Decorative Packaging

Have you ever tried to weave ribbon?  It is easy, fun, and looks great on this piece of jewelry. This is so much fun you can make them as gifts, or to fit all your wardrobe colors or even in your favorite athletic team or school colors and wear it on game days to show your team or school spirit!

What you’ll need:
a.. Four spools satin ribbon, 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch; b.. Scissors; c.. Blue painter’s taped.. Plastic seaming needle (available at yarn stores); e.. Lightweight fusible interfacing  f..Iron; g.. 1-inch and 1-1/2-inch covered button kits (available at fabric stores) h.. craft adhesive; i.. Pin back; j.. 2-inch eye pin; k.. Jump ring

Hint before you start: After you weave the ribbon, you need to fuse
some interfacing to it. It’s tricky to move your finished weaving
from your work surface to your ironing board for fusing, and so just do the
weaving right on the ironing board. Also, refer to the pictures for help

Begins with blue painter’s tape, which is a great craft supply.
It’s only lightly sticky, so you can tape things down and peel them back up
without damage or residue. The picture shows three pieces: one long and two short. I’ve
placed the long piece, sticky side facing up, on my ironing board. The two small pieces are used to tape the ends of the long one down.

Place the ribbons side by side on the sticky side of the painter’s tape.

Cut 20 pieces of ribbon, each measuring 7 inches. The picture shows 2 different
colors here, 10 of each color. Place the ends side by side onto the sticky
piece of tape, pressing them very gently to stick them to the tape. As you
can see, you don’t need to match up the ends. Peel up the tape and turn it
over in order to stick the ribbons down to the work surface.

Now, stick the long piece of tape down to the ironing board, trapping the ends of the ribbons underneath. Press the tape down firmly with your fingers. Rub and smooth the tape well and cut off the end pieces.

We’ll use a second piece of tape to anchor all thee ribbons for weaving. So, flatten all those ribbons out as best you can with your fingers. Then, take a second long piece of tape. Stretch it across the bottoms of the ribbons and press it down lightly so the tape picks up the ribbons.

Then, hold this tape in your hand and gently move and adjust the ribbons sticking to its underside until they’re straight and side by side. When they look good, press this tape down firmly to the ironing board with your fingers.

Cut another 20 7-inch lengths of ribbon. I’m using two new colors here, 10 pieces of each. (It’s good to note here that you can use any combination of ribbon colors you like for this project. There are endless possibilities. I would recommend that only one of your colors be a 1/4-inch ribbon.Thread the first ribbon on a seaming needle and weave it in and out.

 Thread the first ribbon on a plastic seaming needle and weave it over and under the taped-down ribbons. If you need to, you can weave your way halfway across, pull the ribbon through, and then finish weaving.

When you’ve woven the strand all the way through, push it up until it’s snuggled against the tape. Repeat the process with the next strand, weaving it opposite to the first.

Thread another strand of ribbon onto the needle, and weave it in the opposite manner to the first one, as shown.
Snuggle the second strand right under the first.
Continue in this manner until you’ve woven all the way down to the second piece of tape. Be sure to straighten and groom your work as you weave. Cut a square of fusible interfacing the same size as the weaving, and fuse it over the ribbons. You can iron over the painter’s tape briefly without damaging your ironing board.

When you’ve fused the interfacing to the ribbon, carefully remove the tape. Then, iron the ribbon again. It is critical that you get the interfacing completely fused to the ribbon so it won’t fall apart when you’re making covered buttons. So, iron and iron again.

When the fabric is thoroughly fused, trim off the ribbon ends on all four sides. Cut a circle from this fabric that’s about 3/4 inch larger on all sides than the top of the covered button blank. To make jewelry with your button, you’ll need to remove the wire shank. In the covered button blank I’m using here, the shank is just a piece of wire that’s easily pinched out with your fingers. Other styles of covered button may require a pair of needle-nose pliers.

Place the button blank face down on top of the fabric circle.Place the fabric circle, wrong side up, on your work surface. Place the top of the covered button, face down, on top of the circle. Notice the teeth around the edge of the button? Those will be important in a minute.

