Mushroom Manor with String Bow

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Do you ever use string bows on your cards?  They add a lot of wonderful texture to a card, and they are so easy to make!  I created this Mushroom Manor card for our son's birthday.  He is a wood turner, and makes the cutest little mushroom boxes, so this design was perfect for him.  String bows look great on masculine cards.

First I wrapped the left hand side of my card front with some turquoise burlap ribbon from my stash of Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Grosgrain ribbon would work well, too. Then I cut even lengths of Natural Burlap String, Ivory Burlap String and Brown Sugar Baker' s Twine for my string bow.  A little "next" of burlap string was the perfect resting spot for my wax seal.  

This is my last post as a member of the Really Reasonable Ribbon Design Team.  I have been with this team for 13 years now, and I have loved every minute of it!  I would stay on forever, but our daughter has a brand new baby boy, and she needs me to keep him as she goes back to work.  So I'm giving up the best job in the world for the very best job in the world.  I will miss working with Bonnie and being part of this amazing team.  Thank you all so much for all the kind words and support over the years!  

Cheerio,

kathy

 

Fun Technique with Burlap String

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  How much are we loving these cooler days?  Today I thought I'd share a fun way to add fall texture to our card designs. Natural Burlap String is always within easy reach in my studio.  I use this stuff so often that I buy it by the roll!  It ties pretty bows, of course, but it also looks great when you add it as a border on a card.  And it's so easy to do!  

To use this technique, you will need to build your card front before you adhere it to a 5" x 7" top fold cardstock base.  I had a large chipboard frame that was a bit of a Plain Jane.  After adding strips of torn designer paper to the sides, I still wasn't happy with it.  So I wrapped several rows of Natural Burlap String down the right hand side of the panel with the frame on it.  

This looked so good that I decided to repeat the process on the bottom of the frame.  Simply use a small piece of Scor-Tape to hold the loose end of the string on the back of the panel, then wrap on as many layers of string as you like.  I used 5.  Then secure the string on the back side of the panel using another piece of Scor-Tape.  Easy Peasy!

Now top a Copper and Cream Gingham bow with another loopy burlap string bow to add even more texture and a nice pop of color to your card. 

Burlap string comes in a rainbow of colors, so you can use this fun and easy technique with any shade of string.

Have a joyful and creative day, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

Cheery Autumn Flowers and Brown Glitz Ribbon

 Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  How can it already be the end of August?  You know what that means, right?  Time to pull out our autumn ribbons and flowers!  

Have you discovered the beauty of Glitz Ribbon yet?  It's one of my favorites because it not only has a bit of sparkle, but it's also ties beautiful bows!  I've layered Brown Glitz Ribbon under a trio of Mixed Earth Tone Chrysanthemums and Rosebuds. 

TIP:  Trim the stems from your Chrysanthemums, but keep the little beaded ends that are close to the flower base.  You can tuck these into your flower display to add an extra bit of texture.  

TIP: Don't forget to add leaves to your flower display. Leaves add a lot of fulness and they make paper flowers look more realistic. 

Enjoy these last few days of summer, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

Christmas Plaid Ribbon and Pretty Poinsettias

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Kathy here with one last Christmas in July project.  This one features my favorite Christmas Plaid Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon. It comes in 3/8" and 5/8" widths so it's great for all kinds of projects.  This loopy bow is tied with the 5/8" ribbon.

One of my favorite things about this ribbon is the thin gold threads that run through it, providing just the right amount of sparkle and  shine.  The other thing that I love is the fact that the ribbon is soft and supple so it's easy to tie beautiful bows with it.  

TIP:  Dress up your bow with some rusty jingle bells and star anise.  Now the card doesn't just look good, it smells wonderful and sounds pretty, too. 

 Here's a peek at the inside.  There's room to write a message, and a cute tea wallet and honey stick tucked into the pocket.  I like to have a basket of these cards on hand to give as last minute gifts or stocking stuffers during the holidays.

Have you started Christmas crafting yet?  If so, be sure to check out the wide array of Christmas ribbons in the Really Reasonable Ribbon shop.

Wishing you all a joyful and creative day!

kathy

Christmas in July Rustic Woodland Card

 Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  The weather here in North Carolina is just toooo hot and humid to do anything but stay inside and craft.  And what makes you feel cooler in the summer time?  Christmas cards!  So I pulled out one of my favorite holiday color combos for this rustic woodland style card: Red, Black and White.  

Bold Check Black Plaid Ribbon adds a lovely vintage feel to this bow cluster. Metallic gold string is a must have for Christmas cards!  It adds just the right touch fo sparkle and shine. 

TIP:  Make a bitty banner stand out by tying tiny 1" bows with Christmas Baker's Twine and your Bow-it-All tool.  Adhere the bows on the ends of the banner and top with bitty buttons for a really cute embellishment. 

Have you started making your Christmas Cards yet?  I always feel a little silly getting started in July, but then I'm happy I did it when the busy holiday season rolls around.  It means I have more time to bake cookies and spend time making memories with my family.

Cheerio,

kathy

Old Glory

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Independence Day is peeking around the corner, so I thought I'd share another patriotic vintage card with you today.  This would look great on your July 4th buffet table, wouldn't it?

I've used Patriotic Plaid Ribbon along with Airmail Baker's Twine to make the bow.  Then I amped up the patriotic vibe with Mixed Blue/Aqua/White Chrysanthemumsand Mixed Red and White Cherry Blossoms.   I like to alter the Cherry Blossoms by opening the petals flat, but they are pretty any way you use them.

I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July celebration!

Cheerio,

kathy

Hooray for Beach Season

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Memorial Day has come and gone, and that means it is officially beach season!  I created a happy little slimline folio to help celebrate all things beachy.  Then I dressed it up with a lovely  Navy/Ivory/Gold Plaid Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Pink Bakers Twine adds a pop of color to the button flower on this sweet little number.

The inside is filled with lots of room for photos and memories of your family beach trip. Gold metallic string tops the cute tags in the side pocket. If  you'd like to see a tutorial for this fun folio, please click HERE. 

Hope you all have a happy, sunny day!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

The Beach is Calling Home Decor Banner

 Hello, Ribbon Lovers!

Summer is peeking around the corner, and that always makes me think about the beach!  So I dug out some of favorite Really Reasonable Ribbon trims and flowers to make this The Beach is Calling Home Decor Banner.

This great big banner is stitched onto Navy Silky Crush Ribbon and topped with Navy Striped Burlap Ribbon (out of stock, but this grosgrain ribbon would look great, too). 

Each end of the banner is dressed up with pretty bows tied from Navy/Ivory/Gold Plaid Ribbon, one of my all time favorites.  I've topped my double loop bows with Gold Metallic String .  

The flower clusters are made up with White Magnolias, Earth Tone Magnolias, Mixed Blue Peonies and Itty Bitty Mixed Blue Sweetheart Blossoms. 

If you'd like to see how to make this lovely banner, please enjoy this video tutorial.

Thanks so much for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

Happiness Blooms Here

Hello, Friends!  Spring is in full bloom here in North Carolina, and the flower gardens are starting to show off with beautiful floral displays.  This inspired me to create  a flirty, feminine card featuring Really Reasonable Ribbon Mulberry Flowers, 3/8" Coral rose Mini-Check Ribbon, and Iridescent Metallic String. 

I've clustered sweet Cherry Blossoms, Trellis Roses, and White Chrysanthemums around my focal image.  Then I added a sweet bow cluster tied with the Coral Rose Mini Check and Iridescent Metallic String.  The mini-check ribbon is also tied through the tops of some tags in a background layer.  Burlap string, a little floral charm and a soft pink Sweetheart Blossom help draw the eye. 

 Here's a little peek at the goodies I tucked inside the card.  It's always fun to turn a card into a gift!

Hope you all have a wonderful, restful weekend!

kathy

Teal and Tan Tea Card with Mixed Earth Tone Flowers

 

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Teal and Tan is one of my favorite color combos.  It's vintage, and rich and very restful on the eyes.  I've combined some gorgeous Really Reasonable Ribbon Champagne Wrinkled Ribbon with a lush cluster of Mixed Earth Tone Mulberry Flowers to adorn this shabby chic easel card.

