I'm so excited! Beth aka showmestamper, the Technique Lover's Challenge hostess on Splitcoaststampers, is using my suggestion for this week's challenge, Frayed Ribbon. Check it out and play along!
This is a notebook I did with my downline when we met at the Minneapolis Regionals last fall. I used the stamp set, All Through the Year and the background stamp Paisley Print - though Flannel Plaid also looks very good with All Through the Year.
I actually taught 2 tricks with this project. The first was to fray the ribbon:
I got the idea from the "Bubble Queen" card in the new IBC and started playing with the grosgrain to see what I could do with it.
1)Start with a sharp fabric scissors. I keep a fabric scissors in my stamp area with a big ribbon tied to it. Everyone who stamps with me knows that this scissors is only for ribbon - never for paper!
2.)Cut with a 4 or 5 inch strip of grosgrain. You need to trim 1 edge of the ribbon very close to the edge. If you sew it would be like trimming off the selvege (sp??). #1 in picture
3.)Set this aside, then pull off a third to half of the threads. You'll end up with a fringe piece, a trimmed thread-like piece, and loose threads #2 a, b & c. Its fun to mix colors to match your work. I include the trimmed selvege, and sometimes even the fringy part, with the loose threads, twist very slightly before knotting them. I attach them with a mini glue dot but you could try to loop them through a hole before tying them. You can also use the threads to tie through buttons and attach tags. I hope this makes sense. (I'll add the picture when I find it)
The second trick was to put the cover on to the notebook. This is much easier than it looks. You simply:
- Tear out a sheet of the paper, hold it firmly against the piece you wish to cover your notebook with and punch through all the holes - in this case with a 1/8" punch.
- Once you've punched the holes make a tiny cut from the edge of the cover into each hole.
- Carefully place your cover over the notebook and, starting from the middle and working out to the edges, press the holes over the spiral.
- Use a good adhesive to attach your new cover to the original. Add a tiny bit at the top and the bottom of your spirals too.
I've carried the first notebook pictured in my bag for quite a while before the picture was taken so they hold up pretty well.
Do check out the challenge - all you need is a little bit of grosgrain ribbon!
