First up, thanks so much for all your suggestions on yesterday’s Twin Birthday Inspiration post. Y’all had some awesome ideas!
Speaking of the twins…
I was about to claim that I love getting my girls dressed up in froofy outfits as much as the next mama. But it’s just not true. While I do enjoy dressing my little princesses up every now and then, all I have to do is look right and left at the grocery store to see that I’m way behind the curve in the baby accessorizing department.
So much so that Liz, a sweet nursery worker at our gym, bought the twins hair bows because they always show up bowless and shoeless.
{But they match! Surely that counts for something}
I’ve already talked about my aversion to the head-swallowing bow trend so prevalent here in Texas. I think it’s cute enough on other people’s kiddos (although, I’m not gonna lie—when it’s a newborn who looks like she’s about to buckle under the mountain of tulle and ribbon on her head, I’m definitely not a fan). But I prefer smaller embellishments for my own girls.
Which is why I really love today’s headband. I’m calling it the…
Here’s what you’ll need to make some of your own:
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Hot glue gun/glue
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Scissors
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Ribbon (two coordinating colors/patterns in smaller/larger size)
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1/8” elastic
{See? Easy!}
::STEP 1::
Cut a length of the thicker ribbon, keeping in mind that you will be folding it in half. I didn’t measure, but I started with somewhere around 3-4”.
::STEP 2::
Fold the ends of the ribbon back until they just barely overlap and the underside of the ribbon is completely hidden. Then secure the folded over ends with a dab of hot glue.
::STEP 3::
Take your thinner ribbon and secure it in the center of your folded over ribbon with another bead of hot glue.
Wrap it all the way around the center, tightening a little to create a slightly “cinched in” look for the center. Then, glue it in place and trim the end with your scissors.
At this point, you’ll have this:
::STEP 4::
Measure your little cutie’s head and cut a length of 1/8” elastic to size. Then—yup, you guessed it—attach it to your bow with yet another dab of hot glue.
::STEP 5::
Slap the world’s easiest-to-make bow headband on a baby (or two, if you’ve got another one handy).
Marvel at their happy adorableness for the .02 seconds it lasts.
After which time, you’ll have this:
(I made these originally for the twins to wear at Shae’s wedding, and they did happily. But they’ve only worn them once since, and apparently, when you rarely put headband on your babies, they don’t care for it much when you do it for photo shoots).
I think the best thing about these headbands is that, yes, they’re super-simple, but you have endless options to fancy them up a bit. You could add a bit of sparkle with glitter or rhinestones (as long as your baby is not of the headband-gnawing persuasion), layer different patterns of ribbon in thinner sizes, or even glue little flowers or butterflies to the top (again, careful with any add-ons that your baby could choke on). Also, they work well with practically any kind of ribbon. I used grosgrain and a silky ruffled ribbon mostly, but I could see these working great with satin or even velvet.
Now, if only I could remember to put them on the twins before we leave the house…
Ah well. Can’t win them all.
But, considering that these headbands take all of 5 minutes to make, I’m going to call it a win, even if they only end up on a baby-noggin once a month.
What about you guys? Are you good at accessorizing your munchkins? Or are you good to go if they have a fresh recently changed diaper and semi-unstained clothes on? (Totally guilty of this one, most days).
I am totally with you on the clean diaper & unstained clothes (not necessarily matching :)! Before I had my lil’ girl I thought I would want her more accessorized. But honestly, it just isn’t worth my time & effort right now with 3 kids & 1 on the way. I always say “pick your battles!” and I don’t have the energy to get cutsie clothes & hair bow & matching shoes on every time we leave the house. I do try for special occasions & church, so I’m not totally lame. My lil’ girl hates to have her hair messed with, so it truly is a battle. I usually sneak in a little bow before walking into church.
I think you really have to train them to wear the headbands & big bows. I keep a 3yo girl in the church nursery who is always wearing a huge headband/bow w/ matching outfit. But I think her mom has made her wear them from such a young age & told her “no” when she would mess w/ it that she will wear them now. But, I just don’t care enough to go thru all that “accessory training”….LOL!
Hmmm. I don’t have any little girls living under my roof – so I have to make accessories for family/friends/acquaintences (The boys wouldn’t appreciate it if I tried it with them 😉 lol). I think even if I did have little girls, they would probably only get dressed up like that for church. I don’t get the “head swallowing” bow trend. I don’t think it applies in Sydney… or much of Australia really. Could I convince you to move here Abbie? lol
Sheree x0x
Oh Sheree! Some days, I would GLADLY move to Australia! My husband and I took an anniversary trip to Sydney once, and we loooooooved it!
My Swiss husband was surprised by this American trend! Our daughter wears headbands (that were gifts) only once in a while when we need a laugh, ’cause her expressions with it on are just too funny! And if she’s wearing a clean diaper and (reasonably) clean clothes that keep her warm, I feel accomplished!
Yup, we Southerners especially like our big embellishments. But I’m a bigger fan of dressed and changed too. 🙂
My granddaughter reacted as the twins did from the first moment one of those headbands (froofy or non-froofy) was put on her. We have a little sweetheart at church who also hates them. I’ve never figured out how you young mothers manage to keep those things on your babies.
Well, at this point, I DON’T manage to keep the on the twins. I thought I was okay, but lately, they really don’t like them and yank them off pretty much the moment they get on their heads. 🙁
Head swallowing bows are quite popular here in Arkansas and I just dont get it! My 4 year old daughter does wear bows but I am finding myself drawn to the more trendy printed knit headbands and smaller ones like these…but what to do with a collection of 65 bows???? Yup its bad!
Yeah, I think it’s a Southern thing, Erin. Almost like a status symbol (the bigger the bow, the better your daughter? I don’t know). But 65 bows, girl? DANG! That’s impressive.