Oh I have had a wonderful time playing with ribbons this weekend.  I finally caught the cold/flu/virus/bug thing that everyone in the warehouse has had, so it was perfect just to sit back feeling sorry for myself and indulge in my pleasure of ribbon. More of that later, first we have the Friday FREEBIE winner.  I managed to get an action shoot of the number being picked by Mollie.

The Friday FREEBIE winner is.....

....Number 9 Craftykitten

Craftykitten wrote - "Yummy, piles of pink prettiness to play with how cool would that be!!  Good luck with your wall, lets hope you find loads of yumminess for more Friday Freebies!!
Hugs
Dawn x"

Congratulations Dawn, we hope you will be "Tickled Pink" with your prize, please do leave a comment and send us your address to craftyribbons@gmail.com. Thank you for all the other wonderful comments, Rachie and I did not make it all the way through the WALL! All you could hear were "Oooohs" and "Arrrrrhs" as we opened a new box. We will be back on WALL duty later in the week. 

We all LOVE Ribbon (I don't think that is in question!) and I LOVE Flowers, so I have combined my two LOVES - Ribbon Flowers. Every day this week I am going to show you how to make a different ribbon flower, a bloom a day!

Shaggy Ribbon Flower

This Shaggy Ribbon Flower looks great and is really easy (I Promise) to make, this side view shows you how shaggy it is!

It is a while since my last tutorial, but here goes.  (Apologies for the state of my thumb, I had an accident on Friday with one of the boxes from the WALL.)

1.  Gather all your bits together.  You will need a needle and strong thread, a small button (the spotty ones can be found HERE).  The ribbon I used is a 22cm length of 40mm Grosgrain (HERE), but you can use any ribbon width, just change the length that you use.

2.  My grosgrain ribbon had wired edges, so I just eased back the ribbon to find the end of the wire, then pulled it out. Repeat for the other side.

3.  Thread the needle with strong sewing thread, you have to pull the thread really tight, so test the thread first to make sure it will not break, put a knot at the end of the thread.  Fold the ribbon in half width-wise and sew along the top edge, do not make your stitches too small, about 8-9mm and the same distance from stitch to stitch. 

4.  Continue sewing along the length of the ribbon.

5.  Once all sewn, it should look like this, remove the needle and open up the ribbon to remove the gathers.

6.  Snip the ribbon about 1cm apart, do not go all the way to the sewn line.  Continue snipping all the way along the length of ribbon.

7.  Gather up the ribbon, pull it really tight and knot the thread to hold the gathers in place.  Make a second knot to be safe.

8.  Your ribbon may have already started to fray, if not rub it between your thumb and fingers.  This will loosen the fibres where it has been snipped.

9.  Sew the button to cover the hole in the centre of the flower.

Finished Shaggy Ribbon Flower.

I enjoyed making that, I now have a collection in different colours.  You do not have to use grosgrain ribbon, have a play with other types.  The more open weave the ribbon is the better "Shaggy" effect it will give.

Hope you will join me for tomorrows workshop, you will need a candle! 

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

This is going to be a long posting, I have lots of wonderful goodies to show you from our Ribbon Challenge # 4 - "Spring Time" 

I had great pleasure in taking "Spring Time" to Paris last week.  I decided to hang the cards on a washing line with the old fashioned dollie pegs.  We had no idea what the pegs were called in French (we got told it was "chevilles" but that means ankle!!!  I will never be able to speak French), but the ladies loved them - very English. 

Amanda made this wonderful wall hanging for us, it is a work of art.  Every letter has been cut out and a different ribbon has been put behind, dragonflies and flowers decorate each letter.  Sadly it did not arrive in time for Paris, she wanted to deliver it in person, but thought her hubby wouldn't stand for a trip to Paris!!

Amanda also made these two cards, great idea for the little butterfly charm.

Beryl made the 4 cards above, they are so different from each other.  We would like to send congratulations to Beryl as a new grand daughter arrived over the weekend.

