SORRY THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW FULL

I hope you are enjoying this beauitful weather, from the amount of traffic on the Dorset roads it would appear that most of you are heading for the beach - have fun.  Tony and I love our walks on the beach, but we have a tendancy to go "off" season!! 

Challenge time..... we know some of you have been eagerly waiting for this new challenge to start. With the sun blazing we have called this challenge "Summer Fizz".  Everyone is welcome "long termers" to "first timers".

Would you like to take part in our Ribbon Challenge # 6?

A collection of fun summer ribbons, enhanced with butterflies and flowers, also included are the new "Word Blooms" by Alpha Tags.  We have 10 free bundles of ribbons (5 Orange, 5 Pink) to give away, each bundle will contain lengths of the new ribbons (NOT on the website - yet!).  All we ask in return for these ribbons are two cards or projects made from these fizzy summer ribbons!  The ribbons can be used to enhance all forms of card making, projects or ATC's.

If you are up to the challenge, then send us an email to info@craftyribbons.com marked RIBBON CHALLENGE # 6!  The first 10 to reply will be sent an email requesting address details so we can send your free ribbons!!  Your finished cards will be posted onto our blog.

I really enjoyed working with these new ribbons, I hope you get a chance to play with them too.

Regular readers of our blog are fully aware how dotty we are about ribbon here at Crafty Ribbons!  We have received so many NEW deliveries that we have a back log of ribbons to add to our website, so we have been hard at it - promise!

This range is called "Lots a Dots" and is dedicated to black, white and red ribbons with DOTS!!!  Small dots, large dots, sheer dots, velvet dots, grosgrain dots - as I said dotty about ribbon.  Nearly forgot - we have added ladybirds to this dotty range, well they do have spots.

Alpha-Tags have also designed a range of matching tags - as always these are exclusive to Crafty Ribbons.  The card they have used is wicked, I love the ladybird tags, oh and the tag with all the writing - I think I love them all!!!

Tag Set 1

Tag Set 2

We all hope you have a fantastic weekend, Ali Bev and myself are taking part in Race for Life in Dorchester on Sunday.  Although I think we will be doing a lot more walking than planned as Ali is nursing an injury.  She got a pair of Heelys (yep, the trainers with wheels in the heels) for her birthday, she had been doing awfully well.  BUT.... you guessed it, she fell over and landed firmly on her bottom - we told her she had ample padding there!!!!!  I think it is a little bit more painful then she is making out.

See you Monday

Rachie

I have spent the day catching up!  May is not a good month for me, it is amazing how an event 25 years ago can still have a huge impact on your life.  I can see the faint light of June ahead, so starting to feel better.

We have today added 10 fresh and fun colours to our eyelash collection.  These NEW colours are NOT for the faint hearted, they will bring an extra zing to every project.

There are now 16 colours in the range, and still amazing value at 3mtrs for £1.00 or you can choose the Collection Pack for £7.00 which will have 10 assorted colours.

Dorothy sent in these two wonderful kaliedoscope cards of Sydney and Mollie.  

     

I seem to be having one of those days, my fomatting has gone to pot, my car is sick and has just been picked up by a transporter - think I will go home!!  Before I go, I will let you into a secret, I am working on the next challenge but am struggling as to which NEW range of ribbons to use, so keep your eyes posted.

Many thanks for Birthday wishes, I had a great day. 

Phew.... what a busy weekend, it was almost a relief to get back to work this morning!!

I managed to finish my embroidery project, without too many late nights.  It was Mollie's Christening on Sunday and I have been working on a little jacket to go over her christening gown.

Rachie really wanted me to embroider the Christening gown, but as it is a family gown, Rachie being the last baby to wear it (does this make it an antique!!) I was reluctant to do so. The jacket seemed to be the perfect answer.

I used silk ribbon, 2 shades of pink and antique white for the flowers and the French Knots in 7mm and 4mm for the leaves.  I wanted it to look fresh so made it quite a simple design. I only used 3 different stitches, five petal ribbon stitch flowers with french knot centres, french knot roses and ribbon stitch leaves.  I also scattered a few single french knots around the design to "fill" any gaps.

The jacket had small shell buttons, but they looked rather dark and heavy, so I embroidered a french knot rose to the centre of each button.

I embroidered a matching card for Mollie. After all this hard work, Sunday was a scorcher and Mollie only needed the jacket in Church!  Well never mind.......

It was also my birthday over the weekend, the girls made a surprise birthday party for me today, with a cake and candles.  It was lovely, thank you.

We are having a Christmas Ribbon SALE.

Yes, we know it is only May BUT....

..... we have been restocking our ribbon shelves and we need more space.  Ali has been buying so many NEW ribbons that we will need a larger warehouse soon!!!!

All the Christmas ribbons have been in our main range and on the website.  We only have limited stocks of these ribbons and they will not be repeatable.  We have really priced them to sell them (we do need the space!) 

1mtr lengths were £1.00 now 20p

20mtr rolls were £14.00 now £4.00

We hope you find a early Christmas Bargain

Although I make lots of cards, normally for Ali to display at her exhibitions, this was the first time I had made cards in "bulk".  Mollie is being christened on Sunday and so to my craft room I headed. 

Ali printed the ribbon for me, and I selected the netting and the lace edged ribbon (one of Ali's new summer ribbons) from the warehouse and had a play.  I had to make 60 cards so I wanted the design to be very simple.  I am a collector of the "Me to You" teddies and have over 200!! and Mollie has 4, so the centre flower fitted the bill.

Got a day off tomorrow to get a few things ready for Sunday.

