Melissa's Package Bows

Project Instructions to create beautiful Package Bows.   Tools Needed: Gumpaste Gum Glue or Royal Icing (to secure the loops when building) Package Bow Loop Mold from WWW.DecorateTheCake.com or gumpaste strips approximate 5" X 1"    Flower Former Tray or something for drying loops with a slight curve Pearl Dust Pasta Roller Exacto Knife

Bows are made with either an Odd or Even number of loops -- These instructions will cover 5 and 6 looped bows.  The instructions are the same for either 5 or 6 loops.  The Bows can also be fuller by adding additional layers of bows.   For the 5 bow loop with the mold you will need 13 Loops.  The 6 bow looped made from strips, you will need 20 loops Step 1 -  Loops Using Package Bow Loop Mold - Roll Gumpaste thin and even (I use a pasta roller set on 3 or 4).

Dust With Super Pearl Press the gumpaste into the mold. Place the blue insert on top of the gumpaste and press either with a roller or by hand.   Carefully pull the excess gumpaste from the mold. Lift insert. Press any excess gumpaste back into the mold   Reapply insert and press. Turn Mold over and release the loop. Use Exacto Knife to clean edges if needed.

Step 2 Preparing the Loops to Dry -- Lay the bow loop flat with texture side up.  Take the Right end of the loop and bring to the Left side of the loop -- The Textured side of the right side will be next to the back of the Left side -- Looking directly at it -- REMEMBER -- You are putting the Textured side to the back of the loop. To Dry the Loops, Flip them over - and place in a curved drying rack -- a flower former or spoon board works well -- the loops will need a little "lift" --

This will be the final position of the loops to dry

Bring Right to Left - Textured to Back, Then Flip >>>>

Step 3 -- Putting the Bow Together  -- You will need to let the bottom layer of loops dry just enough so they will retain the curve -- this will allow the bow to have shape --

For a 5 Looped bow, arrange the loops as shown -- using gum glue to secure Place the next layer of loops as shown, in between the bottom layer of loops -- You will want to curve these up more - slightly bend the loops up when placing For the last row, you may have to trim the loops, but the same concept.  Bend the loop up and place in between the last layers loops

To Finish -- let dry overnight, turn over to dry bottom -- or when building use a wire rack so air can circulate.

To make the bow without the mold - cut strips of gumpaste 5" X 1" - Follow the above directions on creating the loop and drying -- The 6 looped bow below is made of 20 loops.