The "Lauren" Headband Tutorial!




*squeal* I'm excited about this one!!



Meet the latest product of my imagination: the "Lauren" headband! Named after a certain favorite designer of mine that also likes to use classy leather pieces here and there.



I love a girly, cutesy headband to hold back my forehead fringe. But sometimes the occasion (or outfit) calls for a little more simplicity and grown-upness.
The only thing more exciting than how easy this is, is how cheap it is!!
The version Paige is wearing was made from this old $.50 cosmetic case from the thrift store. Nice! You probably have something lying around the house that you could use!



To make it:

(adult sized measurements)

1. Cut two 15"x 3/4" strips from an old purse, cosmetic case, or whatever. It doesn't have to be real leather, in fact, the taupe version that I'm wearing is naugahyde vinyl, I believe. (From my stash, believe it or not!)
2. Start folding into two loops, a larger in back, and smaller in front, and mirror for the other side.
3. Put a dot of glue between layers. You'll need a nice, strong E6000 type of glue, as leather probably won't hold hot glue very well.
4. Glue a 2"x1/2" strip around the middle and then glue it to the headband wherever you'd like, holding it all together with a clothespin (or by setting a book on it) until the glue dries.
5. Cut small slits about 1/4" from the bottom of each side of your headband, just large enough to slide your elastic (approx. 7") through.
6. Stitch your elastic together with a zigzag, trim the excess, and you're done!

(Toddler measurements are: two 13"x1/2" strips, with 1/34"x3/8" strip around middle of bow. 6" elastic)





If you're wondering where I found the beige elastic, I just threw the elastic pieces in a small pot of boiled water with 6 tea bags for about ten minutes! Easy!



Simple and elegant.
I love it!











P.S. Thanks so much for the encouraging response to the last post! My heart is gushing!! I re-read your comments all day long  :o)


Small Update: I forgot to add the little tip that if you have trouble with headbands slipping off all the time, you can try gluing a little strip of velcro (the harder side), rubber band, or shelving liner to the underside. It sounds a little wonky, but it makes a world of difference!

Comments

  1. Soo lovely! Perfect for Fall too! Another wonderful piece- and the pictures are so sweet!
    thanks!

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  2. I love this! I seam to have a weakness for headbands. =) Someday I will have to try this out, along with every other tutorial of yours!

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  3. I will be making these, very soon...Thank you for the tutorial. Love your blog by the way
    amy

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  4. This is one of my favorites by far! Another great tutorial, thanks!

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  5. i envy the leather pouch you got. love the color.

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  6. Perfect! Such a great idea. =) Way to go!

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  7. What a fantastic idea!! I've been looking for something to do with the GIANT bag of leather scraps a friend gave me, and even though I've already got like 700 headbands as long as it's essentially free why the heck not?!?!

    ~K

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  8. So cute! I love this idea and I love the upcycling of old leather pieces.

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  9. Oh Wow!!!! I Love this, so sweet and simple - I know a certain 3 year old who would love this! (and a 26yr old too!!)

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  10. I did not get a chance to send some of my old purses to the yard sale...and now I know what I am going to do with them. Thank you for a great tutorial!

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  11. I LOVE this headband idea (I actually own several similar headbands that I PAID for, but the leather is so chic!!), but I'm wondering - any ideas on making this into a "head" headband? The elastic-y headbands tend to stretch out and slide off my fat head :(

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  12. Oops I meant "hard" headband!

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  13. Disney,

    This is so lovely. Very classy. But I think the best part of reading this post is thinking about all the incredible pictures you will have in your collection of yourself, Paige, and the two of you together. What beautiful memories you are capturing.

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  14. Such cute headbands! And that Gardens at Dusk tank is beautiful!

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  15. Such cute headbands! And that Gardens at Dusk tank is beautiful!

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  16. These are SO cute! And seem so easy to make! Thank you for the tips. I love the pictures of your daughter. Beautiful!

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  17. This is SOOOOO cute! I love it and it looks so easy! Thanks for sharing!

    http://silverrosesewing.blogspot.com/

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  18. I love your stuff, but I think I might love this the most! I'm going to have to go butcher a hand bag now...
    Like you, I have a crafft budget of zero, so I hit your blog all the time for ideas. And the tip about tea-staining the elastic - so handy!
    Thanks!

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  19. Love! Next up, leather flowers?

