DIY Holiday Decor: Year of the Bow

The holiday season is here in full swing, and it’s time to transform our homes into festive wonderlands. This year, why not add a personal touch to your decorations with some DIY projects?

One trend that's making waves in the world of holiday decor is the giant bow. These eye-catching pieces can be used in various ways to elevate your holiday aesthetic. Whether you’re adorning your front door, wrapping an oversized gift, or creating a statement piece for your mantel, a giant bow is both versatile and stunning. Here’s how you can make one yourself without any sewing involved!

Materials Needed:

- Full or Twin Sheet Set

- An old/flat pillow

- Scissors

- 4 Long Zip ties

- Hot glue gun

- Optional: Iron, metal hanger

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Choose Your Sheet set

Select a color that complements your holiday theme. For a classic look, go for a red or white. If you’re aiming for something more whimsical, try a patterned sheet set with snowflakes or reindeer. I went with a satin burgundy in full size so I have enough for 2 bows if I wanted! Heres a quick link if you want one like mine: https://amzn.to/4g5Olul The set arrived in next day using Amazon Prime! This particular link has different sizes you can choose from and 40 different colors!

Step 2: Iron

I ironed out the pillow case first. You can iron the tails of the bow later so you're not ironing the whole sheet. This step just helps everything look polished when its all done.

Step 3: Create Loops

Put a pillow cover on the pillow. Create a pocket like wrapping a gift with the open end and hot glue it shut. 

Step 4: Secure the Center

Connect 2 zip ties to each other and zip tie the pillow about 2 fingers to the left of center. Do the same thing with the other 2 zip ties to the right of center. Squeeze the pillow at the center and tighten the zip ties as much as possible. Are you seeing the bow take shape? 

Step 5: Make the cuts

Next you're going to cut you sheet. The "top" of the flat sheet has a wide band usually. You want to cut that strip off. 

The next 2 cuts are for the tails of the bow. Laying the sheet out in a wide open space helps for this! Cut the piecies about the width of the bow and the length of the entire sheet depending on how dramatic you want it to look. On one end of each tail, cut out 2 triangles so that when folded long ways the bow's tail will be pointed.

Step 6: Hot gluing it all together!

The first cut you made of the wide band is the first part we will glue. You can wrap this around the center of the bow to cover the zip ties. Tuck the fabric as needed and hot glue to secure. Voila! You have the bow part done!

For each tail, you want to make sure the shiny side is facing up. Keep the short, straight side open and unglued. Apply hot glue to the long edge and fold over the other edge and glue it down. The shiny satin side will be "inside" the tail. Once you have glued all the way down to the pointy tip and the glue is dry, turn the tail inside out from the straight open edge to give the tail its finished look. 

Step 7: Put it all together

Lay all 3 pieces, the bow and two tails out in an open space. Take the top straight edge of the tail and either tuck it under the bows zip ties on the back of the bow or hot glue. Do this with the other side too. Thats the end!

Displaying Your Giant Bow

Now that you’ve crafted your masterpiece, it’s time to display it! Here are some ideas:

1. **Front Door:** Attach your giant bow to a wreath or hang it directly on your front door for an inviting entrance.

2. **Mantel:** Place the bow in the center of your mantelpiece as a focal point amidst garlands and candles.

3. **Gifts:** Use the giant bow as an extravagant topper for large presents such as homes or cars.

4. **Foyer:** Tie a bow at the top of a foyer banister for a grand and festive look for your home.

5. **Tree.** Attach the bow as a tree topper! This is what I did with my viral DIY Giant Bow this year! I used a metal hanger to attach it to the tree by looping it into the zip ties on the back. You can also use zip ties to secure it to your tree.

Embrace DIY Decor

Creating DIY holiday decor not only adds a personal touch but also brings joy and satisfaction during this festive season. The giant bow is just one example of how simple materials can be transformed into something spectacular with a bit of creativity and effort.

So this year, embrace the “Year of the Bow” trend and let your home shine with handmade beauty! Happy decorating!