Looking to add a festive touch to your holiday decor? This DIY bow garland tutorial will guide you in creating a stunning satin bow garland inspired by a similar piece from Anthropologie, which retails for $128. But you can save major money and craft your own beautiful version for just under $25 like I did here! And trust me, SKIP THE HOT GLUE ON THIS ONE (so many tutorials out there suggesting hot glue, but why ruin your bows if you don’t need to?!)
The best part? This garland can really be used for any holiday! How beautiful would this be for Valentine’s Day? Or Mother’s Day? Or July 4th?! Just swap out the colors (easy, since you are NOT going to use glue, right?!) 😉
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DIY Bow Garland – What You’ll Need:
Materials:
- Satin Hair Bows: 12-15 bows in your favorite holiday colors (I used reds & pinks) – I recommend THESE hair bows as they are large and very inexpensive!
- Corded Ribbon: About 3 yards (choose a complementary color)
- Scissors
- Measuring Tape
- Steamer
DIY Bow Garland – How To:
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
Start by gathering all your materials in one place. This will make the crafting process more efficient as you work on your bow garland.
When ordering bows, I recommend getting at least 3 packs of 4-5 bows to create a garland that’s at least 6-8 feet.
Step 2: Prepare Your Corded Ribbon
Cut the Ribbon: Use a measuring tape and scissors to cut your corded ribbon to the desired length, leaving extra for tying at the ends.
Step 3: Steam the Bows
Steaming the satin bows before you start assembling them is a good idea. This will help remove any wrinkles and give the garland a polished look. Use a handheld steamer or the steam setting on your iron, holding it a few inches away from the fabric.
Step 4: Arrange Your Bows
- Layout: Arrange the bows along the ribbon to visualize color order and spacing
- Adjust: Play around with the arrangement until you’re satisfied with how your bow garland looks.
Step 5: Secure the Bows
- Attach the Bows: Simply open the clip on each hair bow, slide the bow onto the corded ribbon, and then close the clip to secure it in place. This method makes it easy to reposition the bows if needed, no hot glue needed! Plus, you can now add or remove different colors in the future, or actually use a bow in your hair if needed!
- Double Check: Ensure that all bows are securely attached and spaced evenly.
Step 6: Finishing Touches
- End Ties: Tie a loop or knot at each end of the ribbon to create hanging loops for your bow garland.
- Trim Excess Ribbon: If there’s excess ribbon at the ends, trim it to your liking.
Step 7: Hang Your Bow Garland
- Choose a Spot: Select the perfect location for your bow garland—over a mantel, across a doorway, or on your Christmas tree.
- Hang It Up: Secure your garland using command hooks, nails, or decorative push pins.
Step 10: Enjoy!
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Let me know if you create a bow garland of your own! I’d love to see what colors you choose! And remember, skip the glue! 😉
Stay tuned for more Christmas crafts coming your way as we head into the most wonderful time of the year!
XO,
Ana
How did you keep the bows from falling forward?
mine don’t really fall forward much. But you can adjust them on the cord once the garland is hung to help a bit. You can also try safety pinning the bows together (in lieu of hot glue) to see if that helps. I found that pulling up the center of my garland how you see it styled here kind of prevented the issue!