Ribbon Tying Tutorial

I'm often asked how I tie my ribbons so neatly on my cards and scrapbook pages. I also often end up tying other people's ribbons for them at workshops and classes so I thought I'd better put a tutorial on the blog.

This tutorial illustrates how I tie ribbons such as the one on this card:

The first step is to cut your ribbon pieces. You will need one piece slightly longer than the width of your card. The second piece needs to be about 12cm - you need it long enough to handle and can trim it later.

The next step is to tie the shorter length of ribbon around the longer length.

This will usually make the longer piece of ribbon look a bit wonky so pull it's ends to straighten it.

Pull the ends of the shorter piece so that they both point downwards.

Turn it over so that you see the neater side of the "bow".

Trim the ends to a suitable length. I like to trim them on an angle. It helps prevent fraying and I like how it looks.

You can slide the "bow" along the long piece of ribbon to any position you like.

I like to use mini glue dots to adhere my ribbon to my card. I usually put one glue dot at each end and one under the centre of the bow.

More of the first tutorial...

Ok, Toby is asleep, the kitchen is tidy and the floors have been mopped - phew! Now I can upload some more of the tutorial for you.

The next part of our project is to mount the Marigold Morning onto the Old Olive and paper pierce the corners.

To do the paper piercing you will need your mat pack and paper piercer. Simply line the piercing guide up over the cardstock so that you can pierce through the holes. Make sure you put the foam mat underneath so you don't damage your table. I have pierced 7 holes around each corner.

Now mount your piece of faux metal onto your Marigold Morning and Old Olive squares.

Our next step is to make a scalloped edge from Marigold Morning cardstock. For this you will need your slit punch.
*Tip* You can also make scalloped edges using the corner rounder punch by removing the guide from the punch. It will give a slightly different scalloped edge but still very pretty.

To make the scalloped edge you insert the cardstock so that the bottom edge is touching the bottom of the punch and the side edge of the cardstock is level with the bottom corner of the semi-circle of the slit punch. (Gee that is really hard to explain in words - lucky I have pictures for you!)

Once you have punched the first semi_circle, move your punch along so that the edge of the punch lines up with the edge of the semi-circle you've already punched. (Once again, thank goodness for digital camers!)

Keep doing this until you get all the way to the other side. Now pull your cardstock apart and you will have a handy-dandy scalloped edge!

Alright, now all we have to do is stamp our sentiment and assemble our bits and pieces.

Adhere your faux metal piece to the front of the Ruby Red card, slightly towards the top to allow room for you sentiment.

Adhere your scalloped edge to the underside of the Ruby Red cardstock on the right-hand side.

Stamp your sentiment in Ruby Red ink.

The finished product! I cannot claim credit for this design - its was very much CASEd from the Impressions magazine that is sent to Stampin' Up! demonstrators each month. Why reinvent the wheel I say!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and I look forward to doing another one soon.

My First Tutorial – Faux Metal (and other things)

I hope you enjoy my first ever tutorial to be posted on my blog. During this tutorial you will learn to make the same card that was made at my Hostess Appreciation Evening. You will see three main techniques here – faux metal, paper piercing and scalloped edge.

Materials:
Stamps: Mostly Flowers, All Year Cheer
Ink: Versamark, Ruby Red
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Old Olive, Marigold Morning, Very Vanilla (I used Vanilla as I had plenty of that but you could use any colour as it will be covered up by the embossing powder anyway)
Other: Heat tool, Silver detail embossing powder, slit punch, large square punch, SNAIL adhesive, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer

Faux Metal Technique

1. Press your Very Vanilla cardstock to the Versamark pad. Cover about half the cardstock with the Versamark.

2. Sprinkle your silver detail powder over the cardstock. Tip off excess and funnel back into the jar. Always move your embossing powder away from your heating area so that you don’t have any accidents! Same goes for your Versamark pad - put the lid back on right away.

3. Heat with your heat tool until the embossing powder turns shiny. Allow to cool for a few seconds.

4. Press into Versamark again repeat step 2.

5. Heat with heat tool until shiny. This time work quickly to sprinkle more powder on while it is still hot and sticky. This way you do not have to keep waiting for it to cool and re-Versamark. Repeat this process until you have 4 or 5 layers of powder.

6. After heating the last layer of powder, work quickly and carefully to press your stamp onto the warm embossing powder. Press firmly and try not to let it slip.

7. Allow to cool and remove stamp.

8. Cut out with the square punch. The stamps from Mostly Flowers fit perfectly into the largest square punch! “Negative” images such as those in the Mostly Flowers set work very well with the Faux Metal technique.

Ok, I think I’ll leave it there for now and present the rest of the tutorial for this card later on. There are babies to feed and housework to be done! See you tomorrow.

Oh, if you have time, could you please leave a comment to let me know what you think of the tutorial so far. Feedback is much appreciated.