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  20. oh wow Disney!! these are so beautiful, I really want to make one or two or three! I love it that they can go with anything so beautifully. amazing you are!

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  21. Oooh! I REALLY really like these. Super timeless and classy. Thanks! :)

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  22. I love how cute they are. I will have to hook these to an actual headband and wear them! (my head is too round for cute things with elastics:)

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  23. Such sweet beautiful photos - and such a classic style of headband.

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  24. Wonderful, have an 8 yo and mom coming for a craft day on Monday, just printed this off and will add it to our crafting list. Thanks so much.

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  25. I absolutely LOVE that you've taken something like a makeup case and turned it into something so beautiful! The planet (and my pocketbook) is a better place because of you!

    I also adore your pictures. What a beautiful blog (and family!).

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  26. Have you ever tried to get your blog featured in Martha Stewart or Victoria magazine? If not you really should give it a try. There's a market for the kind of image you create. Gail O. Canada

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  27. cute idea. priceless pics with your daughter!

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  28. simply adorable!

    i've awarded you with a blog award!
    http://marlagrace.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-award.html

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  29. Seriously. I check your blog EVERY day! It's so great with such great ideas and i love how your tutorials and hand made goodies are so romantic and feminine.

    I gotta go find some leather scraps now...

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  30. Thank so much for yet another practical, super fun and easy tutorial! You are one gorgeous crafty mama!! Love, love, LOVE the photos!
    xoxoxoxo

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  31. This one is amazing! And you two look really cute!

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  32. If you line the inside of the headband with a piece of velvet (velvety side out), it won't slip either. I love headbands, and I will be making this one, I'm thinking in a ribbon version as well.

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  33. OhHHHH!. This is my favorite post ever! I love these headbands and your photos are so great. Two beauties. For sure

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  34. Oooooh this is cute!! Definitely will try it. :) Thanks for the blog! It fits my budget! ;)

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  35. I love all of your stuff, but THIS! This is so stinking awesome. Love it!!! Thanks!

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  36. I LOVE this idea! I just rescued an old (ugly) leather men's briefcase/satchel from our from our box to go to the Salvation Army. I knew I could use it for "something", and this would likely be perfect!

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  37. thanks for the tutorial! i must say that the headband really is super cute but the photos- even cuter!

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  38. I love the headbands! I can't wait to make my own :) and the photos are too cute. LOVE the last one especially. You and Paige are way too cute :)

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  39. Beautiful photographs and really cute headbands!

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  40. OMIGOSH OMIGOSH OMIGOSH! I LOVE THIS! Sorry for the yelling :D I have tons of leather and pleather scraps from old belt/purses/coats etc... that would be perfect for this! Why didn't I think of it ?! BTW I've just recently started following your blog and you and your daughter are just so adorable! I love your blog and what you do! Keep up the good work! I just started a blog (I'm so nervous about it, it's still very new) linzcrafts.blogspot.com
    I hope to be half as popular as you someday!

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  41. Ahhh these are beautiful! I'm definitely going to have a try!

    Sarah x

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  42. Oh my goodness. I love these. I will definately be making these this week!!!!

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  43. Oh my goodness. I love these. I will definately be making these this week!!!!

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  44. Adorable. I love the clean lines of the headbands and the pictures of you and your little one are precious. Thanks for sharing.

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  45. Love the headbands! Those pictures are just precious!!

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  46. So cute....but those pictures of you and your daughter are priceless!!!! Love them!

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  47. Awesome!!! Thanks for sharing. :)

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  48. Disney - I seriously HEART this like crazy! You are the best - thank you for sharing! Probably my favorite tutorial so far - so simple but so stylish!
    Bethany

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  49. Sooo CUTE!!! I am going to try this out right away! Love it! :o)

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  50. Fantastic, as always. Saw this: http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2010/06/make-a-pink-ruffly-umbrella/
    and decided you might need to make a couple for you and Paige. Rain or shine, they'd be divine!

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  51. I love it! As I don't have any leather on hand, I'll be trying this with fabric/ribbon/lace! Thanks for the beautiful ideas!

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  52. SIMPLY adorable... I LOVE it!

    Warm blessings,
    Spencer

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  53. I. LOVE. THIS. Omg. Omg. I need to make one immediately. And your suggestion at the end of the post is GENIUS! I pretty much worship you.

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  54. Thanks, Thanks, Thanks, Maria! I love your blog! The photografs it's so beautefull! I have a little girl of the 7 yars age, and her name is Maria too...Visit my blog, ok?