Use your fingers to wrap the edges of the fabric around the button top. Wrap tightly. Those teeth will grab the interfacing on the back of the fabric and help hold it in place.Then, press the back of the covered button to the front. Follow the package directions.
Because the ribbon fabric is thick, you may need to use a pair of pliers to help snap the two pieces of the button together. If you do, remember two things: Protect the woven top of your button by placing some fabric between it and the pliers, and be careful to pinch only the edges of the button. If you squeeze the center of the button with the pliers, you could easily dent it.
When the two pieces have snapped together, you have a finished button! So let’s make some simple jewelry.To make a pin or ring, glue a finding to the back of the button with hot glue.To make a pin, just use some hot glue to attach a pin back to the back of the button. The same method works for a ring. If you prefer, you can cut a circle of wool felt to cover up the back of the button before you glue it to the finding.

To make a pendant, you’ll need to add an eye pin to the button back before you assemble the button. Give the eye pin a couple of bends, as shown. You want the eye to line up with the top edge of the button.

Insert the top of the eye pin through the slit on the back of the button, as shown. This bent end will be hidden inside the finished button.

Then, install a jump ring on the eye pin to accommodate the chain of your choice. I usually also put a spot of tacky glue or hot glue under the top of the eye pin to help hold it in place against the back of the button.

These buttons have plenty of other uses, too. You could sew them to a cuff bracelet, or use them as embellishments on a handbag. You could glue them to hairpins.

Floral Favors

Arranged with small, sweet flowers from the garden or even the supermarket, nosegays ( see bottom for definition) make perfect party favors (or boutonnieres at a country wedding). Tie them with homemade ribbons that are made with pinking shears from floral fabrics. To make them a bit more formal, gather with satin, thin ribbon. To keep the flowers fresh, cut them the morning of your party. You might want to provide small vases or containers so guests can tote them home.

 Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the ribbon link in my post.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please call the phone number on that page.

There are some easy and creative ways to make your handmade products different from the rest at festivals or shows and make a special surprise for customers ordering your products. This blog is all about using creative packaging to make your creations stand out from the crowd and make them memorable for your customers.

How much time and effort you want to put into your packaging is totally up to you. You can quickly create simple stylish packaging or spend more time creating something totally customized to your business.
You are competing with not only other producers of handmade products but with mass produced items. Your handmade products are more expensive than those from a factory assembly line, but, for very good reasons. The extra time, effort, and expertise (not to mention passion) that goes into handmade products are what make them worth the extra price to your buyers. Your decorative packaging needs to reflect this care, effort, and passion.

I love these adorable hand made gift tags that can be used to accent your craft project.  Cookie cutters were used to trace shapes on a variety of things…cardstock, vintage books (a French children’s story and some Shakespeare).  Glue to a larger shape. They then added bits of this and that….shells, flowers, burlap, buttons, twine, raffia and a little diamond dust.  Use a hole punch to make a hole, and attach the tag to the gift bag with ribbon or elastic pretied bow.

 Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the ribbon link in my post.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please call the phone number on that page. 

These cute little party/wedding favors can be filled with mints, nuts, assorted candies or where ever your imagination leads you.  They can be easily adapted to any party theme by changing the style and color of decorative ribbon.

Wrap your favor tins in tulle with a colorful ribbon.

2.5″ favor tins or 3″ favor tins with clear tops
6″ wide tulle netting spool
7/8″ ribbon in your choice of complementary colors

Tools you will need …
scissors

•  
  1. Cut out two 12″ pieces of 6″ wide tulle from the spool. And 12″ length of ribbon. Be sure to fill your favor tins first.
  2. 2. Take one piece tulle and wrap around the favor can. Tie a knot on top of it. Take the second piece of tulle netting and wrap cross-wise around the tin and tie another knot on the top of the tin..  

3 .Tie a ribbon bow around knot in the tulle. 

4.  Trim your ribbon ends and cut the top of the tulle off (leaving 1 to 2″). 

5. Your favor tins will look festive and fun with the different color ribbons.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the ribbon link in my post.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please call the phone number on that page. 

