DIY headbands without a hot glue gun!

Is it possible?

Is it really, really possible to make headbands without a glue gun?

Yes, and I'm going to show you how!

You will need:

*1.5" or 7/8" grosgrain ribbon (depending on the size of your headbands)

*plastic headbands

*double-sided sticky tape

*lighter

*scissors

I made a few headbands with 1.5" ribbon, and a few with 7/8" ribbon. Both work just fine, depending on the size of your headband. You could use hot glue in place of the sticky tape, but that would defeat the purpose of this tutorial. ;)

Cut your ribbon to about 14" long. Don't worry about heat-sealing the ends at this point. Cut three pieces of sticky tape to 12" long. Place one on the outside of the headband, one on the inside, and set the third aside for later.

Peel back the cover from the sticky tape on the outside of the headband. Press your ribbon down onto the headband.

Starting in the middle, fold one side of the ribbon over so it is covering the inside of the headband.

Take the other piece of sticky tape and press it onto the ribbon, on the inside of the headband.

Starting in the middle, press the ribbon onto the sticky tape.

When you get to the end, cut the extra off and heat seal the ends. Instead of just a quick pass of the lighter, you will actually melt the ribbon a little bit. Press the ribbon together, and you are done.

There are a few variations of this project. You can take another piece of sticky tape and put it on the inside of the headband, and place a piece of 3/8" grosgrain or velvet ribbon down for "grip" when you are wearing the headband.

Another variation: Cut a piece of sticky tape 1/4" long. Press it down on the inside of the headband, towards the right (see picture). Cut a piece of 3/8" grosgrain ribbon, heat seal it, and make a loop on the headband. You will connect it with another 1/4" piece of sticky tape. Now you have an interchangeable headband that you can put your bows on.

You can also just wrap the ribbon around the headband like the blue one here.

If you have any questions, let me know! :) These are SUPER easy and super cheap to make. If you make some, I'd love to see them. Just leave the link in the comments.

Click here to see where I will be linking this project!

Some giveaways *I* won, and a recap on what YOU can win.

I am the luckiest person, ever!! :) I won not only one.. not two, but THREE of the OWOH giveaways I entered!! How awesome is that?!?

Out of 275 entries, I was the winner over at Julie's blog!! This is what I won:



I entered probably 200 of the giveaways, and this was one of the top 5 that stood out the most! I'm SO glad I won it! Check her blog out -- the way she took pictures of her cutting all the entries out, shuffling them in a DRYER (lol), and choosing one.. well, it was really cool! And then to see my name on a little piece of paper?! Too neat.

Next, I got an email from Kelly saying this: Your prize consists of one of the ATC/Collage packs on my blog Artsy Visions and 2 digital collage sheets from Collagevisions..



I was so excited! Know why? Because I have been wanting to get into ATCs and collages for swaps but haven't done it. This was just the push I needed. As for the collage sheets, they can be found on her etsy shop: HERE. I actually printed one out, cut it all up, and glued it (in true collage fashion, I think) to a journal that I just mailed out (to the United Kingdom!) for a swap.

And last, but certainly not least, I won Marie's giveaway as well! Out of 422 bloggers, I was one of four winners. The first winner, to be exact. :) hehe. Check out her blog to see what I won. I chose the Rivier.

Just a little recap, there are a few giveaways that I have going on right now. You can visit our giveaway page to keep up with which ones are going on at what times. Currently, we have a Facebook giveaway -- "Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God", by Sheila Walsh -- just leave a comment on the wall post I have up talking about the book and you will be entered.

We are also doing a giveaway right here on our blog. Just leave a comment on this entry for your chance to win.




There are also other ways to get EXTRA entries, so check those out by clicking here.

I'm also still waiting for two lucky bloggers to email me their weight loss story. Are you a blogger? Are you trying to lose weight? Would you like some motivation from ME to get to that first milestone?? I have already chosen one blogger to receive a prize package once she reaches 25 pounds lost.

Prize packages can include, but are not limited to, patchwork scarves, soaps, body scrubs, workout DVDs, motivational CDs, and much, much more!! If you or someone you know is a blogger that is trying to lose weight, PLEASE email me your/their story (with their permission of course)!! What do you have to lose??? Besides all that weight...

Introducing... BOUTIQUE BOWS!! (And a giveaway!)

I just added the cutest bows ever to the website, so be sure to check them out! They are only $4.99 and there are a few designed to match some of the tutus we make. :)



Our Crisscross Allie Clips were featured on one of the best blogs ever today. Please check out Hairstyles for Girls.



Before I forget, the cute little blonde in my photos is not my daughter. She is our newest model, and belongs to Dana. If you're a mom, or a craft lover (especially knitting), following Dana's blog should be on your To-Do list.

Now, to the good stuff.. We are giving away your choice of one of our new bows!!

***PLEASE POST A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY.***

***PLEASE leave a link so your entry can be verified (Link to FB post, twitter, etc. Links not required for some entries.)***

This giveaway ends on February 21st at 9PM Central Standard Time. The winner will be announced on February 22nd.

You have until February 21st @ 9PM EST to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to EVERYONE, even international contestants. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will be contacted by email after the giveaway close. The winner will then have 72 hours to claim their giveaway by email. If the winner does not claim their prize within their 72 hour period, a new winner will be chosen.

Mandatory 1st entry: Visit Nellie Bug's and pick which NEW bow is your favorite. Leave a comment here telling us about it.

EXTRA ENTRIES (Leave a separate comment for each!):

+1 Follow our blog (Click over there, to the right.)

+1 Leave us a guestbook entry telling us what your princess would use our tutus for (pictures, dress-up, etc)

+1 Tweet about this giveaway (One entry each day, comment each time you retweet)

+1 Post to another social networking site about our giveaway - you can do this DAILY for extra entries (Cafemom, Myspace, etc)

+2 Friend us on Facebook and leave a comment on our wall.

+1 Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post on our site. (Up to 3 entries)

+3 Link to us in the sidebar of your blog.

+3 Heart our Etsy shop

Okay, so I hope the rules are clear -- if you have any questions just email us! tutus(at)nelliebugs(dot)com.

Want to be featured on our website??

Would you like to be featured on Nellie Bug's website?? If so, please email sadielankford (at) ymail (dot) com. I changed the entire layout today, and am working on the main page and a link page within the next week or so. I would like to ad as many blogs/websites as possible to the links page.

What does this mean for you? Exposure to your blog/website.

What does it cost you? It's free, you just have to link back to us in your side bar or on your links page. Basically a link exchange. Doesn't cost you a dime! Free advertising!! :)

The kids and I have been super busy today. I am working on a new tutu design, I hope to reveal next week! I also added a few Allie Clip Sets (Including a CUTE "love" set that would be PERFECT for Valentine's Day).



The girls are asking to do more and more crafts every day! :) I loooove it! We went to the library today and got a lot of books. We will probably do a few tomorrow or the next day.

Don't forget to check out the giveaway I have going on. Also if you check that out, you can find the OWOH link and enter over 600 (and growing) giveaways JUST by leaving a comment on their blogs. I have entered over 200 already! I really need to teach Rachel how to do this.. lol. My hands are tired.

Please let me know what you think of the new website design, I changed a lot! And, as always, let me know what you'd like to see added to the website!! Is it a certain tutu? A certain Allie Clip theme?? A package? Let me know! Thanks. :)