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Not as planned

19/12/2009

Today has not turned out as planned. Little Sydney had an accident yesterday afternoon and was taken to hospital with a damaged elbow. She has had a operation this morning and is recovering. The poor little thing has had to have 3 pins put into her elbow to rejoin it all together. No further news at mo, I am going to the hospital later. It is all rather distressing.

We have cancelled our Christmas party which was today, and will have it in the new year. Everyone has promised they will still get dressed up and we can have crackers and christmas fun!

These are the prezzies I have been making for the girls.

Talk about a tight wad Boss, giving them recycled cans!!! Ahh but you do not know what is inside!

During the week I offered to make lunch for everyone - they just managed to stop themselves from falling over!

What I really wanted were the cans, making lunch was the only way I could think of, of getting the cans opened without using the ring pull - clever.

I then washed them out and dried them well. I covered the inside with some matching paper, filled the can with goodies (can't tell as the girls have not seen these.) I had planned on putting them on the table instead of name cards at the party. I then stuck the bottom of the can back on with hot glue.

The fun part was decorating them with ribbons!!! Trees and Santa are all ribbon, stuck onto card and cut out.

Dilemma - Do I leave these on their desks for Monday morning or keep them for the new party. Hoo! Hum!

Last Friday FREEBIE

18/12/2009

Last Friday FREEBIE.... of this year!

Something to read, something to make, something to play with - all that is missing is something to eat! These goodies could all be yours in this weeks Friday FREEBIE all you have to do is leave a comment. We have two parcels to win again this week, well it is Christmas! Let us know if you have tried any of the countdown projects.

We will pick this weeks winner on SUNDAY afternoon, so that you can email us your addresses before we close on Monday. We still have not heard from Sue D, last weeks winner, please email us so we can post the goodies to you in time for Christmas. We are closing the warehouse from Monday 21st December and will reopen on Monday 4th Jan, but the posts will continue.

We only have a few days to go and I have been trying to finish several projects. Only small jobs but they all use ribbon!

It's our Christmas party tomorrow and Winnie had nothing to wear, this is his NEW Christmas outfit.

I asked Syd what colours would Winnie like this time and she went straight for where we keep the "Bling". Kiwi and Pink - not normally a colour for little boy bears! It took me an evening to make this little outfit, all from ribbon. I am sure Syd will love it!

Second job was to finish the stockings, Bev brought these into the office. "Please can you put names on them Ali, so they do not fight over them". Yes the names are from ribbon, a wide metallic gold, all I have done is to iron bondaweb onto one side, printed off the names (in reverse) and cut the letters out. Iron onto the stocking and it becomes unique!

Ribbon can make some really simple little gifts, look at this that was sent in by Tracey and Paul for our Ribbon Challenge # 10.

Isn't it fantastic, a simple idea but it is amazing.

I am doing a bit of skiving later, I am going to the hair dressers to be pampered!! Well with all this sewing and glueing I have done every evening, I need a little me time!!!!!!

Card Hangers

17/12/2009

Ooooh! It's getting closer! Sydney came round after school yesterday to help me hang our Christmas cards in the warehouse, we have had quite a few - thank you all for sending them, they are great. And lots of them have ribbon on! Yeah!

Sydney and I wandered around the warehouse, trying to decide where to put the cards so everyone could see them. Not sure she understood what we were doing but she played along with me quite happily. Ahh! We had found the just the right place for them.

This is a big white wall at the side of the stairs leading up to my "Play room". We are open plan, so it can been seen from all around the warehouse. There is a huge hand painted mural above the cards that we commissioned for an exhibtion stand yonks ago, it catches everyones attention so the cards will not be missed.

I held the ribbon while syd cut it into lengths, she can be quite bossy and likes to pick the best jobs! We pinned the ribbons onto the wall, Syd holding the bottom edge while I did the top - remember we are working on the stairs. I then tied the bows while Syd munched her way through some Chocolate coins she had found in my room. We attached the bows to the lengths of ribbons with a few pins and started to hang the cards onto the ribbon with small gold pegs.