To make the favor above

1. Arrange all your materials on a table.  

miniature plastic champagne glasses or glass miniature champagne glasses
tulle circles
double faced satin ribbon
Jordan almonds
glue gun
clothespin

2.Fill them with favor candy, mints, or nuts.

3. Cut the tulle circle to the center only.  Place a few drops of glue under the part of the glass that will hold the almonds. This will hold the tulle to the glass.

4. Have your clothespin handy for the next step. Place the circle around the stem of the glass. Overlap the edges and pull it upward. The glue will hold the tulle in place. Now you can twist the top of the tulle. Grab the clothespin to hold the twist in place.  

5.  Tie the ribbon tightly around the twisted tulle- tie a bow.  Remove your clothespin.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the ribbon link in my post.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please call the phone number on that page.

Take a simple white box and make it sensational by adding personalized satin ribbon.  Add a wedding or party favor to the box and wrap it all up in love. Wrap your packages with beautiful continuously printed favor ribbon. Custom imprint your names and wedding date on our high-quality double-face satin ribbon to create a unique roll of personalized favor ribbon. Your text can be printed repeatedly for the entire length of the ribbon. Choose from several ribbon colors. For more creative decorative packaging, you can coordinate the box color and ribbon color to your theme.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the ribbon link in my post.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please call the phone number on that page.

These little boxes filled with your special selected goodies will be a wonderful gift at a wedding or party. 

Materials:
Wide Decorative Ribbon Band cut to length,
Chinese Takeout Box – 1/2 Pint,
2″ Round Personalized Stickers,
Bridal Labels,
Double-sided tape or glue dots,
Scissors

Instructions:
Super easy! Simply cut the tibbon strip wide decorative ribbon just long enough so that it will snuggly wrap your container. Use double-sided tape or glue dots to secure the ends of the ribbon. Personalize stickers with your names and event date and affix atop the ribbon.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the ribbon link in my post.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please call the phone number on that page.

Wide ribbon bands are a great way to jazz up CD cases, favor boxes or favor bags!
 
 Materials:
Wide Decorative Ribbon Band cut to length
Paperboard CD Case
Metallic CD Case
Chinese Takeout Box – 1/2 Pint
2″ Round Personalized Stickers
Bridal Labels
Double-sided tape or glue dots
Scissors

Instructions:
Super easy! Simply cut the strip wide decorative ribbon just long enough so that it will snuggly wrap your container. Use double-sided tape or glue dots to secure the ends of the ribbon. Personalize stickers with your names and event date and affix atop the ribbon.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the ribbon link in my post.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please call the phone number on that page.

Gorgeous Decorative packaging for your beach-theme event!
 
 Materials You Need To Purchase:
Tiny Round Palm Leaf Favor Boxes, Continuously Printed Satin Ribbon - 3/8″ width x 50 yards ,silk flowerettes

Instructions:
Fill the box with your favors then close the box with its lid. Flip the box so that its lid is facing down. Place the box in the center of the strand of ribbon. Bring the ends of the ribbon up the sides of the box and twist the ends in the center of the bottom of the box. Flip the box over and and wrap the opposing 2 sides of the box. Your box should now be right-side up.

Tie a simple bow tie.
Insert tiny silk flowerette into the center of the bow tie. 

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the ribbon link in my post.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please call the phone number on that page.

These cute little woven boxes would make great wedding guest favors, or for any other type of celebration.  Coordinate the ribbon color to your wedding colors, or theme.  The 3/8″ ribbon can be printed with what ever you wish to say, from the names of the bride and groom, thanks for coming, Happy Birthday, Happy New Year or what ever you desire. 

Decorative Packaging

 Instructions:
Fill each box with your sweet favors and close the box. Place the 3/8″ ribbon on top of the 1″ ribbon. Wrap and tie around the box. Insert the cherry blossom sprays into the ribbon’s knot to secure. A great do it yourself project to create easy cherry blossom favors.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the ribbon link in my post.  If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, please call the phone number on that page.