Friday FREEBIE 43
22/10/2010
We have certainly had a busy week at the ribbon warehouse. Our Christmas rush has truly started, it caught us slightly by surprise and we had to extend our despatch date of orders to 2 days. We all put in an amazing day yesterday, we even had poor Tony pulling orders, yep he was measuring away!!!
Fridays are becoming harder for me, what should the Friday FREEBIE be this week? We have launched so many NEW ranges over the past few weeks that it is difficult to choose. I have just looked out of the window and it is cold and crispy - decision made.....
....two of the NEW Autumn Leaves Collection. There are some wonderful autumnal ribbons in delightful shades, and 3 colours of the jumbo ric rac! If you would like a chance of winning this seasonal Friday FREEBIE just leave a comment. We will pick the winners on Monday.
If you are having a problem leaving a comment due to our spam filters please email it me at craftyribbons@gmail.com and I will add it for you.
I was allowed to rip open all the Challenge parcels that arrived after the Exeter show yesterday for their photo shoot. Not sure I needed to add the fake snow it was soooooo cold outside. I looked like fagin with my fingerless gloves!
First out of the pile was Rosemary's envelope.
What a joy it was to feast my eyes on the card, the detail is staggering Rosemary.
Tilda Santa Claus, I love the cross over bow effect you have created Rosemary.
I got called a star yesterday by a customer, made me feel really good! This bauble ribbon is just perfect for the glam Tilda.
I do not know how you girls can bear to part with your cross stitch, she is perfect Trisha. I like the way you have cut the baubles from the ribbon.
I have called this "Snow Girl", I want those gingerbreads Trisha.
Look at this little lot, they are just wicked. But they do hold a surprise......
....yummmie.
This card intranced me. Trisha explained that the Snail was designed for the Ear Trust Charity, look a little harder at the card, it is not just a snail.
It also held a suprise. Some very creative goodies Christmas goodies Trisha.
These hair grips have come all the way from America. They are certainly very festive Misti and I know a certain little girl who will be quite happy to give these delights a good home. Hope your Friday FREEBIE prize has arrived.
Poor Maggie has been unwell ever since her challenge ribbons arrived. We do hope you are feeling much better. This card would make anyone feel special.
This is a bit clever. Maggie has cut the snowman from the very wide ribbon we sent everyone (HERE) and used it to decorate her tag.
Oh, Oh I got very excited when I say Maggies napkin ring. That's my bow - my tutorial had been followed! Sorry but I have no idea whether they are being read and tried, or I am just writing for myself!!! I then read maggies note and yes she followed my instructions - thank you Maggie, this bow has made me feel really good. If you missed the tutorial you can find it HERE.
That's it I have no more Ribbon Challenge goodies - well that can mean only one thing........
......and I have just the ribbon waiting to share with you all.
See you sometime over the weekend!!
Busy Bee
21/10/2010
I know I am being a very busy bee at the moment and you may feel as if I am bombarding you with NEW ribbons and goodies all the time, but there is a reason.
From Tuesday of next week I am away from the office, my precious computer and the internet for almost 2 weeks, although I hope for some connection at the hotels - going on holiday. HOLIDAY! If only. No, Tony and I will be exhbiting in Dublin next week at The knitting and Stitching Show at the RDS and the following week we will be at Hobbycrafts at the NEC - anybody coming to see us??
So I thought, if I got my skates on I could get lots of NEW goodies on the site before I went away. I had not planned to put this item on until after we had returned from Hobbycrafts....
Jumbo Ric Rac
.....but several of you had spotted a few colours in the Autumn Leaves Collection (HERE) that I launched yesterday and wanted to know if we had other colours. "Oh Yes" Tony replied "Ali will be putting it on this week". He knew I had taken the photographs as he had steadied my washing line for me! So here it is Jumbo Ric Rac - enjoy.
I am way behind on launching the next set of goodies. I designed these Christmas Ribbon Kits for Christmas 2009 but sold all the stock at the Paris show in November!
This is called Surface Ribbon Embroidery because the ribbons do not go through the fabric, very easy to do. I am holding one of my rare Ribbon Embroidery Workshops in Dublin next week, there are only 14 places each day and I normally sell out, so please book early by clicking HERE.
If you want to have a dabble with Ribbon Embroidery then give these kits a whirl, they really are very easy and you can find them HERE.
Carrying on with the Christmas theme I have another selection of Ribbon Challenge goodies from Karen and Beryl - have a look and grab some inspiration.
Karen I think your card single handed sold all my stock of this ribbon at Exeter and Aly Pally. It is stunning and everyone believes so easy to replicate. We are limited on this Snowflake Ribbon (HERE) and we can no longer provide it on 20mtr rolls - sorry the stock is almost gone.
Notebooks, I love notebooks! I have lots, way way more then I could ever use - I do not smoke, drink or eat chocolate, but stationary and ribbon - oh boy! Karen you have fed my addiction it is wicked and the colours, wow they are scrummy.
You would feel very welcome indeed, if you found this little package when you arrived at Christmas. Look what Karen has done.....
....ooooh. Can I come and stay!
Beryl has also hit the mark with this card, I (and many others) love the way you have cut the poinsettia out of the ribbon. This ribbon is being bought to go round christmas cakes!! I have been reliably informed that you need 75cms to go around the cake and then 25cms for a fake bow. This ribbon is sold in a 1mtr length PERFECT!! You can find it HERE.
Beryl this was gorgeous, I am sorry to say that it was stolen off our exhbition stand in London. It must have been by a very tall person that stole it, as it was pinned to the top fascia of the stand.
Thankfully I took this close up picture so you can all enjoy Beryls work. Stunning Beryl - thank you.
Beryl you must have put hours of work into this card.....
......delightful Beryl.
I still have more for tomorrow but I must leave you and head to the warehouse. I have been trying to think of others things I could do at home today, but alas I have given the job of checking orders again today. "But Ali you know all the ribbons, you are so much quicker then us" yeah crawling will get you nowhere. The warehouse is cold and I do like my warmth....better go and find my thermals!!!
Hello Wednesday - Bag for a Heart
20/10/2010
Don't you just LOVE wednesday's? Say hello to wednesday "hello wednesday" It's all downhill from now on to the weekend - yippee!!!
How can it be Wednesday already, this week is going so fast.
Thought it was about time to remove the dust from my sewing machine, so I had a little play with some of the ribbons in Bev's ribbon bag -"Awareness" (HERE) and some of the "In the Pink" ribbons (HERE). I used to spend a lot of time with my sewing machine creating little works of art, but now I seem to spend most of my time with either camera or computer, how things change.
No tutorial for this project as I believe the picture is large enough to see how easy it would be to recreate. On a scrap of fabric, layer up a selection of ribbons, you could tack them together if you wish so they do not move about under the machine. I cut a heart shape from some paper and pinned on top of my ribbons and machined around the shape. I then removed the paper heart and continued machining several more circuits around the shape in a random fashion - very free style!
What to do with my embellishment - well it would go onto a card, or it could be a brooch but I decided to make a simple draw string bag.
----*----
I had a very constructive day yesterday, nearly 100 NEW ribbons and buttons were added to the website......
A NEW collection of ribbons and buttons called Autumn Leaves, you can view it HERE
We have received the last of our deliveries of Go Grosgrain this Christmas - all the designs have now been added. See them all HERE. Please note, no more stock is due in this season for this range of ribbons. When it's gone it's gone!
A NEW selection of Christmas ribbon designs have been added - this bauble ribbon is stunning. All 2010 Christmas Ribbons can be found HERE.
Finally we have launched our NEW Christmas Buttons for 2010 - just look out for the red NEW sign. Have a look HERE.
Phew!! That was a lot of work - hope you enjoy.
Three in the hands
18/10/2010
What a wonderful weekend the weather was fantastic, Tony and I even managed a walk on the beach. Hope you all had good weather. Our good spirits have continued all day in the warehouse, Sarah has rejoined us for our "Christmas rush". Welcome back Sarah, and ummmmm yes there are a few new ribbons!!
I certainly got you all thinking about this weeks Friday FREEBIE - which one would you pick. I think the Bowdabra had the most votes. We sold out of these last week but had a new delivery due Friday. When the delivery driver arrived he only had one of the two parcels ordered. The other parcel had gone astray ( Headline news - Bowdabra's hijacked enroute to Crafty Ribbons) - arrrrgh. Panic over, the parcel was waiting for us when we opened up this morning, it had gone on a little holiday to Coventry!!!