They go from the top to the bottom and we think they look amazing.

Thought I would get todays ribbon posting in early, I have the day to myself and I have lots of jobs that need to be finished. The main one being the prezzies I am making for the girls, the only thing I have made so far are the tags!!

Have a good day.

Pomanders

16/12/2009

I was left alone at home last night, a very rare event. I decided to settle down in front of the telly doing something I had not done in years. Actaully the last time I remmber doing this craft was with my Grandma when we were little... it was that long ago!!!

What am I going on about - Christmas Pomanders

I had fun making these, it brought back so many wonderful memories. The sweet smelling scent will fill your home with citrus freshness. It does work, when Tony got home he said "Wow it smells like Christmas in here!"

All you need is oranges, cloves, a large darning needle (to make the holes), pins and of course ribbon!!!

Enjoy.

Bags of Charm

15/12/2009

We all have a bag of off cuts of ribbon, you cannot bear to throw them away, but unsure what to do with them. Well here is a little project that requires 6 or 7 different narrow ribbons about 30cm long.

Add a few charms or buttons to the end of the ribbons and you have a great stocking filler. Magic!

Collect your bits around you, ribbons - 5 or 6 different types + 1 narrow ribbon, buttons or charms, scissors and a keyring clasp.

Attach a ribbon onto the keyring clasp with a single knot.

Pull the ribbon tight around the metal loop.

Attach another ribbon in the same way.

Keep going until all the 5 or 6 ribbons are attached.

With the narrow ribbon left, wrap it around all the ribbons twice and form a knot. Make sure it is pulled very tightly.

One bag charm without the charms. You can use it like this, just seal the ends of the ribbon with a line of clear nail varnish to stop them from fraying.

To add the buttons (or Charms) cut away part of the ribbon to leave a long edge.

By cutting away the edge it makes it easier to thread buttons onto the ribbon.

Trim the end of the ribbon and seal with clear nail varnish. If the button fits snugly onto the ribbon there is no need to knot the end of the ribbon as it should not fall off. If unsure just pop a little knot at the end of the ribbon.

Add as many buttons and charms as you want, knot a few ends just to add a little extra dimension. and you have a fun little gift.

An early night for me, I'm off home!

Simple Gingham

14/12/2009

The two lucky numbers of our Friday FREEBIE are.....

Sydney and Bev did the honours today, they have picked two numbers from our "Bingo" Bag, they are.......

Numbers 5 - Marjorie and 14 - Sue D

Well done girls, you have a super prezzie all wrapped up to go under your trees. Please can you email us with your address craftyribbons@gmail.com so we can get them in the post to you. Once again thank you all for the comments you left. Some of you had us giggling!! We are really pleased to read that you are giving our ribbon projects a try, we still have a few more up our sleeve.

Eleven days to go and we are really, really pleased our Red Gingham Ribbon is back in stock. Hooray! Hooray! Now I can show you how to tie these simple bows, I love it when a plan comes together!!

I have shown you how to tie Tree Bows and how to tie big fancy Pom Pom Bows, but lets go back to basics and show you how to tie a bow around a parcel, or a sweetie bag. The six sweetie bags were an order from Bev!

Last year all my parcels were wrapped in brown paper and tied with red and white gingham ribbon, I finished them off with gift tags from Holly and Ivy leaves and sprigs of rosemary. Just use a white gel pen to write on the leaves. I thought they looked stunning, but I had a few complaints, well not complaints little grumblings.... My presents normally have acres and acres of ribbon on them, big pom pom bows and oodles of ribbons. It would appear that everyone would carefully unwrap the presents so the ribbon and bows could be used again!!!!! One form of recycling.

Simple bows.

Tie the ribbon around your parcel, and tuck under. A little trick is to place a pin into the knot that has been formed, this way the ribbon will not loosen while you are tieing the bow. (I appear to have a warm glow to my photos today - no idea why!)

