OT show your bows :D

[cachoi]

Thank you so much!

For the cricut, do you find designs online or in stores? Cause I'm curious as to how people were getting team logos (CA, F5, etc).

And for anyone else wondering about the rhinestones, I found a site that sells them by the role

Jewel Ribbon | Diamond Mesh Ribbon | Embellishment Ribbons

I'm not sure about creating your own design, I don't own one but I've seen videos using the premade cartridges. Maybe you could scan the logo into the machine?

 

[notreallyhere]

if you look closely, there are no actual rhinestones in that mesh - I would imagine its impossible to fold as well since its probably very thick.

The best way to apply a large volume of rhinestones is to buy or make your own rhinestone template (there are two kinds - sticky flock and the green rubber kind) and 'brush' the rhinestones into the holes of the template. Then you take rhinestone tape and push it onto the top of the design to create an iron on than you apply to your bow. Check out youtube - lots of instructions there. You need to buy hot fix rhinestones for this - ebay has super cheap rhinestones and Rhinestone world can make you a custom template (not cheap though).

I know. I meant to state that but I had to run somewhere. I was gonna say that rather than rhinestones they have round studs in different colors, which will work for me for now :)

 

[notreallyhere]

I'm not sure about creating your own design, I don't own one but I've seen videos using the premade cartridges. Maybe you could scan the logo into the machine?

I guess I'll have to do a little more investigating then. Thank you!

 

[AScheer]

For the cricut, do you find designs online or in stores? Cause I'm curious as to how people were getting team logos (CA, F5, etc)

I have a a cricut for scrapbooking purposes and I quite frankly don't find it worth it just for bows. The cartridges are pretty pricey and don't give you a lot of design options for bows other than letters or basic shapes. To make logos I've always hand cut them with a xacto knife and vinyl. There's probably an easier way though. I believe there is a machine out there that will do custom designs off of the computer, but the cricut will only do what is on the cartridge you have in at that time.

Adding to what the above poster wrote...

1. What's the difference between the cricut vs. any other machine out there? Does it make iron-on's or cut outs? How do you get different designs (letters, numbers, gym logos, etc.)?
You could do iron ons with a good printer and special paper, no cricut needed. Doesn't look as good IMO.

3. What's the difference between fabric and spandex?
I personally like to use spandex (it is a type of fabric.) Cotton fabric frays on the edges of the bows. I haven't figured out how to stop it yet. I just find the spandex easier to work with.

4. If I were to order some sequin fabric from spandexhouse.com, would I have to buy actual Grosgrain first, glue the sequin fabric overtop of it, and fold it into the bow like that?
Typically yes.

5. What is Grosgrain and why does it seem like everyone obsesses over it?
Grosgrain is a type of ribbon. Its the one that has the little ridges on it that you see on most cheer bows. Satin in the other most common and its smooth, somewhat like wrapping paper ribbon. Grosgrain works best for bows and comes in all sizes.

6. What's the difference between Heat n Bond and a hot glue gun? And I ask that I'm not sure if one performs better over the other over certain fabrics, or if one is just better overall.
Hot glue is typically visible and gives a messy appearance to bows. I do use it however to attach the ponytail holder and center wrap. Not recommended for connecting ribbon and fabric together.

7. How do you make bows where one diagonal is one fabric and the other diagonal is a different?
Half and half. Half the ribbon is one fabric and the other have is the other. To only do one tail you would do fourths, etc.

 

[notreallyhere]

I have a a cricut for scrapbooking purposes and I quite frankly don't find it worth it just for bows. The cartridges are pretty pricey and don't give you a lot of design options for bows other than letters or basic shapes. To make logos I've always hand cut them with a xacto knife and vinyl. There's probably an easier way though. I believe there is a machine out there that will do custom designs off of the computer, but the cricut will only do what is on the cartridge you have in at that time.

Adding to what the above poster wrote...

3. What's the difference between fabric and spandex?
I personally like to use spandex (it is a type of fabric.) Cotton fabric frays on the edges of the bows. I haven't figured out how to stop it yet. I just find the spandex easier to work with.

You can stop fraying by lightly running a lighter over the edges to seal them in :) Thank you for your response

 

[AScheer]

You can stop fraying by lightly running a lighter over the edges to seal them in :) Thank you for your response

I do that for the ends of ribbon, but had no luck with actual fabric. The edges along the whole bow frayed out. The lighter would appear to seal it, but then they would still fray. :( I tried using fray check, but it took so much to do the entire bow and didn't seem to work either. You could also see where it was used. I even tried clear nail polish, which worked, but was a pain to do and my bow smelled like nail polish. Not sure how everyone else fixes the fabric fraying. I've yet to have spandex fray.

 

[JerricaLynn]

AScheer - Spandex won't fray ever, that's why it's great for making bows! As for cotton blend fabrics, I always use heat n' bond lite on the back of them and that eliminates most of the problem with fraying.

 

[p.o.k.]

