Hand-Stamped Ribbon

Creating your own hand-stamped ribbon is the perfect way to add a coordinated touch to your decor plans when you can't find exactly what you're looking for.  There are very little limits to your stamping choices with all of the rubber stamp resources today.  Check your local craft store and then online.  I always start my searches on eBay and then move to Yahoo and Google when I have no luck there.  If you still can't find what you like, create your own image or print and take it to your local office supply store.  They can turn your print into a rubber stamp.

The best fabric to use when making your ribbon is muslin.  You can get unbleach and bleached virtually anywhere that sells fabric.  If you'd like color options, I'd suggest either trying another fabric or dying the muslin.

 

Please note that it's best to find a permanent ink pad.  Non-permanent ink will smear and rub off onto your hands when you're handling the ribbon.  Give the ink plenty of time to dry before handling.  It may be wise to press the ribbon between a cloth with a warm iron to help the ink set in completely.  Be careful to use something in between the ribbon and your iron to protect the iron from becoming stained.

Supplies

Muslin (I selected unbleached for this project)

Pencil

Scissors

Ink pad (permanent)

Rubber stamps

Instructions

1. Determine how wide you want your ribbon to be.  Mark the width of your ribbon along the cut edge of your muslin with a pencil.  Then take your scissors and score those marks.  You only need to cut about 1/4 to a 1/2 and inch in.

2. Take your fabric and tear it at each scored spot.  The fabric is made in such a way that you should get a straight, fairly clean tear clear to the end of your piece.  You will notice that the fabric will pucker up in a few places...that's completely ok.

3. There will be some stray pieces of thread hanging from each strip.  Gently pull them away from the fabric.  This will cause the edges and ends to fray, giving you the primitive/handmade look.

4. Lay down a protective barrier to keep your surface safe while stamping.  Lay down a strip of your ribbon and begin stamping.  Technique and placement is completely up to you.  I chose a french script stamp for this particular ribbon.  I was careful to only make my fabric strip as wide as my stamp so that I had the option of being able to print across and fill the whole piece.  I staggered my stamping to add depth and variety.  I also knew I was planning to go in and fill with a second stamp.

5. I went back in with a second stamp onto my ribbon.  I used black but you could also choose to print with a different color if you know what colors will coordinate with the other items the ribbon will be paired with.

I plan to make this ribbon with a variety of different stamps.  I'm waiting for a stamp of music manuscript to arrive from eBay.  I'll be sure to post those pics once I've made it.

Paper Rosette Ornaments

I use a lot of printed music in my Christmas decor.  I typically photo copy Christmas carols from a hymnal when creating ornaments with music but this time I have cut straight out of a vintage hymnal (gasp) that I saved from the trash pile. 

These paper rosette ornaments were a lot of fun to plan and execute.  The materials for these rosette ornaments can be adapted to match any design plans you have need for.  They can also be personalized and given as gifts or used a tie-ons for gifts that you are giving.  I'm very excited to add these to my arsenal of decor for 2011.

You can create these rosettes out of so many different types of materials.  The medaliion possibilities for this project are also endless.  You may have a specific sticker, clipping from a magazine, photograph...anything you choose.  Coordinate all of your pieces and parts and then follow the instructions below to make these amazing ornaments.  I plan on making these out of some other materials and will be sure to post pics.

Disclaimer:  I do not make a regular pracice of harming innocent hymnals.  I own more  hymnals that I can keep track of and this particular one was pulled from a pile of free books that was about to find a new home in the trash can.  PLEASE do not steal a hymnal from your pew this Sunday.  LOL

Supplies
Paper choices
Scissors
Glue stick
Hot glue gun and glue

Instructions

1. Cut two 2 inch wide strips from your primary paper choice.  I cut mine from a vintage hymnal so my two strips were 8 inches long.

2.  Accordian fold both strips from one end to the other.  The folds on mine are approximately half an inch.

3.  Glue the two strips together at the end using a glue stick.  Be careful that your print is going in the same direction.

4.  Glue the other ends of the strips together, forming a ring.

5. Using cardstock, cut a three inch circle for the back support of the ornament as well as your backing for the center medallion.  You'll also need to cut out the face of your medallion (unless you're using a sticker or other pre-exsisting item)

6.  Gather and flatten the pleated piece forming the rosette.

7. Apply some hot glue around the rosette and attach your 3 inch back support.  You'll want to be sure to apply glue to several place around the rosette to ensure it will stick firmly to the support.

8. Piece together and attach all the pieces to your medallion. 

9.  Apply medallion to the from of the rosette using hot glue.

10.  Create a hanger by either glueing ribbon to the back of the piece OR punch a hole through the piece of support paper and run your hanger of choice through the hole.