Cork Screw Bows and Leaf Garland

Since the leaf garland tutorial is so easy peasy, I thought I would combine another fun tutorial in there for those of you with little girlies.

Things you will need for the leaf garland:

• fake leaves (I got mine in the $1 section at Target)
• needle and thread

First, I strung each leaf onto the thread, sticking the needle through the leaf in two places so that it fans out and doesn't go sideways.

Then just keep stringing until you have the length that you want. I didn't put my leaves in a pattern but just strung them on randomly.

And then I strung them across under my "GIVE" letters.

Now onto the cork screw bow tutorial. I have loved making these for my daughter!

Things you will need for cork screw bows:

• ribbon (preferably 1/4 in wide)
• metal skewers (I used metal chopsticks...anything oven safe is fine)
• bobby pins or clips (also something oven safe)
• thread
• hot glue gun
• scissors
• alligator clip
• oven

First you want to preheat your oven to 250 degrees. Then start by clipping the ribbon at the top of the metal skewer and wrapping it around the skewer. I wrapped my first few really tight and they were too tight. The second time I did it, I wrapped in an even spiral and they turned out a lot cuter. Cut off the ribbon at the bottom and clip it to the skewer.

Put your ribbon skewers on a pan and put them in the oven for 20 minutes.

When you take them out, let them cool completely before unwrapping them from the skewers.

I cut mine into thirds before making them into a bow. They were each about 3 inches long.

Then line them up, put a piece of string in the center and tie the middle. They will pop out and go every which way which is what makes these bows so cute. I also tied a piece of ribbon in the center to hide the white thread that I used.

Attach it to your alligator clip and you are all set.

And that's how Suze crafts it!