Preparing Shield/Backing (Part 1)

• Cut 7 six-inch strips of #9 ribbon (Color A) and 7 six-inch strips of #3 ribbon (Color B)
• Cut 6 six-inch strips of #9 ribbon (Color B) and 6 six-inch strips of #3 ribbon (Color A)
• Lay a strip of #3 ribbon along a strip of #9 ribbon of the opposite color. The shiny side of both pieces should be facing up. 
• Take the ends of the ribbons between the thumb and forefinger of each hand.
• Bring the ends together to form a point.
• Staple the ends together.
• Continue until all 13 points are made.

Preparing Shield/Backing (Part 2)

• Staple the points onto a cardboard shield or backing.
• With Color A: Position the 7 identical points to form the outside row of points around the shield. Staple the first three points at the 12-, 9-, and 3-o'clock positions.
• Fill the remaining four points in between the three already positioned.
• With Color B: Position the 6 identical points to form the inside row of points around the shield.
• Fill these points between the points of the outside row.

Preparing Streamers

• Using #9 ribbon, cut 10 thirty-inch streamers. (This length can vary depending on the desires of the designer.) Make 5 of the streamers using color A and 5 using color B.
• If desired, put lettering on the streamers. Use pre-made letters or make them using glue and glitter.
• Cut another 30" streamer of either color A or B. Lay this streamer shiny side up on the table.
• Working to the left and alternating colors, lay down 5 streamers. They should overlap at the top and fan out towards the bottom.
• Staple these together.
• Follow the same procedure for the remaining streamers.
• Staple all streamers together.
• Staple the streamers onto the shield.

Accessories

• Purchase accessories for your mums from a hobby shop or Plush in a Rush
• Choose several accessories to add to the mum. They may include miniature footballs, helmets, bells, etc.
• Tie or glue the accessories to strands of #1 ribbon. Vary the length of ribbon strands.
• Staple the strands to the backing.

Braided Chains

• Braided love chains can be added to the football mum. Two popular types of chains are the two-stranded and three-stranded chains.
• Cut a 6’ section of ribbon from each of color A and color B. Use #3 ribbon.
• Staple the ends of the ribbon together to form an L. One strand should have the shiny side facing upward. The other side should have the dull side facing upward.

• Make a loop about 3/4" with the dull strand.
• Make a loop of equal size with the shiny strand. Bring this loop through the loop of the dull strand.
• Make a loop again with the dull strand and bring it up through the loop of the shiny strand.
• Follow this procedure, keeping the strands tight. However do no pull the strands too tight or else the chain will begin bending in an arch.
• When completed, staple the ends of the two strands together.
• Make a small bow using #3 ribbon. Hot glue the bow onto one end of the chain.
• Attach to the streamers.

Attaching Flower to Shield

• Using a hot glue gun, spread hot glue over the exposed shield.
• Attach the flower to the shield.
• Apply slight pressure until glue has dried.

Making a Large Bow

• Using two strands of #3 ribbon (one of each color), make a large bow about the same width of the completed shield.
• Glue the bow onto the small streamers, beneath the flower.