This is a tutorial on the nifty little Jem bow makers. If you don't have these, OMG, they are sooooo cool! I offer two sets on the site, each have three different sized bow cutters in them. They are super easy to use. Here's my step by step:
Roll your paste thin (I use pearl clay for this to make really pretty, shiney bows.) Roll paste, rub dough until it's a bit shiney, then add pearl dust. Dust underside. Take one of the cutters, any size, and press into the dough, like using a cookie cutter.
This is what it looks like after you cut it out. Take a tiny pin or something similar and starting at an edge, coax the dough out of the cutter. All parts of your bow are cut in one simple step. The top piece in the picture is the little piece that goes in the middle of the bow loops, the middle piece is the bow and the bottom pieces are the ties for the bow.
Gently moisten the center of the bow and fold one side, then the other, from the outside to the inside to form two bow loops. Take the rectangle looking center piece and moisten the back or the center of the bow and stick that in the middle, forming the sides gently with your fingers.
This is what it should look like, isn't it cute??? Stick on the tails.... you always can clip them shorter if you wish. Completed bow! Easy peasy huh?? You get PERFECT little bows each and everytime you make them.
Here's a link to find them on the site:
http://jenniferdontz.com/viewproduct.php?itemid=cut068 (Smaller set) 12.50
http://jenniferdontz.com/viewproduct.php?itemid=cut069 (Larger set) 12.50
Once you click on the link, you will see sizes of the completed bows that each package makes.
Tutorial and Photos by Jennifer Dontz - all rights reserved 2009
This tutorial may not be reproduced without permission from the author.