Ribbon Flower Tutorial

As promised, here is the tutorial on creating flowers from ruffled ribbon. Hopefully you find it easy to follow. You can find my original card featuring these flowers here.

Supplies Needed:
Ribbon
Needle and thread
Scissors
Sticky Strip

This works well with satin ribbon (I haven't tried it yet with others, but would love to see if some of you try). I am using a satin 7/8" ribbon to create a large bloom. I am also using a contrasting thread color for some contrast in the tutorial. I would suggest using the same color thread as your ribbon.

This is actually really easy. The basic concept is something I learned from my mother a couple of years ago when she "bustled" the skirt of a costume for me. First, thread your needle and tie off a triple knot at the end, leaving about 2" of thread after the knot (in case the knot slips through the ribbon, you can pull it back). Then, using a straight stitch, stitch straight down the middle of the ribbon. The longer your stitches, the bigger your "ruffles" will be. Shorter stitches will create tight "ruffles", great for making buds.

After you have stitched a few, you can check your progress by holding the ribbon with one hand, while gently pulling the side of the thread with the needle with your other hand. This should cause the ribbon to bustle as the thread is pulled taught.

Continue stitching until you have reached the desired length. You can keep checking your progress by pulling the thread every so often.

Once you've got it to the length you want, pull on the thread to bustle the ribbon, tie it off, and trim. The tighter you pull the closer and tighter your ruffle will be. Play with it a little to get your desired look before you tie it off.

Now use your fingers to curl it up and shape it.

That is pretty much it! Now we just have to adhere it to a card. I use Sticky Strip as this much material really needs something strong to hold it. Line up a few rows of Sticky Strip on your cardstock in the correct size for your flower and add your flower. I layed mine out on the side first, and then picked it up in a little scrunch with my finger tips and then just sat it on top of the Sticky Strip.

You may have a little area where the ribbon overlaps that will need a little me adhesive. Just cut off a little more Sticky Strip and add it where needed. Below is a shot of where mine needed a little more.

Last but not least, add some leaves of your choice!

I hope you've enjoyed and I love to see what you've done with it if you decide to try it!