101 Ways to Use Ribbon

If you're like me, you love ribbon. You collect it. You love how it looks. You love how it feels. You just love ribbon. You save all those little scraps of ribbon, long or short, because you know that "someday" you're going to want it. Well, if it's time to clear out your ribbon drawer, or caddy, or shelf, here are some ideas to get you going. As suggested by one message board user over at scrapbook.com, cut out these ideas and place them in a jar. whether you need a challenge or just some quick direction, grab an idea from the jar, add some ribbon and smile. Happy scrapping!

1. Cut a journaling block into horizontal strips. Tie a ribbon in a bow or knot to the left end of the first strip, then the right end of the second strip, and so on.

2. Create a page frame by stitching ribbon to each side of the page, then cover the joins with a button or another accent.

3. Collect scraps of ribbon and cover the spiral binding of a journal or album in bows.

4. Tie a bow on a paperclip.

5. Soften the look of metal mesh by knotting satin ribbons through the latticework.

6. Colorblock a layout, punch holes where the blocks meet and lace with ribbon.

7. Create a ribbon loop off the side of the page, securing with stitches or staples, to index sections in your album.

8. Stamp tiny tags with a single letter and use narrow ribbons to attach to your page for a quirky title.

9. Hold a bookplate in place by securing each side with a length of ribbon, fixing the ribbons onto the back of your layout.

10. Punch holes along one side of a photo or mat and finish with ribbons tied in loop knots.

11. Loop ribbon around one side of a metal frame, then tie with a tiny knot or bow.

12. Laminate a leaf or another found object, punch a hole and tie on a ribbon.

13. Dye ribbons to match anything perfectly.

14. Criss-cross two lengths of ribbon to create a pocket.

15. Turn bows on their side and place at either end of a title.

16. Stamp a name or date on a ribbon, fold around the corner of a photograph and secure with a paperclip.

17. Use ribbon to hang a locket holding something special.

18. Thread two metal rings onto a length of ribbon and secure them both in a loop at one end (you can use an eyelet, nail head, brad, stitches or staples to close the loop). Wrap around a journal, mini book or photo mat and pull the loose end of the ribbon through the rings, just like a belt.

19. Make a masculine tag by threading a plain washer onto a ribbon remnant, folding in half and stapling to the top of a tag.

20. Hide journaling or an additional photograph on your page. Using self-adhesive ribbon as a hinge, secure just one side of a cardstock block to the background.

21. Cover the join between two patterned papers with a length of ribbon.

22. Create a collage between two microscope slides or pieces of transparency, then tie ribbon around the glass sandwich.

23. Team up ribbon with anything else from the haberdashery section: ric-rac, upholstery trim, lace, fibers, snap trim, zips, elastic or a hook and eye set.

24. Layer a brightly coloured sheer ribbon over traditional black and white gingham to create a custom coloured gingham.

25. Stick ribbon over vellum to hide adhesive.

26. Make a flower with loops of ribbon plus a button in the middle.

27. Cover the edge of a border of patterned page with three inch lengths of mismatched ribbons.

28. Use letter stamps on ribbon for journaling or captions.

29. Use ric-rac as the stem for a flower accent.

30. Run a thread through a length of ribbon, making loose stitches, then pull the ribbon together to gather.

31. Apply rub-on letters to a twelve inch strip of ribbon to make a custom border.

32. Cover a scrap of cardstock with ribbon scraps in lines, then place a cut out shape over the top so the quilted design shows through.

33. Fray ribbon scraps, then overlap and sew to the page.

34. Place a ribbon in a tiny glass charm for a message in a bottle look.

35. Weave your ribbbons in big or little sections on your page.

36. Punch holes on one side of a photo mat, then lace the ribbon through and add a charm to one of the loops.

37. Make one long loop of ribbon around an entire page, then use shorter ribbons to tie knots and bows to that ribbon.

38. Make a bulletin board look by criss-crossing ribbons across the page and joining with brads or buttons.

39. Use frilly ribbons with rustic elements, mixing girly trims with twill tape or a wooden tag.

40. Create your journaling in widely spaced rows. Punch small holes around key words and thread ribbon through to box out or underline words with colour.

41. Hang a letter charm from ribbon and wrap around the bottom third of a photo.

42. Use a variety of green ribbons in short, overlapped lengths to represent grass for a summery layout.

43. Place your title and journaling blocks on your layout, then cut slits at the top and bottom. Run sheer ribbon through to ‘hold’ the blocks in place.

44. Spell a title by threading letter charms onto a longer length of ribbon, adding a knot between each letter.

45. Cut a variety of ribbons to six to eight inch lengths. Adhere at odd angles to the bottom of a double page layout, with the photos and accents above this border.

46. Place short lengths of ribbon over the four corners of a photo and secure in place with brads.

47. Place ribbons around the edge of a large circle shape.

48. Fold ribbon scraps in half and staple to one side of a photo mat.

49. Use a wide ribbon as you would a strip of patterned paper.

50. Stitch your ribbon with a zig-zag.

51. Thread silk or paper flowers onto ribbons to create a daisy chain.

52. Use polka-dot ribbon with striped patterned papers.

53. Tie a series of bows or knots to cover a length of wire, then attach the wire by punch two tiny holes in your page and threading it through to the back.

54. Run a simple border with one thin ribbon across the top of your page and two thin ribbons at the bottom.

55. Tie a group of tags together with brightly coloured ribbons.

56. Punch small holes and thread a border like you would lace your shoes.

57. Use sheer green ribbons to represent leaves on flowers.

58. Use your ribbons in vertical strips instead of horizontal.

59. Repeat just one ribbon pattern throughout your layout.

60. Hang tiny jingle bells on a Christmas page.

61. Select two ribbons of contrasting color. Attach one to the left side of the page and the other to the right, then tie together in the middle. Repeat in the opposite colors to make a criss-cross if you wish.

62. Get out your eyelets and add to a paper accent, like a monogram letter. Thread ribbon through and tie in a knot.

63. Pin a safety pin through a bow or knot.

64. Tie a ribbon around the stem of any letter in your title.

65. Allow ribbons to come out the top of your {top-loading} page protector.

66. Place one bold strip of a patterned paper on your cardstock background. Add an angled strip of a colour-coordinated ribbon. Add an accent near where the two meet, and place the body of your layout in the remaining gap.

67. Punch or cut several small squares or circles. Punch a small hole and tie a ribbon on each, then line up for a border.

68. Line up several lengths of the same ribbon and secure the ends with brads, then place your title on top.

69. Punch a group of holes in any preprinted accent and add ribbons to make it your own.

70. Create a bold frame using short ribbon scraps around all four sides of the page.

71. Have just the ends of flat ribbons appear from one side of a photograph. Stick them directly to the page.

72. Use a series of ribbon-trimmed metal-rimmed tags to journal in list form.

73. Repeatedly wrap a ribbon around a block of cardstock, then tie with a charm, tag or stamped image.

74. Use only black and white ribbons plus one color of cardstock.

75. Stick ribbon directly to the page and cover the ends with square or round accents.

76. Place several twelve inch lengths of ribbon to the page, leaving an inch gap in between. Number the lines of ribbon and add journaling for a ‘# of things I...’ layout.

77. Tie ribbons on bobby pins/hair grips and slide onto the edge of a photo.

78. Use ribbon inside a slide frame or book plate.

79. Create a pull tab with a loop of ribbon on a tucked away photo or tag.

80. Use just ginghams!

81. Attach tiny clothes pegs to a length of ribbon.

82. Use white sheer ribbons for angel wings.

83. Thread white letter beads onto ribbons for journaling.

84. Tie ribbons through button holes and tie on the top.

85. Attach pins or badges to a length of ribbon stuck straight to the background.

86. Put your title inside a circle frame, and hold it in place with ribbons on two or more sides. Tuck the ribbons over to the back of the page.

87. Thread on a buckle for a classy accent.

88. Spice up a simple layout with just three knots of ribbon near the corner of a the photo.

89. Create a pinwheel design by sticking down bright ribbons cut with an angle at the end.

90. Fold your ribbon in half then cut at an angle to get that little V at the end.

91. Instead of peeling your stickers from the backing, cut them out and treat like regular paper. Punch a hole, tie a ribbon and look at your sticker in a new way.

92. Create a layout with three blocks of cardstock, then hang multiple ribbons from the bottom of each block.

93. Make a summery layout with mismatched ribbons placed 3/4 of the way down one side, to mimic flags on a sail boat.

94. Make a mini book to hold extra photos and journaling, and make sure the sides wrap around to the front so the covers open to both the left and right. Secure ribbon on the back and tie on the front to close.

95. Thread circles on ribbons to mimic Christmas ornaments, then tuck the ribbons around the top of the page and secure on the back. Design the layout on top of the ornament background.

96. Make it simple: stick a length of ribbon directly to the cardstock. Tie a bow and stick it on top -- an easier way to make everything stay put.

97. Create your title with letters on individual blocks of cardstock, then thread together by punching holes and tying together with ribbons.

98. Use watermark ink to customise your ribbon with a design or phrase.

99. Make curly ribbons by wrapping tightly around a dowel rod or pencil (securing with pins if needed), spraying with corn starch and baking in the oven for about five minutes. Leave to cool and set over night, then remove from the dowel. Great for album covers and bindings.

100. Use ribbon to bind a small book of index prints on your layout, then add more ribbon to close or hang the book.

101. Grab your favourite ribbon of the moment and work your entire layout around that inspiration. Print your photos in black and white so you don’t have to worry about color clashes and just have fun.