Tada!
Well for my birthday I got a bicycle. It is red and shiny. I haven't had a bicycle since I was a kid and I love Murray the Moulton.
However, it needed streamers. I can't be riding along like a child without streamers. Turns out streamers are expensive (more expensive than I thought anyway) and also none matched my bike. So I made my own! This will work on old and children's bicycles, might not work on a regular grown-up bike – you need a hole in the handlebars.
Anyway...I did a tutorial in case anyone else would like some ribbon streamers!
Here’s all the things I used. Although not the glue. Glue was not the answer in this case, it makes the ribbon go funny and left my hands a sticky mess. What you will need are ribbons (8 x 1m (40”) lengths or 4 x 2m (80”) lengths, any ribbon will work!) , hi-tac double sided tape (you could use glue etc), 2 paintbrushes, scissors. Optional extras are a scalpel (or use scissors), a lighter (or candles or a bit of PVA glue), pony beads.
The paintbrush kit was 27p (less than 50c), you’ll need two for this. For those in the UK it is Wilkinson’s value paint palette.
First things first, cut all the bristles off. I used a scalpel, but to make this a more kid-friendly project, scissors will work fine.
Next cut the ribbon into ½m legths (20”) in two equal piles, one for each streamer. If your ribbons are different widths, I suggest leaving the widest for last and starting with the narrowest. I had two wide red ribbons for each streamer, so I used one first and one last.
Using the hi-tac permanent double sided, I put the tape on the ribbon for the first few (the tape is clear, it’s just the backing that is red).
Slowly build up covering joins with the next ribbon.
With two wider ribbons to go, I started taping around and then sticking the ribbons on, just to make sure the first few ribbons were really tightly stuck.
Finished off with some ribbon wrapped around (hiding the messy edges!) Although I would not recommend the silver ribbon, it wasn’t as neat as I hoped.
Wait! I’m not done. The other ends of the ribbons will fray in no time if left, so now they just need a trim to even them up, and seal to prevent fraying. My preferred method is to get a lighter and melt the ends (couldn’t take a picture due to not having enough hands) just hold the ribbon NEAR the flame and it should melt slightly, then just pinch to seal and done! However, if you want to do this as a kids project, dipping the ends in a little PVA glue and letting dry works well too, or fold over with some of the double sided tape. Alternatively thread and bead and knot the end. I thread some pony beads onto the ribbons, this is optional but I couldn’t resist the glitter and glow in the dark beads.
Finished ends:
Now just thread into the handle
Done!
[Mods, pretty sure this is miscellaneous, feel free to move it if you think it is better suited elsewhere!]
Show Topics
I know it's caused by temperature changes, but I'm confused as I was so careful. 