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  55. You and your daughter are so cute, and have such a classic style. I love, love your tank that you just made, and this too. I keep saying to myself: why didn't I think of that? Your mind must be going a mile a minute. Thanks so much for sharing your brilliance!

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  56. Oh, my word! That last picture of you and your daughter is just precious! You two look like you should be on a halmark card!! I love it!

    I love the alice band, too! I think those are my favorite style of headband, and the name is really cute, too!

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  57. Seriously... will you be my best friend? Seriously?

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  58. I ADORE this! Absolutely beautiful!!! (And thanks for the tip on helping them stay in place - can't wait to try that one out!!!)

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  59. Probably my favorite thing I've seen on here! Very cute!

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  60. A-dorable!

    And the tea bag trick? Simply brilliant.

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  61. These are so cute! Too bad mine and my daughters heads are too flat for headbands like these to stay on. They just slip right off our heads... nice... right? :) I'm off to figure out a way to do this as a traditional headband. hmmm.

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  62. i'm squeeling too! love it! love the tip too! awesome!

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  63. CUTE!

    what is your version made out of ?

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  64. Your child is really cute. your relation is very natural. i am now dreaming of a family through getting married. i am just 19 years old.....amazing!

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  65. You need to make these items and sell them. God has blessed you with a talent and you should share it with others (and make some spending money for other projects{)

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  66. This is adorable! I love these headbands. I love headbands, but I feel like I've gotten a little to old for plastic or flowery ones. I think I could pull this one off.

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  67. My favorite part of this post is the obvious love between you and your daughter, it's so touching and beautiful. Keep up the good work :)

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  68. I don't know that I've commented here before but I've followed for a while now and I really wanted to tell you how inspiring and creative your blog is. I love your beautiful creations! Thank you for sharing...so wonderfully gracious of you!

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  69. I just recently found your blog and I am loving keeping up with it! This tutorial is wonderful, I definitely want to try making these headbands sometime. Thanks for the great reads! :)

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  70. Love this. Can't wait to try it! And I love the sweet pictures of you and your daughter.

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  71. you are one talented lady...that is awesome especially after its made from a .50cent thift store cosmetic bag

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  72. Hi Disney (and always-so-cute-Paige),

    I have red your blog like months now, but I have not never writed a comment for you (because I really suck with english..). You are my favourite blogger and I stop here check your blog like twice (atleast) a day (oh why I'm confessing this..:D)..so I think now it's time to say something perhaps..

    This headband is lovely, first I think "OOH, so pretty, I'm so making this!" but then I remembered..I have already made something quite similar leather bow... :D (If you want to see it: http://madambc.blogspot.com/2010/06/kolmen-kerroksen-vakea.html - although you won't understand any of my writings, because for now I'm writing only in finnish..:)

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  73. OH Disney, this is so creative! I totally love this headband! I am definitely going to try it out! I don't know how you come up with these ideas, but thank you so much for sharing!

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  74. Really nice headbands, Disney! Thanks for the tip about using velcro, the headbands always slip away from my head.

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  75. Wow! Those are sooo cute! Have a great weekend! xo

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  76. Simple, sweet and classic...I love it! I'm going to make one today!

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  77. Love, love, love it. And it looks so easy to make!

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  78. BAAA! I am dying over this.... will be making some TODAY! THanks Disney!

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  79. Super cute!! your daughter is such a doll!

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  80. I have lots of makeup bags that I don't use!! What a great way to recycle these things!

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  81. Darling headbands! Oh so cute! Seriously. Wow. The photos are amazing as well! =) "Wonky" ...that is SUCH a cool word. ;) I'm gonna have to start using that!! =D

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  82. wow those are beautiful!!! thanks =)

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  83. TOTALLY cute. You are so inventive!

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  84. Love the headband, but absolutely ADORE the pictures :) Great photos and what a cute little girl.

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  85. Your headbands are adorable, but they pale next to your scrumptious little model.

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  86. Um...perfect just perfect. Thanks!

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  87. I have a weakness for the color of your daughter's headband..anything in leather that shade I am drawn too...and I am also a fan of an aforementioned Lauren...:)
    I recently stumbled upon your blog and immediately fell for it...I keep coming back hoping you got adventurous and double posted or something in one day..ha...like we have time for that :) I also really really really love Jesus and one more thing.
    Stop forgetting everything--a reminder from your neighborly blog follower. HA

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  88. Wow. Wow. Wow. I love this!!! I am completely amazed at your creativity.

