Ribbon Wreaths

Hello Friends!

Today's post is my design team project for Fantastic Ribbons this month..

We were set the task of creating Christmas/ Home Decor makes with ribbon.... well those who have been following my blog for some time will know that I love making seasonal door decor wreaths, so I set about creating a few from ribbon.

For my main project I used a  plain polystyrene floristry circle; it's a small wreath, I used a 4.5 inch/115cm one, but you can use any size.

I used the ribbon direct from the reel, so didn't measure the length, but the ribbon measures 10mm width, there is 4 metres on the reel and I had plenty left for other projects!

You will also need some ribbon and  a good wet glue.... simply wrap the ribbon tightly around the circle, glueing as you go. To finish I added a snowflake die cut from Spellbinders Snowflake Pendant 2012, some gingham ribbon, a button and some twine. I stamped the greeting using versamark and heat embossed with  snowflake embossing powder, then matted and layered on white and green card.

Both the snowflake, greeting and ribbon are attached securely to the wreath with needlecraft pins.

My second project is great for when you want to use up all those little scraps of ribbon, that if you are like me you keep in a pretty full box!

It couldn't be easier and is a good example (I think) of up-cycling...so what do you think I made it from? Well it's an empty one of these...

I actually used an empty red line tape reel and forgot to photograph it, but all you do is tie the little pieces of ribbon tightly around the reel...they are small enough to hang on a Christmas Tree, or to add some festive cheer to a door handle...Easter one would be nice too!

All the ribbons used in these projects are from the wonderful selection at Fantastic Ribbons.

Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate you visiting and leaving a comment!
Carole X

Vintage Ice Skates - Saturday 24th November

Good Morning blog friends,

Thank you for all your lovely comments yesterday! And welcome to my new follower Anne - we found each other through Wilma and through both of us having the same posting problem - I hope you are sorted as well Anne, love your blog!

 Today I have a 'make' for you! 

For the new Emergency Crafters challenge, the design team was given the remit to make anything - and that is the theme of the new challenge, so if you have anything you've made.... from a card to some knitting, a page layout to a sewn item, why not hop over and enter...there's a super prize up for grabs.

You know I like grungy, steampunk and vintage...well I don't think ice skates can pass for steampunk, but I loved the pattern from these grungy, vintage, almost 'primitive' ice skates when I got it a few years ago from a US primitive/country pattern site called Country Whims.  I do love making this type of project and when we get the decoration box down from the attic, I will photograph and share the snowmen I've made. After I bought this pattern I'm sorry to say that I promptly put it in my pattern box and never got round to making it until now!

The boots are made from cotton batting and after sewing them, I distressed them with some tea dye and Vintage Photo distress inks, to make them even more vintage and old looking. The laces are made from cotton, which I also inked to get really dark. The blades,which I'm sorry you can't see well in the picture, are made from rusty wire and after stuffing the boots to half way with some old material scraps, I added quite large rusty bells and filled the tops of the boots with angel hair vine twigs.

To finish off I included a muslin bag (which should be filled with candy!): the bag is decorated with a red felt spellbinders poinsettia and a little sentiment tag.

No papercraft today, but something different and I hope you like it!

My friend Trish and I had a lovely day in Bath yesterday, the sun shone and the Christmas Craft market was bustling and full of delightful gifts.I just 'window shopped' this time, I am due back there in a few weeks, so may get some goodies! My dear blog friend Oksana asked for some photos so here are a few of the market and also the River Avon, which in part had risen above the banks and closed the footpaths. In the photo I have taken there is usually a weir, but that is hidden beneath the water.

Bath Christmas Market

Swollen River Avon flowing under Pultney Bridge

Aren't these markets lovely? Bath's is the biggest one close to us, but I also love going to the Cirencester one...Oksana mentioned Manchester - do you have any near to you? I've been to one in Birmingham and that was huge!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carole X