May Arts Halloween Challenge

   

I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the 20 participants for the May Arts Halloween Challenge. We were able to pick out 4 of the 6 ribbons above to work with. I chose the Orange and Black PomPom Trim, the awesome Spiderweb Ribbon, the Black Silk Ribbon and the Black Stitched Ribbon.  Here is what I came up with!!

I decided to do a folk art doll for my challenge entry! I used an angel pattern I have and revamped it for a more sinister purpose (though really my witch looks like more of a good witch, lol!)  The body is sewn from muslin with the exception of the legs which were made from the spiderweb ribbon! I think they make amazing tights for my little witch!! 

I took inspiration from the ruffled dress on the inspiration photo and made a ruffled, tiered skirt from all the different ribbons I chose. I added more of the spiderweb ribbon to the dress and also gave her a spidery shawl/cape.

I found a little stick from our garden (well my daughter found it for me really!) used some raffia from my stash and wrapped it with the stitched edge ribbon. I also created a little witches hat from felt and added black stitch ribbon to that as well!  The black twine makes a great scraggly hair for my witch.

I really had a great time making this doll, and my youngest has had a great time since flying her around the house on various adventures! I love that she still loves to play with the rag dolls I have made her. At the age of 9, it is lovely to see as some kids grow up way too fast!!  Thank you so much Bethney for the chance to play!!!

Boho Chic Flowers: My 2nd Round Submission for May Arts

I knew I wanted to make another flower for my May Arts Second Round project, but I wanted to show how versatile it is!! Here is my gorgeous model Aine showing you the flower as a hair clip and a pin, but I have put it to use in lots of different ways: wearable art, gift packaging, as a card motif, on a scrapbook layout, on a bag and even on some shoes!! Have a look at some of the finished projects after the tute!

To make this flower I used:

406-15-04 Blue Natural Burlap/Stripe Edge/Wired ribbon

398-4-02, 11 4 inch wide Burlap in Cream, Natural

382-15-94 Aqua Chevron 1 1/2 inch Trim 

433-38-10 Cream ⅜ inch Crochet Trim

FY 09 Wired Pearl Trim 

XL 09 Faux Suede Leaves

Step 1:

Take a 12 inch length of the Aqua Natural Burlap/Stripe Edge/Wired ribbon and with needle and thread use a running stitch to gather the ribbon together to form a circle...stitch the ends of the ribbons together.

Step 2:

As I will be using the burlap to make a patchwork pillow and a tote, I chose the 4 inch Wired Natural Burlap Ribbon they had. To make the burlap circle for the flowers, cut a 6 inch length and then cut it so that you have 2 1.5 inch with pieces from it...this will make the burlap detail for 2 flowers!

Since the burlap is wired on the edge I found the easiest way to make a circular layer of burlap was to hand gather it bending the wire to form the circle.

When you are done you can use needle and thread or hot glue to tack together the two layers you have made so far.

Step 3:

Next take a 6 inch piece of your Aqua Twill Chevron Stripes 1.5 inch ribbon. Cut this in half and use one of the pieces to make your next gathered circular ruffle for the flower.

Take a 6 inch piece of your 3/8 inch Cream Crochet Trim next and gather this into a circle as well, and we are done with the sewing for this flower! 

 Layer the chevron and the crochet ruffles on the flower and sew or glue into place.

Step 5:

Nearly there! I took a six inch piece of Wired Pearl Trim and twisted it together into a circle, I layered this on top of the flower and glued it into place.

  

Step 6:

As a final touch I add one tiny pearl from the wire into the center of the lace and add two Faux Suede Leaves in Natural.

Voila! You are done!!  One fun, Boho Chic Flower finished!!!

Just to show the versatility of this flower, here I have it as a hair clip, on a hat, on a jacket and even on some shoes!!

WEARABLE ART

Attach a hair clip to the back of your flower and it makes a beautiful hair accessory!

If you have two hair clips you can decorate some shoes with them!!

Add a pin and it makes a cute decorations for a hat and a jacket!!

HOME DECOR

Here is a quick explanation on my Patchwork Burlap Pillow!! I cut the 4 inch wired burlap ribbon into 4 inch squares.

I sewed the squares together in a nine patch pattern (my background as a quilter showing through here!).

I added muslin as a backing for stability and then stuffed. I finished the pillow off with a boho chic flower, a cute home decor accent!

I also had enough the wide burlap trim left to make a cute tote for my daughter, this time I put my seams on the outside for something different and added  three flowers to accent it. I used the Blue Natural Burlap/Stripe Edge/Wired ribbon for the handles...a cute summery tote! My girls are fighting over this one, so I think I will have to make a second one!!

GIFT PACKAGING

These flowers add a special touch to gifts and packaging... Here I made the gift of a hair clip part of the packaging, using the Aqua Twill Chevron Stripes 1.5 inch ribbon to wrap the gift.

Here I made a card, and made the hair clip part of the design:

Here is the card without the hair clip attached, still pretty even without the clip!!

SCRAPBOOKING

And of course, last but not least, as I love to do layouts, I used the ribbons that were part of the flower to create a special layout as well!! I used leftover bits of 4 inch Wired Natural Burlap Ribbon from creating the flowers, pillow and tote to make a background for the photo, I pleated the gorgeous Aqua Natural Burlap/Stripe Edge/Wired ribbon to make a lovely textured effect below the photo and layered the 3/8 inch Cream Crochet Trim over top of it. Finally, I took some of the Aqua Twill Chevron Stripes 1.5 inch ribbon and made little banners with it and tucked them under my flower. I used beautiful UHK papers and tags, a Blue Fern heart chipboard and Prima letters to finish off the layout.

As you can see there are so many ways you can use your ribbon flowers to embellish
wearable art, packaging, home decor and for cardmaking and scrapbooking.
I hope you enjoyed my ideas!!