What to do with Ribbon Scraps?

Hello everyone! Please tell me I'm not the only one that has a container like this!

 

Ribbon scraps ... thousands of them! Little pieces left over from hundreds of projects completed in the past 5 years.

 

Whenever I have scraps of ribbon left, I just put them in this jar. Problem is ... the jar is full and running over!

 

And so I decided to create some cards that would help me use up some of these scraps.

 

Now, with this many scraps, I could create a hundred of these cards and probably still not make much of a dent in my Ribbon Scrap Jar. But it does give me a certain feeling of satisfaction knowing that I'm trying to reduce, reuse and recycle!

 

My inspiration for all three cards today came from cards that I saw posted on Pinterest. I've done my best to track down the creator of each original card. Some of the ribbon used is non SU and much of it is retired from years past (do you see some old favorites?).

 

My inspiration for this card was created by Amy Wanford. The cardstock colors are Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White. The ribbon scraps are all various shades of yellow and orange. The stamp set is Pursuit of Happiness. I used the 2.5" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch and 1/2" Circle Punch along with the Big Shot and the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder. I also used a few Basic Rhinestones for a little bling!

 

I laid strips of ribbon onto the embossed mat, and just kept sub-dividing until the entire circle was filled in. The large circle is punched with the 2.5" Circle punch and is attached with Stampin' Dimensionals. The Card Base is 5.25" square. I think this is a fun, sunny card!

 

This inspiration for this second card was created by Kristina Werner.

 

I used Night of Navy and Crumb Cake cardstocks. I cut out the heart with the Big Shot and the Heart Collection Framelets. After cutting, I traced the heart shape onto the Night of Navy layer so I had an outline of exactly where I needed to place the ribbon. Ribbon was applied using SNAIL adhesive.

 

I laid the ribbon in strips diagonally until my heart was filled in. I added stitches with a White Gel Pen and attached a few little buttons with  Crystal Effects. The sentiment is from the retiring stamp set Heard from the Heart. The Card Base is 5.25" square. This card has a cute, homespun look. It was quick and simple to pull together and definitely a fun technique to keep in your toolbox!

 

And finally, one more Ribbon Scrap Card to share with you today! This one was inspired by a card created by Michelle Andrews on Stampin' Connection. The original actually used strips of DSP rather than ribbon.

 

I wanted something bright and bold for a birthday and tried to select ribbon scraps that fit the bill.

 

The Card Base is 4.25 x 5.5" and cardstock colors are Real Red, Crumb Cake and Whisper White. The stamp set is the retiring Hostess set called Happiest Birthday Wishes. I colored directly on the rubber with Stampin' Write Markers. I tied off the ribbon with a red Glimmer Brad. I think the finished card is happy and fun!

 

Well, I hope I've challenged you to pull out some of your ribbon scraps and put them to good use! This was a fun project and it's always so gratifying to use up scraps for cards!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you'll come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Lynn Starzl]

These are just beautiful and what an ingenious way to use up those ribbon scraps! Thanks for sharing!

[Shelley]

How fabulous! Love all 3 cards. Thanks for the wonderful idea.

[Diane Oliver]

Gretchen just love your cards and so creative... and what a great use of ribbon scraps! I especially like the SUN card. So perfect with the sentiment.
PS: I have SOOOOO much scrap "stuff" (ribbon, papers, cs, etc) and just can't bear to throw anything away. I've been trying so hard to thin out and give it away with the table favors, but it seems I never catch up! hugs.

[Sue Stevens]

You are just too smart & clever! Wonderful use of ribbon scraps. You've inspired me to look at mine! Sue

[Marti]

what great ideas and how ingenious. I have a basket of scraps! Thanks

[Sue Scheets]

Thanks for the great ideas. Can't wait to use them on a class I am having on the 31st called Leftovers, but not Meatloaf.

[Sue Erickson]

What a wonderful use of ribbon scraps!
Sue
www.soggystamper.com
www.mydigitalcraftcorner.com

[Betty]

I love all your creations, but the heart card is definitely my favorite! Thanks for sharing your creativity with us.

[Carol Carriveau]

Thanks for inspiring us with these fabulous cards...no, my ribbon scraps don't some near your 'collection', but I'll be sure to put them to great use following your samples. Your creativity is amazing...thank you!

[Lisa]

Gretchen!!! Thank you so much for sharing these awesome ideas for ribbon scraps! I can't wait to case some of these!

[Lisa F]

Great ideas! I have tons of ribbon now that so much as retired. I think the heart is my favorite!

[Terry Molineux]

Wow Gretchen what great ideas love it....My favorit are the last two cards. I favor the heart one the most though...love them! Thanks for sharing. I don't have any scraps but I have rolls and rolls of retired ribbon that I probably can open up a ribbon store and be in business for three years! LOL No joke!

[Deb B (Debadoo)]

Super cute cards Gretchen! I've been just the opposite, after 6.5 yrs of this I'm just now getting to where I think to use ribbon more. I've never been a big ribbon user or buyer. But of course most of the ribbon I do have is retired. This is a great way to use it up! Some years ago I cased something I saw where someone had done basically what you did with the heart card, but with the positive shape. They glued ribbon on CS horizontally, then cut it out with the butterfly die, so they had a ribbon butterfly embellishment. I need to make some more of those as well with my retired ribbon.

[L Venvertloh]

What a brilliant idea! I love the heart one the best! I am going to do that for my club and have a small contest for the winner! Love your blog!

[Diana Gibbs]

Hi Gretchen,

I always tease the ladies at my class, that the only exercise I get is tie-bow....ha! I have a jar too. When it gets full I sit and tie bows out of all them and then bag them up into bags of so many, and they go as door prizes. Those "bag o' bows" go fast. No one wants to tie bows, and they just grab one out of the bag and glue dot it on.

Hugs,
Di

[Mary Colemon]

My ribbon scrap container looks like yours! I 'found' it again just the other day. What great ideas you have for all those little bits and pieces. Thanks so much!

[Aimes]

Fabulous ideas for using up ribbon scraps! I have a ton of 'em!
I'm so happy that I inspired you to create that sunshine card - it's so bright and happy!
Hugs!
x

[barb hendrickson]

What awesome ideas! Can't wait to share them with my ladies. ;)