You can stop fraying by lightly running a lighter over the edges to seal them in :) Thank you for your response

You can only use the lighter method on synthetic fabrics. Cotton could catch fire. The reason it works on the ribbon is because it is polyester. A wood burning tool can also work.

Also if fits your design with cotton fabrics you can use pinking shears with cotton fabrics. You can also find other fabrics that do not fray

 

[notreallyhere]

You can only use the lighter method on synthetic fabrics. Cotton could catch fire. The reason it works on the ribbon is because it is polyester. A wood burning tool can also work.

Also if fits your design with cotton fabrics you can use pinking shears with cotton fabrics. You can also find other fabrics that do not fray

I just heard that it works well with Grosgrain, but I'm not sure about what other materials this method could be used on...

 

[OhHeyJ]

These are the new bows I've made for my team! Let me know what you think :)
Also check out my bow page by searching BowCD Cheer Bows on facebook or following BowCD on twitter!

 

[RS_Amie]

These are the new bows I've made for my team! Let me know what you think :)
Also check out my bow page by searching BowCD Cheer Bows on facebook or following BowCD on twitter!

I saw these a while back, midnight are gonna look fierce at fc!

 

[Anna-grace]

My bag :)

 

[alexamarysouza]

I want to start making bows but have some questions:

1. What's the difference between the cricut vs. any other machine out there? Does it make iron-on's or cut outs? How do you get different designs (letters, numbers, gym logos, etc.)?

2. What's the easiest way to get rhinestones on a bow? I've seen amazing cheer bows that I'd like to recreate myself, yet putting on rhinestones one by one with tweezers is timely. Plus, i know that there's NO WAYa person who makes bows for a team (who will remain unnamed) did all 20 of those rhinestones by hand.

3. What's the difference between fabric and spandex?

4. If I were to order some sequin fabric from spandexhouse.com, would I have to buy actual Grosgrain first, glue the sequin fabric overtop of it, and fold it into the bow like that?

5. What is Grosgrain and why does it seem like everyone obsesses over it?

6. What's the difference between Heat n Bond and a hot glue gun? And I ask that I'm not sure if one performs better over the other over certain fabrics, or if one is just better overall.

7. How do you make bows where one diagonal is one fabric and the other diagonal is a different?

I know it's a lot of questions, but after reading all 84 pages, I've not only been inspired to make bows, but haven't necessarily found the answers I'm looking for to start.

Thank you in advance!

my mom runs a business, and I know all her secrets ;)
bowpopcouture.webs.com
1. The cricut cannot do custom designs. You have to use the premade ones. It also cannot cut fabric. NOT a good choice for bow making. We have ordered the Silhouette Cameo. You can plug your computer into it and cut custom designs straight into the fabric.
2. On the Silhouette, there's an additional piece you can buy that creates rhinestone templates. You take your design on your computer, and it formats it into rhinestones and punches holes into a template. You then brush the stones in the template, and there ya go! I couldn't possibly begin to imagine putting on rhinestones one by one...eekk!
3. Fabric- I'm assuming you're referring to cotton. It frays really bad, and there's really no solution to the fraying that works. Plus, it's very stiff. Spandex- it comes in more vibrant, metallic colors, it's stretchy, and can be burned around the edges to stop fraying.
4. Yes. You need to have a grosgrain ribbon base. You can't just fold fabric!
5. The type of ribbon with little textured lines through it. It's very good for stability.
6.Heat n Bond is meant for fabric- hot glue isn't. Hot glue is meant for crafty things and whatnot. Heat n Bond is much easier to work with too.never use hot glue on fabric!!! NEVER!
7.Fold the ribbon in half, and adhere one fabric to one half & another fabric to the other half. it's actually really easy.
hope this helps!! :)

 

[RS_Amie]

 

[notreallyhere]

my mom runs a business, and I know all her secrets ;)
bowpopcouture.webs.com
1. The cricut cannot do custom designs. You have to use the premade ones. It also cannot cut fabric. NOT a good choice for bow making. We have ordered the Silhouette Cameo. You can plug your computer into it and cut custom designs straight into the fabric.
2. On the Silhouette, there's an additional piece you can buy that creates rhinestone templates. You take your design on your computer, and it formats it into rhinestones and punches holes into a template. You then brush the stones in the template, and there ya go! I couldn't possibly begin to imagine putting on rhinestones one by one...eekk!
3. Fabric- I'm assuming you're referring to cotton. It frays really bad, and there's really no solution to the fraying that works. Plus, it's very stiff. Spandex- it comes in more vibrant, metallic colors, it's stretchy, and can be burned around the edges to stop fraying.
4. Yes. You need to have a grosgrain ribbon base. You can't just fold fabric!
5. The type of ribbon with little textured lines through it. It's very good for stability.
6.Heat n Bond is meant for fabric- hot glue isn't. Hot glue is meant for crafty things and whatnot. Heat n Bond is much easier to work with too.never use hot glue on fabric!!! NEVER!
7.Fold the ribbon in half, and adhere one fabric to one half & another fabric to the other half. it's actually really easy.
hope this helps!! :)

Yay, tricks from the master! I cannot even thank you enough!:cheering: