Crafts in this Post
They’re Going Baaack….It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Seriously, even though summer vacations seem be getting shorter, kids are eager to go back to school. They miss their friends and social interactions, they miss learning, and they miss school shenanigans. They want to have their schedule back, and even though they love their parents, they really are tired of them by this time.
A Tradition – Teacher’s Gift
For the past few years, I have been making gifts for Spane’s teachers. In the past it was something edible, but with schools outlawing homemade items for insurance reasons of possible allergic reactions, I now have to make non-edible things. I made Apple Napkin Rings for Spane’s 4th grade teacher, and a Decorated Trinket Box for Spane’s 5th grade teacher, and this year, when Spane told me he has a female teacher for 6th grade, I decided to make matching French Barrettes for her. I have included a coupon for an additional ribbon barrette, since I don’t know if she even wears ribbons at all.
Making the French Barrettes
You can pick up packs of French Barrettes at any good crafting store. The ones I get usually come with 4 large ones, and 6 small ones. Since I usually only use the large ones, I always have small ones left over. They are actually perfect for putting on strung beads.
Recipe: White Bead Strung French Barrettes
Summary: Make these for a simple gift, or for yourself
Ingredients
- French Barrettes
- Florist Wire
- Medium Size Beads
Instructions
- Pull a length of florist wire about 4 times the length of the barrette. Don’t cut it yet.
- String enough beads to be the length of the barrette. Make sure there is about a 4th of the wire at one end of the barrette, and cut the wire. There should be a hole at the end of the barrette, so string the wire in that hole, loop it around, and tie it off.
- Lay the wire with the beads down, and put the other end of the wire through the hole at the other end.
- Bring the wire up through the bottom of the barrette, and wrap it around the middle, so the beads in the middle of the barrette will not be able to move around.
- Tie off that piece of wire, and cut off any remaining bits, being sure that they are not sitting up where someone could stick themselves.
Variations
You can use whatever beading you want, just make sure that the beads are about the same width as the barrette is long.
Preparation time: 30 minute(s)
Number of barrettes (yield): 2
My rating
Copyright © The Good Plate.
Barrettes by Adrienne Boswell.
Microformatting by hRecipe.
Make a Pretty School Color Bowdabra Bow
I think it’s important to use the school colors, and I’m lucky because our school colors are navy blue and gold.
Recipe: School Colors Bowdabra Bow
Ingredients
- 1 Bowdabra
- Main School Color Ribbon – Wide
- Secondary School Color Ribbon – Narrow
Instructions
- Cut the narrow ribbon about 6 inches and lay it at the bottom of the Bowdabra vertically.
- Cut about a foot of the wide ribbon, and lay one end of it on top of the narrow ribbon horizontally. Then make a loop, push it down, make another loop on the other side, push it down, until you have made enough loops to use up the ribbon, or have a nice bow, which ever comes first.
- Do not try to tie off the ribbon yet!
- Use the Bowdabra wand to push the ribbon down as much as it will go.
- Slowly bring the narrow ribbon up to face you, and as you as slowly pulling the bow out, tie the narrow ribbon off.
- Fluff the wide ribbon, attach the bow to your gift box, and arrange the narrow ribbon to suit.
Quick notes
Of course, you can do this by hand, and you can even have your child help you by placing his or her finger to hold the ribbon while you tie it off. I don’t know about you, but I hated gift wrapping as a child because invariably my mother would catch my finger in the ribbon, and either would sting me, or she wouldn’t be able to get it off. Trust me, go for the Bowdabra.
Variations
You can use any colors you want, add as many embellishments as you want, flowers, feathers, stones, the possibilities are endless.
Preparation time: 5 minute(s)
Number of bows (yield): 1
My rating
Copyright © The Good Plate.
Ribbon by Adrienne Boswell.
Microformatting by hRecipe.
Free Coupon!
Since I don’t know if Spane’s new teacher wears larger bows in her hair, I gave her a coupon for a free ribbon in the color or her choice. I hope she takes me up on it, and I’ll post here if she does.
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These look very nice, especially for a little girl. I’ll be making some of these for my daughter.
What a great tradition, and I really like the barrettes. Nice!
Those French Barrettes look like they would make an excellent project for my youngsters to make for their Mom. Great idea!