Shabby Chic Ice Skates Greeting Card

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  I think every little girl dreams of being able to glide gracefully across the ice.  This shabby chic ice skates greeting card is as close to that experience as this old gal will ever get!  Even though I grew up in Vermont, ice skating was not a strong suit!  But that does not prevent me from enjoying these pretty ice skates adorned with gorgeous ribbons from the December Ribbon Club!

I love using ribbon to create a border on a greeting card.  Shell Print Aqua Satin over Mineral Ice Checkerboard Satin ribbon adds wonderful texture and shine to the layout of this card.  Tie a triple bow with the Aqua Shell Print Satin for a frosty finish!

Adding ribbon to the inside of a card is such a lovely surprise.  Mineral Ice Checkerboard Satin Ribbon serves as the closure for this little folio insert.

Here's a peek at the goodies tucked inside the folio.  These little card folios make great holiday gifts!

If you haven't taken a peek at the December Ribbon Club Assortment, you might want to because the Winter Carnival colors are  extra scrumptious this month!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,
kathy

Puttin' on the Glitz Ribbon Christmas Folio

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  The holidays are all about puttin' on the glitz!  Even in our crafting!  Thankfully, Really Reasonable Ribbon has a wonderful selection of metallic ribbons that add just the right amount of sparkle to our holiday crafting!

This Red Glitz Ribbon has been paired up with Iridescent Metallic String for maximum shine. The really lovely thing about this ribbon is that it is surprisingly easy to tie.  It's not too thick, and not too stiff, so it makes gorgeous bows.  I've also used it to create a border on the cover of this Christmas folio.  1.5" Royal Blue Gingham Ribbon picks up on the wonderful blues in this vibrant collection.

If you'd like to take a peek inside this festive folio, then please enjoy this short video tour with tips and tricks.

Glitz ribbon comes in 10 glamorous shades, too. So if you want to add a little sparkle to your Christmas crafting, it's hard to beat!

Thanks for stopping by!
Cheerio,
kathy

Autumn Woodlands Folio and a new Ribbon Crush

Hello, Friends!  Oh, how I love fall!  This Autumn Woodlands Folio reminds me of walking on crunchy leaves under a warm blue sky as squirrels and little woodland creatures scurry all around me. 

See that beautiful ribbon closure?  It's my latest ribbon crush from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  This 3/4" Variegated Sheer Ribbon comes in a multitude of shades...and I might just have added them all to my shopping cart in my last trip to RRR.  This particular shade, Moss Green/Taupe is simply stunning with fall colors.  But I think it would look amazing with vintage Christmas papers as well!

Ribbon closures are my favorite way to hold a gatefold folio like this one together.  This ribbon is extra easy to work with, and has a gorgeous soft shimmer that really adds a touch of elegance to the cover design.  Would you like a peek at what's behind the gates on this sweet little 5" x 6 1/2" folio?

Well, first, Mr. Fox is here to welcome you inside! 

One of the things I love about a gatefold design is all the little nooks and crannies that appear as you open the door.

I created a box style pocket in the center panel of the card.  I just love all the yummy woodland elements in this paper collection from Ciao Bella, don't you?

Sweet treats inside the box style pocket turn this into a lovely little gift.

And where there is honey, one simply must have tea!  And a vintage silver plate teaspoon to go along with it!

The little hedgehog panel on the left has a magnetic closure, and a secret hidden page where you can tuck in a note, a gift card or photo.

And here is a look at the back side of the folio.  I've attached the ribbon under the patterned paper, then wrapped it around the spines and under one of the gates.  This way, you can tie the album securely, but open it easily.

I hope I've introduced you to a lovely new style of ribbon. If you are new to tying bows, you are sure to love it, as it is soft and easy to tie.

Thanks for stopping by!
Cheerio,
kathy

Very Merry Loaded Envelope

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Christmas will be here before we know it.  So I thought I'd share one of my favorite Christmas ribbons with you today.  Ivory/Rust/Gold Plaid ribbon has a wonderful vintage vibe, a touch of holiday sparkle, and ties the prettiest bows!  I've used it to adorn this loaded envelope, and I love how well it works with the Carta Bella Christmas Market paper collection!

Not only did I use it in the bow clusters along with some gold metallic string, I also used it to pretty up the little treats I tucked into this loaded envelope.

I also used it to make a belly band on this sweet little photo folio insert.

Both sides of the envelope are decorated so that if I get tired of one scene, I can flip it and look at another.

Here I've used Silver Metallic String to make the cute banner on the envelope flap.

I think that loaded envelopes make great Secret Santa, Holiday Swap and Hostess Gifts.  Plus they are fun to make!

Thanks for stopping by!
Cheerio,
kathy

Snarky Masculine Birthday Card

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Do you struggle to find a way to use ribbon on a masculine card?   When I do, I look for textures and fabrics that make me think of men's ties and suit coats.  So for this slightly snarky birthday card, I chose to work with Shell Grey Shimmer Satin on the bow.  Top the bow with a grey button and a little birthday charm for the perfect finishing touch.