Sydney decided that she was going to pick ALL 3 numbers today, but you only have two hands Sydney....
No problem for our Syd.
Number 30 = Leslie
Difficult choice! I love Bev's Bag, as always a great combo of ribbons in that - but I think it has to be the Bowdabra so I can experiment with some new bows!
Great projects too - inspirational!
Leslie x
Number 33 = Jenny
Oh decisions decisions which to pick I think it would have to be the bowdabara although bevs bag comes a close second.
Jenny x
Number 43 = Margaret
What a choice!! All are fantabulous. Can't quite match up to the comments in verse but the appreciation of the ribbons is just as great.
Any would be fine by me!!!
Well done girls, all we need are addresses please to craftyribbons@gmail.com, and Margaret it is decision time! Thank you for such wonderful comments, it sounds like you enjoy the Friday FREEBIES as much as we do, it is really great reading your verses.
We have received another huge delivery today, Tony could not believe the size of the shipment and went and hid in his office. Most of it was Christmas ribbon and Tony is in denial, he refuses to accept that Summer has gone and Autumn is here and is still wearing shorts!
Lily aged 6 sent me this delightful photo - she has been playing with our Magical mouse head ribbons. This is really wicked Lily thank you so much. I will let you into a little secret Lily, in my shipment today I received some Christmas Mouse heads with christmas trees.....oooh it is scrummy.
Still checking in my order, so had better go.
Friday FREEBIE 42
15/10/2010
Do we measure up?
We really hope we do, we are not perfect and do make the odd mistake but we try hard. What do you think of this NEW Ribbon? It has been custom made! We have been asked time and again for Tape Measure Ribbon and I could only find poor quality versions - this ribbon is the bees! Printed on soft cream 23mm ribbon in either metric or imperial measures (I try to be fair to everyone!) The print quality is outstanding.
I said yesterday that I was having trouble deciding what todays Friday FREEBIE prize could be - we launched the Bowdabra this week as well as Bev's NEW ribbon Bag - "Awareness" and now the Tape Measure Ribbon.
Ooooh I can not decide, they are all fab. Which one would you like? Which one would be best for you? Go on you decide, leave a comment and we will pick three numbers from the "bingo" Bag on Monday.
If you are having a problem leaving a message due to our spam filters, just email your comment to me at craftyribbons@gmail.com and I will add it for you.
As promised another delightful selection of Ribbon Challenge goodies from Dorothy, Tracey and Paul.
Dorothy has created this festive dress from ribbon, it is stunning.
This card has created quite a stir at the shows Dorothy, really creative.
WOW! A santa sack made from ribbon, what a wicked idea.
Inside Dorothy's santa sack, very colourful.
This bag is bursting with something - what is it Dorothy?
Cor... a pair of slippers for your Christmas guests.
Dorothy has also been creative with tag making.
The inside of the tag card. you have thought of everything Dorothy.
It is normally a guessing game when we get Tracey and Pauls challenge goodies. But I am in the know this time! Paul has made this box.....
.....look at what was hidden inside. It is an awesome card and has created a lot of interest.
This is so simple Tracey but is awesome, I can assure you this design is going to be in many homes this Christmas.
Thank you for coming up with such wonderful designs using our Christmas ribbons, we hope they are shaking up some inspiration!
Have fun.
Bev's NEW Ribbon Bag - Awareness
14/10/2010
It's been a while, I know because Bev has been nagging me to find time to launch her NEW Ribbon Bag - sorry to all Bev's Bag followers.
Bev's NEW Ribbon bag - "Awareness"
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. As this is very special to our hearts at Crafty Ribbons we will donate £1.00 from every "Awareness" bag sold to help with this fight.
Bev's Bags are always full to the brim with super ribbons all for £5.00. This "Awareness" collection exceeds all other bags she has created, but then she did have help picking the ribbons. It was so sweet and I am sure I will get into trouble for telling your this (by Bev), but she had asked Sydney to help pick the ribbons for her NEW bag. She had told Sydney that she wanted only pink ribbons and why they had to be pink and that we were hoping to help people.
