Maryellen Kim - Ribbon Girls: Wind, Weave, Twist & Tie; Dress Up Your Room, Show Team Spirit, Create Pretty Presents

Publisher: Amy Marson

Creative Director: Gailen Runge

Art Director: Kristy Zacharias

Editor: Liz Aneloski

Technical Editors: Alison M. Schmidt and Gailen Runge

Cover/Book Designer: April Mostek

Production Coordinator: Jenny Davis

Production Editor: Joanna Burgarino

Illustrator: Jessica Jenkins

Photo Assistant: Mary Peyton Peppo

Style photography by Nissa Brehmer and

instructional photography by Diane Pedersen, unless otherwise noted

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my honey, Dave. Hes the apple of my eye.

Acknowledgments

My family is my reason for living. My sweet, unwavering husband, Dave, has encouraged every hare-brained creative thought Ive ever tossed out. Not one time in the past twenty years has he discouraged me from trying. He has sacrificed time, money, and unfathomable energy to help me achieve my goals. I adore him beyond words.

Our beautiful children are my life. My girl, Balin, and her sparkling eyes; handsome David and his sense of humor; Baby Leo and his mushy cheeksthese darlings fill me up. I feel like the luckiest mommy in the world. I have always put them first, and they have rewarded me endlessly. Children first. Always. Youll never regret it.

Family extends well beyond those I live with everyday: my parents and grandparents, my siblings, loving aunts and uncles, a growing group of cousins, and sweet in-laws. So much health and beauty fill this group. A special light shines on us, and an amazing bond ties us together. When we are close to each other, we are in love. When we are far apart, we know that a huge group of loved ones is just a call away. It is amazingness.

My studio family includes Chrissy, Kim, Dana, Kristin, Suzanne, Linda, Amanda, and Jen. They are the ones who pick up the pieces of my disorganization and follow my lead without (much) question. I am so thankful for them.

Other folks who help me along include dear RVA friends Tasha McKelvey, Kelly McCants, and my Richmond Craft Mafia homies. Special thanks to Captain Crafty Carrie Smith, Noelle Grosso, and my Miss B., who all keep me focused.

Roxane, Liz, Alison, and the talented folks at C&T Publishing, thank you so much for this opportunity and your expertise. You so totally rock. And finally, thank you to dear Dana Carey, who implanted the words keep going in my brain years ago. Good advice, Dana. Thank you!

Introduction

Hello, Crafty Kids! Im so glad you like to make stuff, too! Ive spent my entire life making things. There is not much that can compare with starting a project and then seeing the end product. Sometimes people tell me that they are not creative, but I believe they just havent given themselves permission to BE creative!

So Im giving you permission! I think youll like the projects Ive designed, but you know what would be really cool? If you make them a reflection of you and what you love!

The nice thing about crafting with ribbon is that you can easily turn something you already own into something totally new and super cool with just a bit of glue or stitching. Some of the projects in this book are a little more involved than others, but that doesnt mean they are hard.

Look for the project skill level to help you decide which craft you would like to start with. If you have been crafting for a while, you probably will not find any of these techniques tricky at all. But if you are new to making things, try beginning with projects designated Skill Level 1: Start Here! If you are comfortable with scissors and a hot glue gun, move on to Skill Level 2: Now Try This! If you are a more experienced crafter, try the Skill Level 3: Youve Been Crafting Awhile! projects.

If you dont know what a particular supply or technique is, check out the . The pictures and information there will help you figure out what you need.

And remember, if things dont turn out perfectly the very first time, just keep on making more. The more experience you gain, the easier the techniques will become!

We each have a unique style all our own. If you arent sure what your style is, try making a style file.

All you need is a notebook, sketchbook, some wall space, or even just an old school folder. Start looking through magazines and catalogs. When you see something you like, give it another look and decide what about that image makes it appealing to you.

Is it the color? Is it the texture? Or did a particular element grab your attention, like a bird or flower? Maybe its a shape or a pattern that you like?

Cut out the image and glue or tape it in your style file. After a while, your file will start to have a feeling. That feeling is your style! Im guessing that your favorite color is showing up a lot in that file! Do you love animals? I bet you are seeing a lot of horses and puppies in your style file.

Remember, there is no right or wrong when it comes to creativity! Do what you love, and combine things that make you happy. And dont be afraid of making mistakes. If something doesnt turn out the way you want it to, think about what you can do to turn it into something good. Your style will come shining through!

Hint: I like to use colored pens to make notes in my style file. Sometimes I draw an arrow or jot down a crafty idea, so I dont forget what I had in mind when I chose the image.

All about Ribbons and Trims

Ribbon offers so many ways to be creative! Youll be using ribbon and other trims to create projects that are fun and useful. But first lets talk about some of the different types of ribbon and trim and how you might want to use them.

The ribbons youll use for the projects in this book are all made of fabric. These arent the type of curling ribbons used on top of a present, although you could use them to make a gift extra special!

Ribbons come in lots of different widths and lengths. At your local craft store, you will find many, many types of ribbon to choose from! They are usually sold on a spool containing between three and ten yards. Some of the projects use A LOT of ribbon, so before you start, make sure you have enough on hand.

Types of Ribbon

A. Grosgrain Ribbon: This ribbon has tiny ridges and lines, which give it a lovely texture. It comes in zillions of colors and is not too stiff. But it is stiff enough to hold its shape very well. Its great for making bows and loopy ribbon flowers.

B. Satin Ribbon: I use this ribbon a lot! Its shiny and soft and very fancy looking. It also holds its shape pretty well but is not quite as stiff as grosgrain.