Fold up the right hand ribbon tail to form a loop. Hold between thumb and finger.

Bring the left hand ribbon tail over the top of the loop and trap in place with your thumb.

Remove your finger and push the ribbon up behind the first loop, through the hole that was made by your finger. You can just see the loop coming out on the right hand side.

Pull more of the second loop through.

Pull the loops tight, working them to get the size you want. The secret to a good simple bow is a tight centre knot. Once you are happy with the bow, remove the pin. Trim the ribbon ends.

While writing this posting we have just had a wonderful email from Leslie, I hope she will not mind if we share it with you.

"Hi Ali and the Team

Just wanted to say thank you for the fantastic service - I placed my order late afternoon Friday and got home this afternoon (Monday) to find it on the doorstep - brilliant. Also to say thanks for the bloggers discount - really appreciated!

Love the blogg and the wonderful Christmas Countdown ideas, truely inspirational!

Keep up the good work

Leslie x"

It makes it all worth while - thank YOU.

Tag Tastic

13/12/2009

You all seem to get a little nervous when I mention these next two little words - Ribbon Embroidery. Calm down, calm down, it really isn't very scary. Tony can do it with his big fingers, so if he can so can you!

I made these tags to go on a project that I will show you later in the week. I can tell you no more as they are little prezzies I am making for the girls. I have photographed the tags on the ribbons that they will be combined with, just so you do not think I am a little mad! Working with ribbon for so long, you curl a little!!!

Believe it or not, but the ribbon forming the letters is Ribbon Embroidery. These tags are for Vicky and Sarah. Are you brave enough to follow the tutorial? I hear so many strange comments while on the exhibition stands about ribbon embroidery - "Far to fiddly" - "No, can't do that, haven't got enough patience" - "It will take me way to long". I have always thought they are rather strange things to say, but ho hum everyone is different.

Here goes - Ribbon Embroidery the Crafty Ribbons way.

You need 3mm Satin ribbon, lots of colours HERE, embroidery needle and thread. If you are going to try the tags then the only extra bits you need are felt tags! I cut mine using a Sizzix machine and a large tag die. Write the initial onto the felt using a felt tip pen. You will cover the ink with the ribbon so don't worry.

Secure the thread on the reverse side of the tag, and bring the needle and thread to the front. I am using a cream thread, so that you can see my stitching on the black satin ribbon.

Cut the 3mm satin ribbon into 3cm lengths. I normally make a pile of these and pick them up one at a time. Put the needle into the centre of one end of the ribbon, as close to the cut edge as you can without it fraying.

Take a stitch to the bottom edge of the ribbon. Do not pull your needle through the ribbon after each stitch. Keeping it on the needle is much easier.

Take the needle to the top edge of the ribbon, so you are sort of zig zagging from bottom edge to top edge. Do not sew straight down the middle, it will not give the same effect.

Continue to the end of the ribbon. Bring the last stich out in the centre of the ribbon (like how you started).

Push the ribbon off the needle and all the way down the thread until it sits flat on the felt.

Push the needle back into the start of the ribbon where it originally came up, so it goes through the ribbon and through the felt.

Pull the thread so that the ribbon loops over.

Keep pulling until your ribbon scrunches up to make a stitch. In my work shops I call the the "Oh, ARRRH" momment!!! Congratulations you have completed your first ribbon embroidery stitch. Was that easy or what?! O.K. it is not traditional ribbon embroidery, they didn't have polyester satin ribbon when it was invented, they only had pure silk ribbon. This is Surface Ribbon Embroidery which is quick and easy to do, it uses polyester 3mm satin ribbon and can be embroidered on anything - even card.

Continue with another stitch, following your drawn line.

Keep going, stitch by stitch.

I finshed the tag by sewing straight stitches around the tag, and adding two shades of 3mm satin ribbon to the top of the tag. Because I used cream thread, you can just see one or two of my stitches, by using matching thread this wont happen.