Sydney took this all on board, picked up a shopping basket and went up and down the ribbon aisles. The racking towers above her by a good 5 times, but undaunted she searched. First in the basket was Hello Kitty "It has pink bows mummy", then she found the single hearts, Bev added the swiss dots in two shades. In all I think there are 20 different ribbons, mostly hand picked by Sydney - should it therefore be called "Sydney's Ribbon Bag"! It has crowns for princesses, butterflies, satin, wire edge sheer, tracker stripe, taffeta all in wonderful shades of PINK.
If you need any PINK ribbons - please please think about buying this "Awareness" bag of Bev's and Sydney, we have put a chart on the wall so Sydney can mark off the amount we have raised. She has £2.00 so far. You can get them from HERE
Ribbon Challenge goodies - Sorry these have been delayed but the internet was so poor at the hotel that I was unable to upload the photos. If I was a little bit more organised I would have pre-written the posting - but ho hum that's not me!!!
Please do not forget that these photos were taken before Exeter show (weeks ago!) and I am working from memory.... I rest my case.
Honest this is ribbon, well the stripe down the side is and Leslie has matched the baubles perfectly. a very stylish card.
Prancing reindeer, once again ribbon, I promise - it's just the way that Leslie expertly seems to make the ribbon turn into paper.
Leslie has used three ribbons on her last card, it is just fantastic.
Now I thought these were sweet little tree decs, adorable in themselves. But it was not until I put everything away that I realised that behind this decs were hidden gold chocolate coins. WOW what a fab idea Jan - awesome.
Oh a very classic stlye Jan, the green just shouts CHRISTMAS.
Look at this little lot. The penquin is adorable what a wonderful gift for someone. The fudge individualy wrapped with Merry Christmas, they came out of the little bag. Jan it is just super, but I am being asked if we sell the penquins at the shows!!! No only the ribbon.
This delightful penguin set leads me onto to the next collection of goodies - Gail you are up next!
Do you want to see him up close.
Gail has sent me a cross stitch penquin, wow must have taken an age? So he does not feel left out, I hang him with Jans Penguin collection on the front of the exhibtion stand. Sorry he is a little out of focus, probably because I was munching on some fudge and not holding the camera steady!
Gail has been playing with ribbon to create this garland - plaited maybe, or braided?
This is a little bag, both the handle and bag are ribbon but the detail is something more......
....Gail it is beautiful, thank you.
If I have not shown your collection of challenges goodies yet, please do not worry I still have many more to share. There will be another batch tomorrow with the Friday FREEBIE -oooh I can not decide what the prize should be this week! If you have a spare moment we are sponsering a new Challenge Blog this week - click HERE to find out more.
Have a great Thursday and see you all tomorrow.
Hello Wednesday - Bowdabra
13/10/2010
Don't you just LOVE wednesday's? Say hello to wednesday "hello wednesday" It's all down hill from now on to the weekend - yippee!!!
I have a new gadget, I must admit that where ribbon is concerned I am not normally into gadgets, much preferring to do it myself. But when I saw this NEW Mini Bowdabra, I had to have one.
The Mini Bowdabra makes not just mini bows but big bows as well. I was really impressed with it, so much so that we have decided to stock a bowmaker! At long last I hear you shout.
As I have said this Bowdabra impressed me so much that I thought I would show you how easy it is to use. Inside the box you get the Bowdabra bowmaker, Bowdabra wand and instructions.
Gather all the bits around you, Bowdabra and wand, scissors and ribbon. You can use ANY ribbon, narrow to wide - wire edged to satin, it is up to you.
Place a narrow ribbon into the Bowdabra, this is the ribbon that will hold your bows together. Our Magic cord (HERE) works perfectly, and you get the extra bonus of the twiddles!
Place your bow ribbon in the slot of the bowmaker.
Make the first loop of the ribbon and take the ribbon back through the slot.
Make a loop on the other side and pass it through the slot again. You can continue to make as many loops each side as you wish. You can even change ribbon colours, just keep building up the loop layers.
The Bowdabra comes with a wand. This helps scrunch the ribbons together in the centre to firm a tight knot. Not really needed on a simple bow like this one, but with a big loop bow it is of great help.
Once you are happy with the number of ribbon loops, tie a knot in the centre of the narrow ribbon making sure it is really tight.
