That Extra Touch - Ribbon, Hemp, Fiber, Twine...

Ribbon: It's one of the most basic supplies to keep on hand. Inexpensive, versatile, tactile and (most important) fun to use. Use ribbon in all your rubberstamping and scrapbooking projects. carries a full line of grosgrain, organdy, gingham, cording, hemp, fibers and twine.

Tips for Ribbon:

• Trim the ends of the ribbon at an angle to prevent unraveling.
• Use sharp, clean scissors like 's paper snips.
• Remember that it always takes more ribbon to tie a bow, so cut more than you think you’ll need, then trim the excess.
• Use ’s mini glue dots to adhere your ribbon easily and securely. Other ways to attach ribbon include using brads, eyelets, punched holes, stitching, tied in knots, stapled, ... the possibilities are endless.
• Use a punch in keeping with the size ribbon. A hole too large will allow the ribbon to shift around and will not be as attractive
  • Use a rectangle handheld punch to create opening perfect for wider organdy and strips of fabric
  • Use a 1/8 or 1/16 punch for cording and twine
  • Use a ¼ or 1/8 punch for grosgrain, hemp, fibers, narrow organdy
     
• To thread heavier ribbon through buttons, charms, eyelets, etc. try this...
  • Bend the wire in half.
  • Poke the bent end of the wire up through the hole or slit in your page.
  • Insert the ribbon or raffia through the bend wire.
  • Pull the wire back though the hole, pulling the ribbon with it.
     
• If creating a free standing bow to add to a card or scrapbook page as an accent, create the bow while ribbon is still attached to spool, this prevents unnecessary waste.

CREATIVE THINGS TO TRY WITH RIBBON

CURLING RIBBON with Heat Tool
Materials:
Heat Tool
Organdy Ribbon
Tweezer/Clip/Clothespin to hold ribbon while heating if not already attached to project

Instructions:
You can curl the ribbon after it is attached as a bow to a project or curl it before use.
Attached – hold heat tool close to ribbon and quickly pull away as ribbon starts to curl.
Unattached – hold object with tweezer, clip and again hold heat tool close to ribbon and quickly pull away as ribbon starts to curl.
 

DYED RIBBON
Cut ribbon length. Hold ribbon down on open pad with a sponge. Gently pull ribbon end to dye length of ribbon. The more times you run your ribbon through the color, the darker the ribbon becomes. Ink on ribbon will not dry as fast as ink on paper. Blot the ribbon with tissue or paper towel
*run gingham ribbon over a caramel, light brown ink pad to “antique it”
 

STAMPING ON RIBBON
Use rubber stamps and ink to apply images/words to ribbon. Create great custom looks and perfectly coordinated ribbon accents.
 

PRINTING ON RIBBON, CORK & Other flat materials
Materials:
Sheet Cork - thin, can be found at your local craft store
Cross Stitch fabric - any size (although the more squares per inch is easier to work with)
Anything else that is flat and inspires you to experiment - such as: fabric ribbon, paper ribbons, denim, muslin, etc.
Photo Tape - 3L
Computer Printer - please note: not all printers are set up to allow the thickness of fabric taped to cardstock. It will work especially well with printers that feed the paper directly through the machine without having to roll it over (in other words, top feed paper trays may work better with this technique). Please use caution to avoid damaging your printer.

Instructions:

1. Print words on white cardstock. You need this heavier weight paper to support the other items you wish to print on to.

2.  Use Photo Tape to adhere the cork, ribbon, or fabric directly over the top of the words you printed on the cardstock. Only tape around the edges.

3. Place the sheet in the printer and print again. The words will print in exactly the same place on the sheet, thus they will now print on top of whatever surface you taped in place.

4. Carefully peel the ribbon, fabric, or cork off of the cardstock. The Photo Tape will want to adhere to the cardstock more than to the other items so if you peel slowly, you can usually remove your items leaving the tape on the paper, which can now be thrown away.

5. Use your words on borders, tags, cards, in your journaling on pages, and more. 
    

IDEAS FOR USE:

• Stamp On

• Tea Dye

• Heat Organdy with heat tool

• Try taking a piece of thin ribbon and wrapping it around your whole layout or piece of cardstock for an eye-catching embellishment.

• Break out of your box and layer the background of your next page with ribbon as a replacement to patterned paper.

• Tie small pieces of ribbon to other embellishments that you have and give them a whole new flavor!

• Use ribbon in a masculine way by tying it in knots instead of bows.

• Link pieces of cardstock or patterned paper together like a shoelace to add a unique look to your next layout.

• Add the perfect touch to your next baby layout by adding a soft piece of silk ribbon.

• Print a quote, title or journaling on a piece of twill ribbon and stick it on your next project, you’ll love the results!

• Hang a frame, matted photo or journaling box

• Use a scarf on snowman

• Tie flowers together to form bouquet

• Create ribbon flowers

• Add to square pieces of paper to create wrapped packages

• Braid several colors or types of ribbon together to form accent

• Tie memorabilia envelopes/pockets closed

• Run ribbon through xyron machine to create self adhesive ribbon

• Create border on cards, scrapbook pages

• Weave ribbon together to create baskets, interesting mats for photos, “rugs” for scrapbook pages, etc.

• Use shape punches on larger/wider ribbon
   

NOTE:  Click on each image to view a larger image of it!

 
Ways to tie off your ribbon – by Karen Biedronski:
       

Gingam Ribbon Samples: