Since then, I've been very selective about the ribbons I buy, but one consequence of this has been to make my ribbon stash sort of boring: mostly grosgrain, a few sheer and satin, very little else. And lately, I've hardly used ribbon at all.
Every now and then, I come across a funky ribbon that has colors that match SU or PTI or inks I have, and those ribbons jump all by themselves into my cart. IT'S NOT MY FAULT! But now that my ribbon stash is growing again, I need to USE it. So here goes:
The light side of the ribbon is on top, to simulate snow over grass. The pointy effect of the ribbon echoes the pointy Christmas tree and the "W" of "wishes." I experimented with three shades of green ink, one for each section of the tree, but I just didn't have the right shades to match the ribbon well. I did use a lighter green gemstone to top the tree, and darker green gems below. (Wouldn't it be cool if I had three shades of green gemstones? Sigh. Guess we can't have everything.) It's a 4.25-inch square card, which seems to be a good proportional size for these trees from PTI's Merry and Bright set.
What are your feelings about ribbon? How do you decide what to buy? Have you tried silk ribbon yet? If so, did you love it or not so much? Where do you buy your ribbon?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Supplies
stamps: PTI Merry and Bright
cardstock: PTI white (of course)
ink: can't remember, but the sentiment looks like VersaColor Tea Leaves
accessories: gemstones, dimensionals, ribbon
I'm not answering your question here... but I often forget to try to incorporate ribbon because the "perky" bow doesn't often seem to really be appropriate. Using it as a border and as a grounding point for the design is a great idea! Thanks for the inspiration today!
ReplyDelete~ Carol G.
I love ribbon.
ReplyDeleteI don't always use it.
My DH WON'T have ribbon on ANYTHING.
I only buy what matches my paper. I even carry a notebook in my purse (a little notebook) that has samples of all my paper in it. That way if it isn't a match it just doesn't get to get in my cart.
I love your card. It is perfect!
love RIBBON...use it alot...try to remember to take my SU CS sample ring when I am looking for ribbon...otherwise whatever hits me at the moment is mine...fortunately I have a pretty good color eye and so far things match...buy at regular chain stores and SU...also found a great bunch of ribbon at Goodwill very cheap...some other crafter purged and I benefitted!!!!
ReplyDeletehaven't tried silk yet...
What a beautiful card! I love the ribbon. It's so perfect with the image and card design.
ReplyDeleteGenerally, I buy ribbon just like I buy paper:) I like the color, I like the design so I buy it. When my ribbon doesn't match, I use something else. Occasionally, I color some white or light ribbon or twill with COPICs to match what I am coloring on the card. I love silk ribbon and buy it at my LSS. It's a special ribbon so I only use it on special cards, like weddings, anniversaries or special birthdays.
Your tree is so beautiful with the gemstones, and I think that ribbon is perfect!
ReplyDeleteCurrently I get most of my ribbon from PTI, and from Sharon Johnson's Ribbon Store. I have used silk ribbon, and I think it's gorgeous and easy to tie.
Wow, I especially love this card! I use ribbon on some of my cards, often to separate the image and the sentiment. Being a frugal (did someone say cheap?) crafter, a lot of my ribbons have come from the $ store, or Michael's bins. And some I've repurposed from our Christmas wrappings! Strangely enough, none of those sources have included silk ribbon yet. :P
ReplyDeleteI just love your Christmas Tree! And the font is so pretty! Pretty ribbon too...Hey I have some of those fake poinsettias too...Love that we dont have to water them and they still look great! I have them sitting around the porch too...They look so real! Have fun getting your tree!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great use of the ribbon on your card!
ReplyDeleteI love ribbon too. I usually buy what I like. I know what colors I use most and go with them. I also have a lot of standards that I seem to always have in stock...anything grosgrain or polka dot. I have not tried silk yet. I buy ribbon at the general craft stores or fabric stores. I have bought some at Costco (the ribbon is wide and comes on big rolls). And then there is my dealer down on the corner.... no I am not that bad... yet.
I just made a dozen tag books last night and used up 13 rolls of my stash. Looks like I will have to go down to the corner...
That ribbon is super cool. I mainly buy from PTI right now. I used to buy mismatched stuff and got sick of that. I am like some of the other ladies and take my cs swatch with me, and I'll buy any ribbon I like if it matches my cs.
ReplyDeleteI love the gemstones for ornaments, too!
I love this card the ribbon is great as a anchor for the tree, when looking at it it just looks like snow. me a ribbon have ahate and love freindship. I love it it hates me. never does what I want it to, it has a mind of its own.
ReplyDeletetake care
That ribbon looks really neat in the picture, would love to see it real. Beautiful card. Love the sectioned tree with gems.
ReplyDeleteI buy SU ribbon, because it matches the cardstock! I probably have less than 10. I would like to get a few more. I don't use ribbon on every card so I get by.
Like you, I have ended up with mucho ribbon that doesn't match paper/ink etc...Now I only buy neutrals. Black, brown, cream...and I buy different styles( sheer, satin so forth ) in those colors. Slightly boring, but generally it makes life simpler, cheaper (well, nothing is cheaper in the world of papercrafting!) and more "match-y".
ReplyDeleteI love ribbon, but I tend to stick with SU....I buy stuff at the craft stores and then never use it. I do like Taylor's twill and PTI's twill, and Sharon Johnson has yummy gingham and silk - which I have never bought, but have had some cards sent to me which used it - I love it but I doubt I would spend the money on it! Grosgrain and taffeta are my favorites, then gingham, then satin. The ribbon you've used here is wonderful! How cool, no wonder it jumped into your basket!
ReplyDeleteOh, and SU's white ribbon can be dyed with their reinkers, so that's cool too.
For about a year every single card I made had ribbon on it - I usually buy my ribbon at Walmart - as it is very cheap there - usually one style - shiny stuff down the middle with organzy kind down each border - you can get it most every color - so easy to use of most cards but I do use a lot of white, brown and black.
ReplyDeleteHere are my disjointed answers to your questions. I have some of that very same ribbon. It is too neat to use. It is in a box with other ribbons, stacked under some other things, so I forget I have it. If I had it out where I could see it, it would be in the way. When I do use ribbon, I usually have an urge to tie a bow, so I tend to favor organdy-type ribbons because the bows are not too poofy to mail. I like silk ribbon, but I have never used it on a card. It glues better than synthetics. I bought my last roll of ribbon at Michaels, and it was purchased for a specific purpose since I wanted to use silver ribbon on my Christmas cards and I didn't have any in my smallish stash. I have pretty much stopped buying ribbon just because it is pretty! But I do slip sometimes!
ReplyDeleteVery cool ribbon. Really like the card. I have 9 jars of ribbon sorted by color. These jars are full so I have a moratorium on ribbon. I have several silk ribbons and I love them. They are much easier to tie into bows and add less bulk to a card. I have quite a large selection of grosgrain and I don't use it much. It is not that easy to make a decent bow with and adds so much bulk to a card. There are some gorgeous cards in blogland with lots of embellishments. I look at them as pieces of art. My cards are functional. They must be able to be mailed without spending a fortune for postage.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, this card is just awesome!! I LOVE it, especially the interesting ribbon and how it coordinates with that funky tree!
ReplyDeleteI love ribbon and buy mine from several sources, including the craft store when it's on sale. My favs are PTI satin and Sharon Johnsons silk ribbon - saved for those special wedding cards and the occasional baby card.
Hi my name is Lisa and I'm a ribbon-holic. I love buy ribbon new and vintage. I don't use them as much as I should when making cards - just hate to part with my treasures. The hunt is part of the fun!!!!
ReplyDeleteI also love ribbon but I find I don't have to use it on every card as sometimes the ribbon overpowers what is going on with the main image. Love your card....
ReplyDeleteI have WAY TOO MUCH ribbon. And I can't stop buying it. Is there a 12 step program for our kind?? Yes, I have the silk ribbon...just simply gorgeous! There is very little bulk when tying knots or bows which is good for the mailman.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your ribbon and the card!
ReplyDeletepinkhedgehogpapercrafts.com sells sampler packs that make acquiring a huge ribbon stash inexpensive, but of course the expensive ribbon from Ellen Hutson, PTI and Gina K Designs also calls my name.
About the silk ribbon.....LOVELY stuff, especially versatile because it looks as good with casual-themed cards as it does with formal, like classic clothes.
Silk ribbon is the loveliest of any ribbon I've used! Not only does it tie like a dream, but can lay flat for mailing, as well. Best of all is the texture: soft yet begs to be touched. Love the pastel shades that MS sells at Walmart!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your CAS cards. I love making them and am still learning that yes, less is more!
Love the way you matched your ribbon to the tree shape as well as the colors. I don't use a lot of ribbon because it makes the card bulky to mail (if there is a bow.) Usually, I either just use a flat ribbon or a simple knot. More often, I use one or two colors of embroidery floss or some rustic lightweight twine.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog, through a link from another blog . . . and really like your work. As for ribbon, . . . I am confessing being a ribbon purchaser, user, and hoarder (I buy in multiples which allows me to hoard some of it). I LOVE ribbon as an embellishment and will often mix/blend two or more coordinating ribbons on a project. As for what I buy . . . whatever pops out at me. Granted, there are times I look for something (color, style) in particular . . . but a spool (or 2 or 3 or 6) usually wind up in my shopping cart . . . just because.
ReplyDeleteSusan I am a huge ribbon hoarder. I have an overflowing drawer full. I don't just use it for cards but all kinds of crafts. Sometimes, I use the ribbon as a jumping off point for a card. Personally, there is no such thing as too much ribbon, just lack of space.
ReplyDelete