Do you want to use more ribbon on your cards? Here are five ways you can use ribbon – or twine if you prefer that. I showed these during a Facebook and YouTube live so check those out (@craftycarolscards) if you prefer to watch rather than read.

 

Idea 1: Knot or bow

The first idea is a simple knot or bow, and the second is to wrap ribbon around the layer on your card.

You can use a bow or knot alone as in the card on the left, or link it with ribbon or twine wrapped around a card.

 

 

 

 

Idea 2: Wrap around a card layer

See the main picture above for a corner wrapped ribbon.

Here are some different cards using these two ideas combined. The card on the right uses a knot tied with the ends of the wrapped-around ribbon.

 

 

But I usually prefer to tie the knot or bow using a separate piece of ribbon, rather than using the ends of the wrapped-around piece.

 

It produces a far neater bow or knot and it is easy to stick on using a glue dot as in the bear card.

 

 

 

Idea 3: Use strips of ribbon

 

A third way is to stick one or more strips of ribbon behind an image or sentiment as in these cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the card on the left I punched two holes either side of my sentiment piece and threaded the ribbon through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this strawberry card, I simply used a straight piece of ribbon behind the sentiment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see different ways to use strips of ribbon in the owl cards below. In the top owl card I have bent the ribbon round like a support ribbon, my fourth idea.

 

Idea 4: Make a support ribbon

You could use a support ribbon as a main focal point. This would be great if you are making a get-well card for someone with cancer, where you could use a ribbon of a colour that matches their disease.

 

 

 

 

Idea 5: Make a zig zag

My fifth idea is to stick a strip of tape across your card then stick the ribbon as a zig-zag across it as in the card on the right.

The zig-zags can be close together or spaced wider apart – your choice!

 

 

Of course, there are many other ways to use ribbon, such as for the ends of bookmarks and gift tags. Twine can be used in all these ways too.

But what if you don’t have any ribbon or twine to match the colour scheme in the card you are making?  One reason I love Stampin Up! is because of the fantastic colour coordination, but I know many people use other makes.

So here is a bonus idea.

Why not use an embossed piece of card instead of a ribbon?

In this card, I used an embossed strip of paper down the left side, as you can see. But I also used a small strip of embossed paper under my sentiment instead of a ribbon strip.

I used the stripes and the cane weave embossing folders from the new mini catalogue.

 

What other ideas do you have for using ribbon?

Let me see your makes!