How to Make Celadon Bow Ties on Invitations
Fancy accessories aren't only for partygoers. When designing an invitation, you can easily include decorative features such as bow ties. A celadon bow tie has a very classic look, and it's easy to tie and looks very sophisticated when done properly. The key to tying a celadon bow tie is making sure that both halves of the bow are equal and that neither of the ends are visible.
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure the width of the front of the invitation to find the center point. Use a heavy card stock for the invitation since it will hold up to the weight of the bow tie and won't bend as easily during the tying process.
-
2
Cut two lengths of ribbon. From the center point of your invitation, one piece of ribbon should extend 8 inches and the other 6 1/2 inches. Add this length to the distance from the edge of the invitation to the center point to calculate your ribbon lengths.
-
-
3
Glue the ends of the ribbon to the invitation. How you glue it depends on the orientation of your invitation. For vertically oriented cards, glue one piece of ribbon to the back of the invitation and the other to the back of the front flap. On a horizontally opening card, glue both ends to the back of the front flap, or one on each side. Wait for the glue to dry.
-
4
Draw both pieces of ribbon together so they meet over the marked center point. Cross the shorter piece of ribbon under the longer piece. Pull the longer end back under the shorter one, looping it like you would tying a shoelace. Pull the loop tight.
-
5
Fold the shorter end in half to form half of the bow.
-
6
Loop the longer end around the half-formed bow, then back through the loop. Hold the already formed section of bow tie in place, then fold the remaining length of ribbon in half just as before.
-
7
Slip the longer end of the ribbon through the small loop at the back of the bow. Tighten the bow by tugging lightly on both ends, and adjust the position of the knot. If the ends are too long, cut them away, leaving at least an inch near the knot.
-
8
Secure the bow tie using hot glue. Glue the back of the knot to the card stock, and place dabs of glue within the knot itself to keep it from coming untied.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It may take a few tries to get the hang of tying a bow tie, so practice before tying one onto an invitation.
References
- Photo Credit ribbon image by dana nicolescu from Fotolia.com