If you are not familiar with Wrinkled Ribbon, I can tell  you it's one of my favorites to work with.  The narrower, 1/2" width and the light texture makes for beautiful bows.  Best of all, it comes in a rainbow of colors!  Champagne is one of my favorite shades because it can take on more of a pink hue when used with pink papers, or more of a beige hue, as you see here.  

The neutral bouquet on this card features Mixed Earth Tone Magnolias, 35mm Trellis Roses, 20mm Open Roses, and Mixed Earth Tone Chrysanthemums.  I did not want the orangey center in the Chrysanthemum, so I just painted it with cream chalk paint.  

The crocheted lace panel came from my stash.  I attached it to the card with a bit of 1/4" Scor-Tape.  Foam Tabs added to the back of the tea service die cuts add a lovely bit of dimension. 

I hope I've shared some tips and ideas that you can use in your next crafty adventure.

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

Life in Full Bloom with Lilac Seam Binding Ribbon

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Garden season is almost here, and this sweet image of terra cotta pots is an ode to garden lovers everywhere.  Lavender Seam Binding Ribbon and White Chrysanthemums were the perfect companions for this springtime card. 

I love to use ribbon inside my card folios, too.  It's fun looking for ways to incorporate it into the card design.   It really dresses up the little tag that I tucked into the pocket. Topping it off with a lavender Sweetheart Blossom made it extra special. 

 On this card, I turned the seam binding ribbon into a gift by wrapping it around a button card.  Then I added a length of my favorite Buttercup Double Faced Satin to the button card to make it really shine. There are so many different shades of yellow out there, but this Buttercup yellow is soft and rich.  I use it on a lot of my springtime and baby projects because it's "just right." 

I'm wishing each one of you a blessed and joyful Easter weekend with your friends and or families.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Springtime Garden Slimline Card Folio

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Welcome to my springtime garden!  It's bursting with beautiful spring blossoms and trimmed out with lovely pastel spring ribbons from the RRR shop.  I've used two of my favorite ribbons to adorn this 8 1/2" x 4 1/4" slimline card folio: Buttercup Double Faced Satin and Coral Rose Mini Check Ribbon.  What a pretty color combination they make!

To create the ribbon border on this card, run 1/2" Scor-Tape about 3/4" inch from the left hand edge.  Then cut a slightly longer piece of Buttercup Double Faced Satin Ribbon and press in place.  The long ends will wrap around your card panel, leaving a neat clean edge.  You can repeat this with the Coral Rose mini check ribbon.

Now add a pretty bouquet of Mulberry Flowers to complete our paper garden.  I chose Mixed Pastel Magnolias, Mixed Pink Trellis Roses, and a Mixed Pastel Sweetheart Blossom to add to our garden.  I  hope that cute little bunny doesn't get to them before I get them potted!  

Thanks so much for stopping by, friends!  Wishing  you lots of sunshine and creativity!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

Spring is (Almost) Here

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Spring will soon be here.  Time to break out all those beautiful pastel ribbons and trims from Really Reasonable Ribbon!  I've created a little Spring window box shaker card and dressed it up with my very favorite Coral Rose Mini Check Ribbon.  I don't know what it is about this shade of pink, but it just seems to go with everything.  The ribbon ties into the most beautiful puffy bows, too.  Bonnie and I agree that we wish this ribbon came in every color of the rainbow! 

One of my other favorite trims from RRR is the amazing Iridescent Metallic String.  This wonderful trim picks up whatever color palette you are using, so it goes with everything.  It also adds a little touch of shimmer on top of my Coral Rose Mini Check bow, which I like very much. 

Here's a peek at the inside of this sweet springtime card.  I added a flap page and a treat pocket to dress things up a bit.  

To dress up the little tag and tea wallet, I pulled out a combination of Aqua and Light Pink Baker's Twine.  It's almost like getting an Easter Basket in the mail, isn't it?

Have  you started your spring crafting yet?  Bonnie has so many beautiful spring ribbons in the shop!  I like to go look at them and make sure I have all the colors and styles I might need for spring crafting.