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  89. So cute and I think my husband has that exact old ditty bag!

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  90. You tea stained the elastic? Disney, you're a genius!!

    Love this head band! So classy.

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  91. I am in love! Those headbands are gorgeous!!! I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-elegant-headband-from-scrap-vinyl/2010/07/10/

    --Anne

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  92. It's beautiful! I loved the this tutorial. It is always with God. Hugs

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  93. so perfect! love the idea and thanks for sharing!! :)

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  94. DARLING! Thx so much for the tutorial!

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  95. Sooooooo cute! I love it and can't wait to make some. I love headbands and this is the most adorable one I've seen :)

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  96. I wanted to feature these the moment I saw them, but I waited! Now I know why I wanted! I'm honoring you (and this last post) my somedaycrafts.blogspot.com one last time. I'm so sad for us!!!!

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  97. I love this idea. Could I steal a photo so I can point to your post from my blog?

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  98. I love the headbands! I am completely amazed at your creativity. I can't wait to make my own :) Anyway, you two look really GREAT! Love your photos, so SWEET! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  99. these are too cute. and the photographs, even better!

    happy sunday ladies :]

    teenie xo
    {etsy shop} www.wellies.etsy.com
    {blog} www.loveandwells.blogspot.com

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  100. This is absolutely perfect for Fall! I nanny two little girls and they LOVE to make headbands and bows. I showed them this project and we are going to try it Thursday! Love love love it!

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  101. Thanks so much for the awesome tutorial! I can't wait to get started. I posted a link on my blog ziggycrafts.blogspot So cute!

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  102. this is SO great and your photos with your sweet girl are darling!
    xo.
    k

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  103. Thanks for tghis great tutorial and lovely idea!

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  104. Your photos are priceless. The headbands are great, too.

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  105. I loved these so much! I made some for my daughter (and myself) and linked to your blog.
    http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/

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  106. You two are absolutely adorable together! So very sweet. I hope you have all of these images printed out for your little one when she grows up. She will love to look back on these. I know because my little girl just started college and she adores looking back on fun photos like these and reminiscing.
    ~Tammy =)

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  107. You're so creative...and economical! I can't believe you used a thrifted cosmetic bag for the headband!

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  108. I love these! I'm not into frilly, but I love these simple bows.

    Another way the bows could be done, for those who have trouble getting their fingers to cooperate ;) , is to make a complete loop, set it on top of a separate complete loop made from a slightly longer strip, then pinch them in the middle and add the center wrap. (This is how I guessed you'd done it, just from looking at the pictures. Your way is more efficient, I think, but a tad trickier to hold in place while you complete it.)

    @Ella - You should be able to just glue the band to a cheap dollar store headband instead of attaching elastic.

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  109. Love this and tried it out. Thanks for the idea.
    tara

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  110. so chic, a feature is on the horizon!!! love the simplicity and def the origin. That cosmetic case never looked so good.

    Feel free to stop by and link up to my Make & Share 1st edition Fridays if you like.

    ~ Christy

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  111. Just... so beautiful!!! So cute!!! Thanks for the tutorial, I think I'm gonna make the same for my little princess ;-)

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  112. great tutorial! :) i used it and made one in felt!

    http://littleprojectsinstyle.blogspot.com/2011/06/craft-felt-ribbon-doggie-accessory.html

    thanks!!
    xx

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  113. Creative ideas, my baby love it. thanks

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  114. this is wonderful!! super duper lovely...i love it and wanna try it out :)

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  115. So pretty! I actually just did a post on making headbands on my blog too. (E.C.B. (Especially Creative Broad)) I love the one I made using jewelry chain, but I haven't tried leather yet!

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  116. Great tutorial and adorable pics! I included it in my roundup of fabulous and free headband tutorials and you can check it out here: http://darlingadventures.com/?p=470

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  117. This is amazing! I have been reading your blog all day and am so inspired....looking at clothing catalogs I'm thinking to myself "how can I make this out of something I have around the house?" You are inspiring my creativity and I love it. Love the headbands; I have an old purse to be cut up just calling my name! :)

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  118. in spain we love your headbands!! They are so wonderfull (excuse my english please.... sorry!!) I will made it for my 4 years old baby... good job!!

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  119. i love your hairbands.....i'll made this headband for my littel sis...

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