You can also layer a patterned ribbon, like this Black and Grey Diamond Print Grosgrain Ribbon over the same shimmer satin to create a stunning border treatment.  Simply place a layer of 1/2" Scor-Tape on the card base, then wrap the ends around to the back side of the card panel for a neat and tidy finish.  Follow the same process with the Diamond Print grosgrain, but use 1/4" Scor-Tape this time.  Top with a trio of the same grey buttons.  This look makes me think of a man's French cuff.  It's very chic!

Here's a peek at the inside of this fun masculine birthday card.  Clean and simple works just fine here.

I hope I've shared some tips and tricks that will help you make your next masculine card with ribbon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Spooktacular Ribbon Topped Treat Tags

Hello, Friends!  Halloween is coming!  And these spooktacular ribbon topped treat tags are perfect for all the grown up ghouls and ghosts on your list!

I've topped each tag with a wonderful cluster of Halloween Ribbons from the September Ribbon Club.

I've also wrapped ribbon around the pocket base on each tag.  Doing this really gives the tag a finished, professional feel.

The pocket holds treats that any grown up trick or treater would enjoy.  I've wrapped individual packs of cookies with designer paper, added ribbon and a rosette to a vintage silver spoon, tucked in a tea bag, candy corn, chocolate treat and honey stick to complete the gift ensemble. 

The ribbon cluster takes these tags from fabulous to frightfully fabulous!  And it is so easy to do!  Just thread lengths of the September Ribbon Club ribbons through the top of the tag.  Tie them off with a length of the Grape Diamond Ribbon Satin to secure.  Top with a boo-tiful bow for the perfect finishing touch.

I upcycled some clothing tags by painting them with black chalk paint.  The jute string on the tag is also tied into the ribbon cluster.  Then I added a mini Halloween card on the front of the tag.

This is where you can add your ghostly greetings.

Here's a look at the second tag:

I'm telling you, friends...ribbon is magic!  I hope I've shared some tips and ideas that you can use in your own crafty adventures!

Thanks for stopping by!
Cheerio,
kathy

Beautiful Fall Mixed Media Home Decor

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!   Here we are at the very end of August and I can feel fall peeping around the corner.  After a extra hot and sultry southern summer, I am more than ready to welcome it!

I have so enjoyed working with the ribbons in the August Ribbon Club Assortment.   I had one last fling with them while making this 9" x 11" wall hanging.  The bows on this vintage hanger are tied with Turftan Brown Delicate Stitched Satin and 3/8" Brown/Cream Plaid.  Topped with some vintage buttons from my stash, they provide just the right finishing touch, and a perfect color match for this Prima Autumn Sunset paper collection.

Soon we'll be trading in out flip flops for wooly socks and our petunias for pumpkins.  I love the change of seasons, and since fall is my favorite, I'm especially looking forward to this one.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,
kathy

Swingin' By Triple Easel Card

Hello, Friends!  I thought I'd just swing on by today with a super cute and cheery triple easel card.

With fall peeping around the corner, the squirrels in my back yard have been hustling and bustling around stocking their pantries with acorns.  This inspired me to create a super cute triple easel card with bright cheery, colors.

I found the perfect playmate for this card in 1/2"  Orange, Fuchsia and Lavender Checkered Ribbon. 

This ribbon ties the most beautiful bows!  Loopy burlap string bows match the kraft cardstock base, and lend a nice, woodsy feel to the ribbon cluster. 

My hand made flowers are died to match the ribbon, but you can find some great Wild Orchard Crafts Flowers in the RRR Shop.

I used burlap string a second time to tie these cute miniature acorns on the sentiment panel.  It's just amazing how a little bit of ribbon or fiber can make an embellishment come to life.

This was my first attempt at making a triple easel card.  After a little trial and error, I came up with a method that worked well for me.  So I created a little video tutorial to share with you here today.  This is just for building the triple easel card base, not for adding the card layers or embellishments.  I hope you enjoy!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Cheerio,
kathy

Sweet Dreams Autumn Sunset Card

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Fall is peeping around the corner, so it's time to break out your August Ribbon Club Assortment.  Today's Sweet Dream Autumn Sunset card is loaded with fall imagery, gorgeous mixed media texture and of course, beautiful ribbons and flowers from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I am loving the plaid ribbons in the August Club.  This 3/8" brown/ivory plaid is the perfect accent for this 5 1/2" square card.  Ribbon is a lovely way to add texture to your cards and layouts. 

After tying this 2 1/2" double loop bow with my Zutter Bow-it-All Tool, I topped it with Mixed Earth Tone Cottage Roses from Wild Orchard Crafts.  These little 25mm roses are the perfect size to add to a bow cluster. 

Inside the card, I added some pretty paper layers and a pocket.

Then I used my scraps to make this little tea bag wallet.

You could also use this as a gift card holder if you did not want to add the tea.

Fall is my favorite season of the year, so I am really enjoying the August Ribbon Club assortment.  After the hot summer we've endured here in North Carolina, I hope you will forgive me for wanting crisp autumn days and cooler autumn nights! 

Wishing you a day filled with joy and creativity!
Cheerio,
kathy