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

Lilac and Lavender

Hello, Friends!  Lilac and Lavender are such perfect colors for springtime crafting!  That's why I chose to make a Lilac Seam Binding Ribbon Closure for this mixed media card.  

Do you ever make ribbon closures for  your cards?  It's such a pretty way to use ribbon.  Here's how I do it:  

• Cut two lengths of ribbon about 10" long.
• Place about 2 Inches of 1/2" Scor-Tape on the front center edge and back center edge of your card base. 
• Remove the tape liner from the Scor-Tape and lay one end of your ribbon over the adhesive.
• Now top your card base with designer paper and you have a pretty ribbon closure for your card 

Here's a quick look at the inside of the card.  

 Dress a tea bag and a chocolate up inside cute little white bags, then top with more Lilac Seam Binding Ribbon. Aren't they sweet?

I hope you are all having a joyful and creative day today! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Here's My Heart

 Hello, Friends! Here's My Heart just in time for Valentine's Day!  I've loaded this Victorian style wall hanging with so many beautiful mulberry flowers from Really Reasonable Ribbon!  Then I tied it all together with lots of feminine 3/8" Coral Rose Check Ribbon.  It's my take on a tussy mussy, and I had so much fun putting it all together!

I dressed up my tussy mussy with:

• Mixed Pink 15mm Open Roses
• Mixed Pink 15mm Open Roses
• Mixed Pink Sweetheart Blossoms
• Mixed Red Carnations
• Mixed Pink and White Cosmos Daisies
• Mixed Pastel Magnolias
• White English Roses (discontinued)

Beautiful flowers and romantic ribbon make me happy!  

Wishing you all a joyful and creative day, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

Lilac Gardens Shaker Card

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Happy New Year!  If you're a gardener, you're probably using these winter months to dream about and plan your spring garden.  That's what inspired this Lilac Gardens Shaker Card.  I've trimmed it out with a soft, supple bow tied with Really Reasonable Ribbon Lilac Seam Binding.  This is the ribbon I recommend for "beginner" bow tie-rs.  You can almost always tie the perfect seam binding bow, especially if you use your Bow-it-All Tool! 

Metallic String is another favorite trim from the RRR shop. You can find it in Gold, Iridescent White and Silver, which I have used here. It makes a pretty topper for my Lilac Seam Binding Bow, but it also creates a gorgeous border at the base of my card.  I like to wrap it around a card layer several times before adhering it to the card base.  This keeps the edges nice and neat.  It's amazing what that little bit of sparkle adds to a card design.

Here's a peek at the inside of the card.  

 As you can see, I've topped my little tag with more of the same trims.  It's always fun to use "outside" card elements inside the card as it creates a sense of unity in your design.

Lilac and silver are a beautiful color combination for winter and spring creations.  I hope I've shared some tips and ideas today that you can use in your next crafty adventure.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Ladybug, Ladybug Fly Away Home

Hello, Friends!  If you're feeling the winter blues, I hope this little shaker card will elevate your mood.  Red, black and white is such a cheery color combo, and ladybugs always make me happy!  Throw in a shaker element, a pop of aqua gingham check, polka dot ribbons and a perky houndstooth bow, and I'm on the verge of giddy!

Polka dots and ladybugs are made for one another, so it was an easy choice to add 3/8" Black Swiss Satin Dots Ribbon to the top and bottom of this 5" x 7" shaker card.  Use 1/4" Scor-Tape to secure the ribbon to your card for a quick and easy design solution.  To keep things neat and tidy, let the ends of the Scor-Tape and ribbon extend beyond the sides, then wrap them around the back of the card front panel before you adhere it to the card base.

Black Houndstooth Ribbon ties such beautiful bows.  It's soft and supple, so it's easy to work with, and the loops drape in such a pretty way.  It's one of my favorite ribbons, and I wish it came in every color of the rainbow!

Peppermint Baker's Twine helps hold the flap page inside the card in place.  Simply wrap the twine around the flap page liner before you adhere it to the card base.  Then tie a bow and you're all set!

Here's a peek behind the flap page.  

And here's a peek at the goodies inside the pocket.  I've added a little Baker's Twine hanger to the cute magnet so that it can either hang on the fridge or on a doorknob.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Cheerio,

kathy