Carefully measure and cut the correct lengths of ribbon.
Hair bows are a fun accessory for little girls. They add personality and color to hair and outfits. Mermaids are mythological aquatic creatures that many children identify with the fairy-tale "The Little Mermaid" or the Disney movie by the same name. With just a little ribbon, glue and patience, you can create a one-of-a-kind, handmade, mermaid hair bow. Personalize your hair bow by selecting colored ribbons to match various outfits.
Instructions
1. Lay out your grosgrain ribbon. Pick a ribbon color for the body parts. Laying the ribbon flat, start measuring at the beginning of a ruler that measures in inches. Unroll the ribbon and cut strips: 1 3/4 inches long for the head, 1 1/4 inches for the body, and 2 inches for the arms. Select a color of ribbon for the hair. Measure the ribbon and cut a piece 2 3/4 inches long. Select a color of ribbon for the mermaid's shirt. Measure that ribbon and cut a piece that is 1 inch long. Select a color of ribbon for the mermaid's tail. Cut two pieces of ribbon from that spool: one 2 inches long for the top tail and one 1 3/8 inches for the bottom tail.
2. Seal all the cut ends of the ribbons, to prevent fraying. Hold the ribbon in the middle with one hand and a lighter in the other hand. Slowly bring the cut edge of the ribbon close to the flame until it begins melting.
3. Take your 4 1/4 inches of ribbon and your alligator clip. From the top of the ribbon, use your hot glue to make a straight line about 1 inch down the ribbon. Hold the alligator clip open, and place the glued end of the ribbon face up, into the open clip, so the edge of the ribbon becomes glued to the bottom side of the top section of the alligator clip. Smooth the ribbon out while it dries and hold firmly in place. Glue a 1-inch line on the piece of ribbon hanging out of the clip. Fold the ribbon over, so the glue is face down on the top of the alligator clip. Smooth and hold the ribbon down until dry. On the bottom side of the ribbon hanging over the top edge of the clip, glue a 3/4-inch strip and place this inside of the portion of the clip that is used to open and close the clip, forming a sideways "<" shape. Using the remaining ribbon, glue the bottom of the ribbon and fold over so it is on the bottom of the alligator clip. It's okay if it does not cover the entire bottom section.
4. Make the head of the mermaid. Take the 1 3/4 inch ribbon for the head and fold it in a circle or loop. Leave an overlap of about 3/8 inch to allow enough room for glueing. Glue and hold firmly in place.
5. Make the body of the mermaid. Take the 1 1/4 inch ribbon for the body and place it flat in front of you. Take the mermaid head, and place a dab of glue on the seam. Glue the seam of the head on top of the body so the head is vertical.
6. Make a shirt for the mermaid. Take the 1-inch ribbon for the shirt and place a dab of glue directly in the middle of the ribbon piece. Place this dab on the front of the mermaid's body directly under the head. Fold over the left side of the ribbon and place glue to glue it to the back of the mermaid. Fold over the right side of the ribbon and place glue to secure it on top of the back of the shirt. If the ribbon is too long, cut the edge of the ribbon and seal the ends with a lighter.
7. Make the mermaid arms. Take the 2 inches of ribbon for arms and hold one end in your right hand and the other end in your left hand. Twist the end in the left hand 180 degrees counterclockwise so the ribbon folds over and creates a "V" shape. Place a dot of glue where the ribbon meets and overlaps to hold the shape in place. Once the arms are dry, glue them on the back of the body, centering them on the back of the shirt. If the arms are too long in proportion to the body, trim them and seal the edges of the ribbon with a lighter.
8. Make the top tail of the mermaid. Lay your mermaid right side up, flat, in front of you. Take the 2 inches of ribbon for the top tail and lay it diagonally at about a 45 degree angle. The top tail ribbon should cover most of the bottom of the ribbon of the body and extend out toward the right arm. Glue in place on the bottom of the body. Wrap the top tail ribbon around to the back of the body, so it is parallel or barely touching the bottom of the shirt. Glue it in place on the back. Continue wrapping the top tail ribbon around to the front of the mermaid body, crossing the end that is already glued to the front of the body. Make sure the edges are flush with each other and form a "V" shape. Once the shape is formed, glue in place. If needed, trim any excess ribbon and seal the edge of the ribbon using a lighter.
9. Make the bottom of the mermaid's tail. Take the 1 3/8 inch ribbon for the bottom tail and fold it in the same way you folded the arms to create a "V" shape. Glue in place to hold the shape. Once the bottom tail is dry, place a drop of glue on the top of the bottom tail, so the "V" is upside down, and glue it to the back of the top tail on the mermaid.
10. Make hair for the mermaid. Place your mermaid flat. Take the 2 3/4 inch ribbon for the hair and glue one end of the ribbon to the left arm, leaving about 3/8 inch below the arm. Wrap the ribbon over the head and glue. Continue wrapping the ribbon over glue to the right arm. If the hair is uneven, trim the ribbon and seal the edges using a lighter.
11. Glue the mermaid to the alligator clip. Flip your mermaid backwards, and glue the back of the arms. Place the glued back firmly against the top covered portion of the alligator clip. Hold in place until the mermaid has finished drying against the alligator clip.
Related posts
Make pretty hair bows with clips and ribbons.Making hair bows and baby clippies can be rewarding whether you are making them for a daughter or to give as a gift. Making hair bows or baby clippies...
Make Hair Bows Using Alligator ClipsFor little girls, hair bows add that extra special touch and help complete any look. If you have ever thought about making your own hair bows, consider using al...
No one will even think that your hair bows are homemade.Boutique-style hair bows are a popular accessory for girls, from infants to pre-teens. With these fully customizable, do-it-yourself hair bo...
Make hair bows shaped like butterflies with a bit of ribbon.Bug-shaped hair bows offer a different twist on traditional bows. Use ribbon of the same color as the bug you choose, such as red ribbon...
Every mother enjoys using beautiful ribbons to decorate her daughter's hair, but purchasing a handmade ribbon to match each outfit can get quite cost prohibitive. Through these few easy steps, you...