You will have to click back later in the week to see what I have done with these.

Happy sewing

Ready to receive

12/12/2009

Saturday morning and where are do you think Tony and I are? Having a lie in, Christmas shopping, getting ready to go out to lunch.... nope, none of those. Sat in the warehouse waiting for a plumber. Rachie broke our toilet yesterday morning, well it actual broke on her (we think it had been going for a while). We called an emergency plumber, "help we have no loo", no problem we can come and fix it tomorrow - that's a whole day without a loo, rather inconvenient!!!!

Anyway it gives me a chance to show you what I have been working on the last few evenings. Doing all the shows got me out of the habit of "doing things" in the evening, so the Christmas Ribbon Countdown has kicked me back into action! I come into work in the morning and show the girls my projects and all I hear is, "Oh I would like one of those", "Aliiiiiiiiii, please make me some"! Why is it that my name grows extra i's when somebody wants me to do something.

I was inspired by Carols card that she made for challenge # 10

I just loved the colour combo. The stocking started out for our granddaughter Nia, who we are seeing today, but I think it is rather "grown up" for her..... I may have to make another one for her, and find someone derserving for this one - me, me, me! Back to the stocking, felt and ribbon and a little bit of time - that easy.

I sewed the ribbon in strips down a piece of felt, using large stitches so they would stand out, no problem doing this while watching telly. Cut a stocking shape from two pieces of felt, and sew together using blanket stitch, I used 6 stands of thread, so the stiching would be part of the design - simple.

Linda made this stocking from the ribbons we sent for Challenge # 10, she has woven the ribbons together to make the front of the stocking - amazing.

I made the Baby's first Christmas stockings last year (you may have seen them on our exhibition stands), the Snowman and gingerbread man (below) are both ribbons. I ironed the ribbons onto some bondaweb, cut them out and then ironed the shapes onto the stockings.

Fingers crossed the plumber will not be much longer! I am really pleased to read that you are trying some of the projects. Enjoy.

Pom Pom Friday

11/12/2009

So much is happening today that I thought I would get in early with todays post. As it's Friday, I have been wrapping up this weeks Friday FREEBIE into great Christmas prezzies to go under the tree, we hope Dorothy's Friday FREEBIE parcel didn't get too squashed last week.

You all seemed to like the idea of a ribbon book so we have included another one this week, as well as a value bag in Pink and Blue ribbons, a 20mtr roll of gold edge shot taffeta, a 5mtr bag of magic cord and one of the NEW kits I designed for the Paris show. Phew that's a lot.... The best bit there are TWO Friday FREEBIES to be won this week. You can see one is already wrapped with a big "Pom Pom Bow", (I promise I will wrap the other one once I have finished this post!)

So how do you get a chance to win - easy, leave a comment. Honest it is that easy. We will pick the two winners from our "Bingo" Bag on Monday afternoon. I say this every week, BUT we really do love reading your comments. So go on make us smile with a comment.

Cor, we only have 14 days to go! I adore wrapping prezzies, I know some people hate it, but I think it is one of the best bits of Christmas. It shows that you have really thought about the prezzie and taken time to make it look really special.

I promised I would show you all how to make these "Pom Pom Bows", this one is on this weeks Friday FREEBIE and could be under your Christmas Tree!

Get all your bits you need around you - Ribbon (lots), scissors, pencil, clear nail varnish, magic cord. Now, I do not use a bow maker but Tony made me this yonks and yonks ago.

It's a ribbon holder. A piece of wood with two dowels placed very close together. All it does is keep my ribbons nice and tight in the centre of the bow. You can make these "Pom Pom Bows" without it, but this makes them so easy to handle.

Place the magic cord between the two poles.

Thread your ribbon between the poles, on top of the magic cord.

Scrunch the ribbons down, so they sit on the wood. If you are using single face ribbon then you have to twist the ribbon over. You can see in the picture, the right side has the shiny bauble design on it, and the left is dull.

