Valentine’s Day Bow Tutorial

Let’s celebrate Valentine’s Day by learning how to make some beautiful Valentine’s Day bows to add to your next wreath or centerpiece! Learning how to create bows is such a useful tool when crafting. I mainly love using bows on a wreath or to help make a fun festive centerpiece.

Ways to Make a Decorative Valentine’s Day Bow

You’ll love these simple ways to create beautiful eye-catching Valentine’s Day bows for your next holiday craft! Be sure to check out all the different ways I made Valentine themed bows using different ribbons and patterns.

Tool List

• EZ Bow Maker
• Scissors
• Wire Cutters

Valentine’s Day Bow #1

• 1 roll 2½-inch wired ribbon
• 1 roll 1½-inch wired ribbon
• 8-inch cable ties

How to Make a Valentine’s Bow with a 2-1 Recipe:

1. Set up your EZ Bow Maker with the ribbon on your left side (if you are right-handed), having your spool rolling away from you. If you are left-handed, go ahead and switch it to the opposite side.
2. Start with your glitter heart ribbon and make a 20-inch tail. If that is too long for your project, try a 16-inch tail. Cut the end at an angle. At the 20-inch mark, put that into the center of your bow maker and twist. Pull the tail towards you.
3. Make a 7-inch loop and come back to the center and twist. Do the same on the other side with another 7-inch loop. Repeat with another 7-inch loop on each side, scrunching it down in the center. Cut the other tail at an opposite angle.
4. Now grab your black and white striped ribbon and trim the end at an angle. Layer on top of the glitter ribbon, starting with a tail 2 inches shorter. Twist in the center. Make a 6 ½ inch loop on each side, scrunching the ribbon in the center. Trim the second tail at an opposite angle. This is called a 2-1 recipe.
5. Take an 8-inch cable tie and run it right beside your center dowels and around the center of your bow. Pull it up to get some tension but not all the way closed. Push the end of the cable tie to the back and hold it in between your fingers while you fluff each of the loops. Pull your tails towards the bottom.
6. Add a second cable through the back of the first cable tie and pull it tight. Clip the ends with your wire cutters. This will be what you use to attach your bow.
7. Cut a 15-inch piece of your glitter heart ribbon. Fold it in half to the width you like and tie it around the center cable tie. Tie it off in the back with a double knot, being careful not to tie it too tight so it stays flat. Cut the excess ribbon off from the back.
8. Depending on what you are using your bow for, you can use your fingers to curl up both tails or just the top layer. Pull the curled tails down a bit if you would like.

Valentine’s Day Bow #2

• 2 rolls of 1½-inch wired ribbon, with different patterns
• 1 roll 4-inch wired ribbon
• 8-inch cable ties

How to Make a Valentine’s Bow with a 1-2-1 Recipe:

1. Start with the 4-inch ribbon and make a 20 inch tail. With a wide ribbon, make sure you scrunch it in the center before you twist. Bring your tail down towards you and trim the end at the correct angle.
2. Make a 7-inch loop on each side and scrunch and twist in the center. Trim your second tail at an opposite angle.
3. Grab your second ribbon, making sure there is a good contrast between the two patterns. Cut the tail at an angle and stagger it up 2 inches from the base ribbon. Twist in the center and make a 6 ½ inch loop on each side. Adjust the loops so they are on the bottom of the base ribbon loops.
4. Repeat the same step making two more 6 ½ inch loops, making sure they fall above the base ribbon’s loops. Twist in the center to secure and trim the tails at the opposite angle.
5. Next, take your red and white crisscross with white polka dot ribbon and trim the ends at an angle. Make your first tail 2 inches shorter than the previous layer and twist in the center. Make single 6-inch loops on either side, then cut the tail at the opposite angle.
6. Take an 8-inch cable tie and run it right beside your center dowels and around the center of your bow. Pull it up to get some tension but not all the way closed. Push the end of the cable tie to the back and hold it in between your fingers while you fluff each of the loops. Pull your tails towards the bottom.
7. Add a second cable through the back of the first cable tie and pull it tight. Clip the ends with your wire cutters. This will be what you use to attach your bow.
8. Cut a 12-inch piece of your contrasting black and white striped ribbon. Fold it in half to the width you like and tie it around the center cable tie. Tie it off in the back with a double knot, being careful not to tie it too tight so it stays flat. Cut any excess ribbon from the back.
9. Use your fingers to curl up any tails you’d like, depending on what you plan to use your bow for.

More Easy Valentine Bow Tutorials To Try!

Valentine Bow

1. Start with your cream ribbon and make a 20” tail and two 7” loops on each side, for a total of four. Make sure to twist and pinch in the center each time. Trim another 20” tail at an angle. Layer the rose and vine ribbon with an 18” tail and one 6” loop on each side. Trim the tails at an angle.
2. Run your cable tie right beside the center dowels and cinch the center before you fluff each loop. Add a second cable tie through the back before you pull the center cable tie tight. This will help you hang your bow later. Cut a strip of rose ribbon and fold over itself then tie around the center to hide the cable tie.

Easy Valentine Bow

1. Let’s use the same ribbon and reverse them to make a new bow! Start with a 20” tail of the rose and vine ribbon, then make two 6” loops on each side for a total of four. Twist in the center and fluff as you go.  Trim another 20” tail at an opposite angle.
2. We don’t want to hide the rose ribbon so let’s make a bow tie with the wide cream ribbon using 5” loops and no tails. Pinch into the center. Run your cable tie right beside the center dowels and cinch the center before you fluff each loop. Add a second cable tie through the back before you pull the center cable tie tight. Cut a strip of rose ribbon and fold itself over then tie around the center.       

Simple Valentine Bow

1. Make a 20” tail and two 6 ½” loops on each side. Trim each tail at an opposite angle. Layer the heart ribbon on top starting with a slightly shorter tail. Make one 5 ½” loop on each side and trim the tail at an angle.
2. Put your finger on the center and run your cable tie on the side of the center dowels while you pull the bow off the bow maker. Slide your second cable tie through the back and cinch tight. Fold a small piece of heart ribbon over itself and tie around the center to cover the cable ties.

Valentine Bow With Heart Ribbon

1. Start with the heart ribbon this time and a 20” tail. Make two 6” loops on each side and trim the second tail at an opposite angle. Don’t forget to shape and fluff as you go. Make a large bow tie loop so each side is about 5” long. Pinch the center and add into the dowels of your bow maker.
2. Press the center down with your fingers and run the cable tie around as you pinch each layer together. Add your second cable tie through the back and cinch tight.  Cut a small length of zebra ribbon and cut down the width. Fold and tie around the center to cover the ties.

Be sure to join Keleas Bloomarino Buds Wreath Making Community to be apart of a family that enjoys helping each other learn how to create and inspire others to design! We can’t wait to see you there!