Celebrate team spirit and support breast cancer awareness with this stunning DIY Pink Cheer Bow project. Designed with layers of glitter vinyl and grosgrain ribbon, this handmade accessory shines bright on and off the field. Perfect for school cheer teams, this step-by-step guide walks you through how to create durable, professional-quality bows using Cricut Design Space, simple cutting tools, and a few crafting essentials.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crafter, this Pinktober cheer bow tutorial is a fun, rewarding project that adds a personalized touch to your cheer gear.
Materials List
Here’s everything you’ll need to recreate this bow:
- 3-inch grosgrain ribbon (cut to 30 inches)
- Pink glitter HTV vinyl
- White glitter HTV vinyl
- Cricut Maker or cutting machine (optional)
- Craft knife
- Ruler
- Paper cutter
- Glue gun
- Scissors (regular and fabric scissors)
- Double-sided adhesive dots or strips
- Resin (optional for extra shine or sealing edges)
- EasyPress or heat press (set to 320°F)
- Teflon sheet for pressing
- Ponytail holder and mini zip tie
- Lighter or wood burner (to seal ribbon edges)
- Pre-cut vinyl shapes (stars, names, and years)
- Cricut Design Space (for cutting and font setup)
Optional but helpful: Cheer bow measurement template, dowel for pressing glue, and a silicone mat.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Ribbon and Vinyl
- Measure and cut your grosgrain ribbon into 30-inch strips.
- Cut your pink and white glitter vinyl into 3 x 14-inch strips using a paper cutter.
- If using a Cricut Maker, load the vinyl onto a 12×12 mat—but hand cutting with a ruler and craft knife is often faster and saves your blade.
2. Design in Cricut Design Space
- Open Cricut Design Space and create a 3 x 14-inch rectangle for your bow base.
- For the center loop, design a 0.3 x 5-inch strip using the “Shape” tool.
- To create custom stars, insert two stars, align, center, and slice to form a star outline. Resize to 1.17 x 1.03 inches.
- For names and graduation years:
- Use Little League font for numbers like “2025”.
- Use Quill Standard Regular or a script font for names.
- Adjust width to under 3 inches to fit ribbon.
- Weld script letters to smooth out cuts and avoid overlaps.
- Mirror all iron-on designs before cutting.
3. Cut and Weed Vinyl
- Cut all vinyl pieces according to your Cricut settings (glitter iron-on material).
- Weed out excess vinyl, leaving only the letters, stars, and decorative shapes.
- Keep your stars and names sorted by player if making multiple bows.
4. Heat Press Vinyl onto Ribbon
- Fold ribbon in half to find the center crease.
- Place pink and white glitter vinyl (glitter side up) onto ribbon.
- Cover with a Teflon sheet and press at 320°F for 20 seconds.
- Peel while warm, then give a quick re-press for a few seconds to secure adhesion.
- Repeat on the opposite side, aligning evenly.
5. Assemble the Design
- Using your cheer bow template or ruler, align vinyl logos, names, and stars.
- Lightly tack down each layer with your heat press for a few seconds to avoid shifting.
- Place stars and numbers strategically for balance and visibility.
- Once complete, let the bow cool before adding the adhesive backing.
6. Form the Cheer Bow
- Fold the ribbon accordion-style: down, up, down, up for three creases.
- Secure the center with a mini zip tie and loop in a pony holder before tightening.
- Adjust folds evenly so names and decorations face front.
- Trim tails diagonally for a polished look.
- Seal the ribbon ends with a lighter or wood burner to prevent fraying.
7. Add the Center Wrap
- Peel the vinyl backing from the pre-cut center strip.
- Add hot glue along the inside edge.
- Wrap around the bow center, securing neatly in back.
- Use a dowel or craft stick to press the glued area safely (avoid burns!).
- Remove any glue strings once cooled.
Pro Tips & Crafting Guidelines
- Temperature: Keep your EasyPress at 320°F for glitter vinyl.
- Pressure: If using an older blade, set Cricut pressure to “More” for clean cuts.
- Time-saving tip: Cut long vinyl strips by hand rather than Cricut for faster prep.
- Blade longevity: Reserve Cricut cutting for detailed names and stars only.
- Neat adhesion: Always crease the ribbon before pressing to align vinyl perfectly.
- Avoid bubbles: Peel vinyl while warm and smooth gently with a cloth.
Troubleshooting
- Vinyl not sticking: Ensure you mirrored the design and used enough heat/pressure.
- Edges lifting: Re-press with the Teflon sheet for a few seconds.
- Misaligned folds: Re-crease the ribbon center before tying.
- Uneven cuts: Use a paper cutter for straight, consistent vinyl strips.
- Burned fingers: Use a dowel or silicone-tipped tool when pressing glued areas.
Creative Variations
- Use team colors or metallic vinyl instead of pink and white.
- Add polka dots, hearts, or custom mascots in Cricut Design Space.
- Create seasonal themes: red and green for Christmas, silver and blue for winter showcases.
- Personalize with player numbers, nicknames, or motivational words.
- Add a resin overlay for a glossy, professional finish.
Final Results
Your finished Pink Cheer Bow sparkles with layered glitter vinyl, crisp folded edges, and personalized details. It’s lightweight, durable, and perfect for Pinktober cheer events or any themed performance. The layered vinyl design ensures a bold, custom look that stands out under stadium lights or during pep rallies.
Conclusion
Creating your own cheer bows doesn’t have to be complicated — with a few simple tools and this step-by-step cheer bow tutorial, you can produce professional-quality results right from home.
Try this design for your next team order or fundraiser, and experiment with new colors and patterns!
➡️ Visit AllDIYCrafts.com for more DIY crafting tutorials, Cricut design projects, and creative ideas for every season.