather, including the eye, to the length of the barrette. Trim the second feather to half that length.

11. Apply a narrow line of hot glue to the underside of the long feather, along the quill.

12. Press the feather to the top of the clip. Match the open end of the clip to the narrow end of the trimmed feather.

13. Apply a narrow 1/2-inch line of hot glue to the underside of the short feather starting at the narrow end.

14. Press the feather to the top of the clip in the same direction as the first feather. Position the narrow end of the feather slightly to the side of the long feather's quill so that they are not on top of each other.

Tips & Warnings

• Covering the hinged end of the barrette in ribbon does not impede the clip from opening.

• The eye of a peacock feather is the round, banded shape at the wide end of the plume.

• Depending on the size of your feathers, trimming the quills may shorten the feathers to contain only the eye at the wide end.

• Glue a small rhinestone button, earring or brooch on top of the quills at the unhinged end of the clip to give the barrette a luxe finish.