Remove from the Bowdabra. The centre ribbon does not have to be the front of the bow, you could use it to tie the bow to a parcel or a hair grip.
I really have put this bowmaker through it's paces, I have used everything I could think of for the centre ribbon, from 3mm satin to eyelash, magic cord, wire and even wider ribbons. It is a very versatile little gadget. If you would like to add a mini Bowdabra to your craft room then you can find them by clicking HERE.
Happy bowmaking.....
41 comments for 41st FREEBIE
12/10/2010
That is amazing - to receive 41 comments on the 41st Friday FREEBIE of the year.......spoooky
Sorry I didn't mean to confuse you with starting the Friday FREEBIE on the Thursday, but the internet connection was so poor at the hotel that I could not risk waiting until Friday morning and not being able to make the posting.
And as for picking the number from the "Bingo" bag on today Tuesday instead of the normal Monday, that was all down to Tony. It was his birthday yesterday, I had a super day planned for him, with lunch over looking the sea......but his car (the one he keeps in the garage for special days!) broke down en route. By the time we got back home to get my car, we had missed lunch so headed to Portland Bill for a Cream Tea. Not what I had in mind, but we did have fun.
Onto the winner of our NEW Velvet Ric Rac - I would like to point out that I was watching customers on our stand at Ally Pally and there are an awful lot of "ribbon Strokers" out there!!! I am not even sure they know who they are!!
We had a Birthday Tea party for Tony today in the office with lots of cakes and a few candles - Sydney and Bev (with her new hair style) picked this weeks Friday FREEBIE winner.
The winner is number 14 - Misti
A day early, fun! i was thinking today was friday anyways until my daughter asked me to pick out her school clothes
oh well, we are almost there. love the ribbon [as always
))]
my fingers are crossed
hope your friend has a happy bday!
Misti you have won, congratulations, please email us your address to craftyribbons@gmail.com and we will get the lush velvets posted off to you.
Thanks to all you wicked wonderful people who left super comments - fantastic thank you.
Ally Pally was awesome and incredibly exhausting, huge thanks to everyone that came to see us - you made the show.
Friday FREEBIE 41
07/10/2010
(I am posting this early due to being at Ally Pally.)
Sounds like I have started a new trend in stroking ribbon!
Not given it a try yet, then maybe you need to leave a comment for this weeks Friday FREEBIE as this prize needs a lot of stroking!!
Would you like all the colours in our NEW Velvet Ric Rac - 12 colours of rich lush velvet? We bet you will be unable to use this ribbon without giving it a little stroke!
To get your name in our "Bingo Bag" all you have to do is leave a comment. We will be picking the number on TUESDAY as it is someones birthday on Monday and Tony and I will not be in the office. If you are having trouble with our spam filters then email your comment to me at craftyribbons@gmail.com and I will add it for you.
Sorry Gail, you have not missed your posting of Christmas Challenge goodies, I will be back on the case next week - promise.
We had some very friendly bloggers visiting us at Ally Pally today. It took Val and Susan 3 attempts to get to speak to us as we were so busy. They were looking around the stand pointing to all your wonderful creations that are on display. It was really great meeting you both and hope your enjoyed your day out.
Have a fun weekend and do say "Hi" if you come to the show.
Hello Wednesday - Funky Christmas
06/10/2010
Don't you just LOVE wednesday's? Say hello to wednesday "hello wednesday" It's all down hill from now on to the weekend - yippee!!!
Ooooh I am so loving these new Funky Christmas ribbons and I have made my FIRST Christmas card! I have been a bit busy of late and just have not found the time to play with all my new ribbons, but over the weekend I got stuck in.
Full on play time!
The limes and pinks really work perfectly with our NEW Velvet Ric Rac. You just have to stroke this ric rac - it is wicked.
You will be able to come and stroke the NEW Velvet Ric Rac at Ally Pally (The Knitting & Stitching Show, starting Thursday through to Sunday), it is right at the front of the stand so you can not miss it. Not coming to Ally Pally? Boo Hoo, but don't worry I have not forgotten you, the NEW Velvet Ric Rac is on the website and you can see it by clicking HERE, spotty buttons HERE and Go Grosgrain this Christmas HERE.
Wish us luck.
my basket