Bev (yes our Bev) made these two cards - they are her first EVER cards!!  She was so worried about making them, but they are delightful, she has since raided my craft room as she has no supplies!

Carol made these two charming cards.  She kindly sent me a list of items she used to make the cards, so that I could become familiar with the stamps - great idea, thank you. Messey Rabbit Gardener is the top one and Planting some love is the one above.  Question "What are Nesties?"  Do I need them?

Cath made these fun cards above. Cath is Linda's daughter, she was home from uni and wanted to join in the challenge - her first one. Great start hope to see many more. Wicked Easter egg.

We think Dorothy had fun making this selection of goodies, the horse shoe with the ribbon case is a fab idea.  The frogs are brillant, although we do not do well in France with frogs - I wonder why!

I love the little "pins" that Jan uses on her cards, they are so very different. What great use of the ribbon road!

Leigh was not happy - I bought her some French peel offs, she thought they would be perfect for this challenge but she could not find them (until the day after she posted these cards!!)  I have some new French rub ons for her.  She is busy planning her sons wedding, so I am sure she will not need them for a while.

Marjorie what a great idea using the ribbon as a pot - love the colours.

Natalie the bunny card is so scrummy, and I just love the glazed effect you put on top of your images.

These cards were made by Sue, this was her first challenge and we hope she will join in with many more.

This Sue is part of our Crafty Team.  I asked Sue to cut 14 sets of "Spring Time" to send out, she lost count (that's what she said!) and cut 16. As punishment (I am a hard boss) I gave a set to her and Bev to join in on the challenge.

Tina made these cards above, she used one of the pictures from our blog for the top card, the colours are wonderful.  Tina also made us a tag album, I have never seen one of these it is wicked.

This is the front, she left the tags blank so that we could fill them in. All the pictures are from our blog.

This album was sat on our demo table in Paris, it caused such a stir as they had never seen anything like it. Well... trying to explain how to make it in English would be hard enough but in French!!  We had to remove it from display on Saturday - we could not cope!!

Once again another splendid couple of cards from Tracey and Paul.  So fresh and fun.

Wilma certainly hit the spot with her "Springtime in Paris", they all wanted the Eiffel tower stamp!!

Thank you all so much for the time and effort you put into your delightful creations.  It is amazing how over the 4 challenges the use of ribbon has changed.  Ribbon is always thought of as a "finishing" touch, added as a bow or a little trim, BUT it is quite apparent that now the ribbon is the main element on the card, and then the card is designed around it.

Happy Birthday Rachie - honest it is Rachies birthday today, not an April's fools joke!!

Poor Rachie has had to suffer, throughout our childhood we used to play some terrible jokes on her.  Sending happy birthday dear brother cards, putting her presents in the rubbish bin!  For her 18th, I gave her a large loaf of bread - it was a nice one, it came from Waitrose!!! I had cut a hole in the bottom and taken all the centre out to make room for her present, a camera.  I am always nice in the end!?

I made a lovely card for her today. I would like to point out that Rachie is mad about "Cows"!!!!

I even had the happy birthday ribbon specially printed for her - oh, and several hundred mtrs extra!!

As always my cards are made from ribbon.  I wrapped her prezzie up in white tissue paper and used the cow print ribbon to tie it up - it looked rather good.

Happy Birthday Rachie, hope you like all your goodies - have a great day.

SORRY THIS CHALLANGE IS NOW FULL 

Is spring here!?  Well, we have decided it is, at Crafty Ribbons.  So here is our new challenge - Spring Time

Would you like to take part in our Ribbon Challenge # 4? 

Be the first to see our NEW range of spring ribbons.  We have 10 free bundles of ribbons to give away, each bundle will contain lengths of all the new ribbons (NOT on the website - yet!).  All we ask in return for these ribbons are two cards made from these fresh spring ribbons! The ribbons can be used to enhance all forms of card making, rubber stamping to decoupage as long as it is around the "Spring Time" theme!!!!  You can even throw in a little bit of Easter if you wish. 