Fold the left ribbon over, so that it forms a loop, (twist again in the centre). Your loops should be about 10cm if using wide ribbon, you do not want them too large otherwise they flop!

Keep folding the loops over from side to side, so that you have 4 loops on each side. Here I have 2 loops on the left and 1 loop on the right.

Four loops on both side.

Bring the Magic Cord over the top of the bow and pull very tightly and tie a knot. You need the centre part of the bow to be trapped by the Magic Cord it must not come undone.

Remove from the ribbon holder. Pull on the ribbon loops and fan them out. If the magic cord is holding the ribbons together tighly, then you can pull quite hard on the loops to get them to sit evenly. Place your fingers into each loop to make them open up. use your fingers to shape the bow. You can be quite firm with it.

To make the twiddles, place a pencil in the centre of bow and wrap the Magic Cord around it. Because of the wire running through the centre of the Magic Cord it will keep it's shape when the pencil is removed. Repeat for the other twiddle. the Magic Cord frays when cut, so seal the edges with clear nail varnish or PVA glue.

One finished bow, all it is waiting for is me to wrap the second Friday FREEBIE parcel!

If you want any Christmas ribbons, don't forget your 20% discount off the next 24 hours, all you have to do is enter countdown into the voucher section on the website.

Happy bow making!!!

Anyone for cake?

10/12/2009

I have just had one of those days today - you know the ones. I have worked all day and feel as if I have achieved nothing, I kept getting called to the phone, then the girls would want me to sort something out. I would go back to office, sit down start working again to be called away almost straight away - it has driven me mad. My day has not been my own and I certainly do not feel creative. So todays project is a little bit of a cop out - sorry.

You may think that I think of nothing but food, this being the third project in a row for tummies!!! But Christmas is all about food, eating and treats.

How many times in a year do you have a Christmas Cake? You want it to be extra special and look good enough to eat!

There is only one very important tip when choosing ribbons to go around your cake - Make sure the ribbon design is running along the length of ribbon, otherwise you will have snowmen on their sides!! If you choose a ribbon that has a wire edge, it's not a problem, just gently pull the wire out of the ribbon. It comes out very easily. On my Christmas cake I used "Santa's Laundry" ribbon which can be found HERE. I stuck a length of ribbon onto some card with double sided tape and cut around a set of Santa's clothes. Using some black thread and two trees from the Snowman ribbon HERE, I made a washing line to hang the clothes from.

The ribbon roses I showed you the other day, would also look stunning.

Did any of you watch Kirstie Allsopp on Channel 4 last night? Well if you did, you may have spotted some of our ribbon! The Merry Christmas ribbon on the advent quilt was ours, a lady came on our stand, very late on the saturday at Hobbycrafts NEC, saying she needed ribbon urgently. We had lots of ribbon for her to choose from but she wanted a Merry Christmas one that we had sold out off earlier in the day, "BUT it's for Kirstie Allsopp" (Who? I don't get out very much!) She was so insistant that she needed it, that I opened up one of our selection boxes and took a metre out for her. I think it made the quilt!!! Tee Hee!!

We have received emails and telephone calls and of course comments, telling us how much you are enjoying our Christmas Ribbon Countdown. The Crafty Team would like to thank you for following us.

For 24 hours only we are giving you 20% discount off our website www.craftyribbons.com The 20% discount will start at 9am tomorrow Friday 11th December until 9am Saturday 12th December. During the checkout process you have an option to enter a voucher code, type in countdown and the website will do the rest! If you know the answer to the FREE postage question, then click in the box again and type in the answer.

This discount is for YOU, the readers and followers of our blog. We are NOT emailing our customers, we are NOT advertising it on our website, we have NOT sent out any promotional leaflets - it is just for YOU.

Over the last few days, you may have seen a project that has taken your fancy and want to give it a whirl, well now is your chance to get those extra ribbons. We will start to despatch orders on Monday.