How to Decorate Plastic Barrettes
If you use plastic barrettes to keep your hair off your face or achieve your favorite hairstyle, you may not find many barrettes that fit your style. Those available in supermarkets or drug stores are basic and either do not have fashionable embellishments or are meant for kids. One solution is to decorate plain hair barrettes yourself using craft supplies to make the barrettes more ornate. Once finished, your barrettes will give your hair a fancy look and reflect your personal style.
Things You'll Need
- Glue gun
- Glue sticks
- Velvet ribbon, 1/2 inch wide
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Plastic jewel beads
- Glitter glue
Instructions
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1
Slide a glue stick into the chamber of a glue gun. For small barrettes, you may get better results using skinnier glue sticks and a mini-gun. Plug the gun into a wall socket and let it heat up for 5 to 7 minutes on a safe surface or on its stand.
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2
Measure and cut a piece of velvet ribbon 8 inches long. Tie the ribbon into a bow.
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3
Squeeze a line of hot glue along the top of a plastic barrette, then press the bow onto the glued area. Hold the bow in place for 2 to 3 minutes until the glue cools and hardens.
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4
Squeeze a small dollop of glitter glue on top of the bow's knot, and press a plastic jewel bead onto the glitter glue. Hold the bead in place for 2 to 3 minutes until the glitter glue dries completely.
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5
Squeeze lines of glitter glue over the velvet ribbon to create swirls, spirals or dot patterns. Allow the glitter glue to dry for 2 to 3 minutes before wearing the decorative barrette.
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Tips & Warnings
These instructions are for a fancy barrette, but by choosing different ribbon patterns -- plaid or dotted -- and embellishments other than jewel beads, you can dress "up" or "down." Use your favorite colors and reflect your personal style. Handmade barrettes are unique gifts when personalized for the individual.
Glue guns can cause bad burns. Follow manufacturer warnings, and use precautions with the hot glue when placing your embellishments.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