Rachie

I think I really challenged some of you with these ribbons, I know it was a little tricky for some.  But that's what a challenge is all about, and you have all come up with some magnificent cards and projects.  It really amazes us how some of these creations are made.  Well here goes....... I hope you are sitting comfortably as there is a lot to see.

Before I start I should tell you I took the cards to our local woods to photograph, and the lighting depended on which way the tree above me was being blown by the wind!!!  I almost jumped out of my skin when a dog came to investigate what I was doing!

Beryl made this wicked canvas featuring her westie Harley at 4 months old, isn't he gorgeous. The background was created using Tim Hiltz Distress Inks - never tried those.

The two cards above are also from Beryl, I love the pink one.

Carol made this card with a photo of her dog Neo.  He is a black lab and was 15weeks old. Just perfect.

Carol also made the 2 cards above.  The stamp used is called "Uplifting Occasions"  it caused a giggle in the office.

These 2 cards were made by Jan, the taggy ribbons at side of the top card have been threaded through eyelets, so it is like a hinged book.  Very ingenious Jan.

Linda's card features her cat Wolfie.  Wolfie lives in Scotland with her 2 humans, she leads a very busy life looking after them and ruling the neighbourhood as she is the boss cat!  She is nearly 2 years old.

Linda said she took a little while to work up inspiration for these cards.  They are fantastic Linda.

This is Margarets first challenge with us, her three cards are above.  The pop up card is great fun, with the cats peering through the greenery.  Hope you enjoyed working with the ribbons Margaret.

Marjorie also struggled to find inspiration, then "ping" she goes and makes 4 cards.  This was the first time she had thought of making a childs card.  Great idea to cut the paws out from the ribbon to use on the cat card.

I had seen Natalie's cards on her blog but was getting rather upset that maybe they had got lost in the post.  But they were delivered on Friday.... phew!  They are gorgeous.

Natalie also sent in this decorated box (the white ones we send the challenge ribbons in).  This a really good idea, maybe I should include an empty box with the next challenge - what do you think?

Tina (who was not last!!!!) altered CD. Brilliant.

This card features Tina's dog Poppy her mini labrador who is almost 2.  Poppy is with her friend Brodie who she loves, Brodie is almost 3 and a westie. 

Tina also made this fab box..... with a surprise

What a delight, it's amazing.

Tracey and Paul came up with another stunning pair of cards.

Wilma sent this enchanting cat card, I am sure it follows me around the room!

Wilma also sent in the stunning album, I first saw it on her blog and could not believe she had made it for the challenge.  Do you want to have a look in side?

The album is about her 2 wonderful dogs, Brodie 14 years and Domino 11 years.

They are never happier than when they are near water!

Domino - Dogs Laugh with their tails!!!

Lets play hide and seek

Wilma I am speechless, thank you so much it is a work of art.

We are still waiting for a few more to arrive, I gather Maggie is in New York and Sue has just got a new puppy and seems to have no time for crafting!!

Thank you all so much for the time, creativity and love you have put into this challenge - will I be able to inspire you as much with the next one?!

Do you remember the feeling you had on the last day of summer term.  You were really looking forward to be out of school but a little sad that you would not be seeing your friends for a while.

Well that's how Tony and I felt last night night leaving the Malvern Quilt Fair.  It was the last show of our spring season, and we have no more until the end of September.  We are pleased to say we ended the season on a cracker, one of the best Malverns we have ever had!  We would like to thank all our regular customers for stopping by to say hello.  A big thank you "Dolly Dumpsters" Mummy for the Lemon Drizzle Cake - it did not last long!!!!  It was great to finally meet Julie, whose  parcels aways go astray.

What are we going to do without any shows - well Tony and I are off to Barbados for the summer..... No not really.  We have lots planned, new challenges, lots of new ribbons, we make a promise to keep you in touch with the ribbon world.

For those of you who saw the start of my new embroidery project, I will post it on the blog early next week.  It has to be finished for Sunday, so I think I will be burning the midnight oil!!!

Hope you all had a great weekend, I will be back later with Muddy Paws!

I am having a lovely time in Malvern, the quilts are just amazing and so inspirational.  The hours of time and quality of work that has gone into every quilt is staggering.  I had a wander around the show this afternoon and some of the quilts took my breath away.  One of my favourites was this little quilt below.

This quilt is just fantastic, such fine detail.

This was one of the entrys in the miniature quilt section and had been choosen the winner by the judges!!  So this was the quilt that has won the Crafty Ribbons cup.  I am so pleased it is such a fun and  enchanting little quilt, I would love to take it home.

For those of you that have be asking, the cards from our ribbon challenge # 5 will be posted on the blog on Monday. 

Our Muddy Paws Ribbon is now on our website.

A delightful collection of Paw Print ribbons, in a range of wicked colours.  Cherry Red, Ice White, Lime, Shocking Pink, Tan, Baby Pink, Sky Blue and a scrummy Grape all printed with chocolate paws. A grosgrain ribbon 15mm wide that is fully washable!

We also have a collection of matching tags, made by Alpha-Tags that are exclusive to Crafty Ribbons.

We are still waiting for some of the cards to arrive back from our Ribbon Challenge # 5 - Please can you pop them in the post to us!!!

Walking with Dinosaurs? .......Well ribbon ones!!

A small collection of grosgrain ribbons printed with 3 different types of Dinosaurs. 

Ali is having great fun at the Quilt Fair in Malvern (the weather is being kind to her!), we are sure she will be showing you some quilts soon.

Have a great weekend