This daisy has been cut out of one of the ribbons in the Spring Time Collection.

If you are up to the challenge, then send us an email to info@craftyribbons.com marked RIBBON CHALLENGE #4! The first 10 to reply will be sent an email requesting address details so we can send your free ribbons!!   Your cards will be posted onto our website and will also be on display at the exhibitions we attend in the UK and France 2009    

These delightful cards are from our Ribbon Challenge #  3 - "Cupcakes Galore".  The cards have been on display on our exhibition stands in Glasgow, Birmingham and this weekend you can see them in London.  They are certainly well travelled cards, they will need passports for the next show, which is in Paris!!

Our cupcake collection has definately  hit the spot with the vistors to Olympia, the ribbons are selling like "hot cakes"!!  The cards are displayed across the front of our exhibition stand, which is right opposite the escalator, so they have been viewed by almost every visitor to the show.

   Amanda

   Amanda

   Carol

   Dorothy

   Jan

   Leigh

   Leigh

   Linda

   Marjorie

   Natalie

   Tina

   Tracey & Paul

   Wilma

   Bee

  Dorothy  (The photo is of Nicole her grandaughter who loves to make cards).

All these cards are wicked, thank you all for taking part in this ribbon challenge, I will have to brush up on some of the techniques you are using, so I can answer the admirers questions!  Oh!  Nearly forgot I have met Tilda and her brother, they are adorable.

Our ribbons have been used in this months issue (22) of Lets Make Cards!

 

Corrine Bradd, LMC Desiger has been super-busy going to great lengths, making fresh spring cards with our NEW RIBBONS.  Some of these ribbons are so NEW that they have not been put on the website yet, as they come from several different ranges, still to be launched.

So you do not miss out making these great projects and cards, we have put all the ribbons that Corrine used HERE!!

All the extra goodies you need - papers, cards, embellishments - will be included with the magazine.

Come on - Let‘s Make Cards! - with RIBBON!!!!!

The last of the Love Chocolate cards arrived today from Tina, they are sensational.  All the cards we received for this Ribbon Challenge # 2 have been stunning.  Thank you all so much

Tina was not happy with the flower card (Bev loved it- I will have to keep my eye on Bev!), Tina's favourite card was the chocolate bar.  I think the Pink Chocoholics Anonymous card would be perfect for my little neice Sydney.

We send the ribbon for the challenges out in white boxes, so the ribbons do not get squashed in the post ( similar to our Ribbonboxes).  Look what Beryl has done with hers from the Love Chocolate challenge!

Beryl thought she should keep chocolates in it for when she was crafting - great idea!!!

I was rather rushed the day I posted the Love Chocolate Cards and I ran out of time - sorry.  But here are a few more for you to enjoy.

The cards above are made by my great friend Leigh.  I always send her the bits that are left over!!  I do not think that she knows what a metre of ribbon looks like.  Anyway it goes to show what you can make from  a "little bit" of ribbon!!!  She will be pleased when she receives her post tomorrow - I sent her a full (yes, metre lengths) box of ribbons for the "Cupcake Galore" challenge # 3 - just like everyone else

Trisha sent in 3 fantastic cards for the challenge but I only had time to put 2 on the site.  This is her third one and it's wicked.  I got asked at the Make it show, the name of this little girl.  Can anyone help me out?

Must go, we are going to Rachie's for pancakes!!! (Bet I will end up cooking them!)

Our NEW collection of ribbons called Love Chocolate are on the website and will be at the Make It show in Farnborough this weekend.

We used this collection of ribbons for our Ribbon Challenge # 2, the quality of cards we received was just wicked and took our breath away.

   By Carol

    By Chrissy

     By Jan

     By Linda

     By Marjorie

     By Sue

     Tracey & Paul

     By Trish (we put your stickers on!)

You can see further details of these cards here

Thanks everyone, guess what will be coming up soon - yes, Ribbon Challenge # 3.  Keep your eyes posted!!