As you may already know, we are hosting a “Think Spring” Craft Challenge for the entire month of March.  We are asking our participants to create a spring themed craft project using May Arts ribbon.  We thought it would be fun to let everyone participate a bit!  What sort of craft project would you create?  Do you have any ribbons you like to use, or projects that you have done in the past?  Tell us what you think and enter for a chance to win 1 full spool of May Arts Ribbon!

Details are listed below:

• To enter: Post a comment or send in a picture to sales@mayarts.com.  ** For this contest it is not required that the ribbon be May Arts. **

• Start date:  Monday, March 8th 2010.

• Deadline: Sunday March 21st, 2010.  

• The prize:  1 Full Spool of your favorite May Arts Ribbon!

• We will select one entry.  The winner’s name will be posted on Monday March 22nd, 2010. 

• The winner will have 2 weeks to contact us & claim their prize.

• Domestic & International entries are all welcome.

Continue reading »

Thank you all for all of your wonderful comments!  I know Mrs. Nirmala Gunawardene appreciates them, as well.  A big thank to to Nirmala for sending the photos in to us!  The ribbon embroidery is truly exquisite!  We have heard she is working on a website as we speak, so stay tuned!  We will be sure to post the link as soon as we receive it!

We selected the winner of this contest, courtesy of Random.org:

The winner is #34, Holly:

"Oh MY! These flowers are gorgeous!!!!! What a creative way to use all these different colors of ribbon! I love that first one with the pinks and greens - love those tiny little green ribbon leaves! Wow!"

Holly, congratulations!  Please forward your shipping information & your ribbon selection to sales@mayarts.com!

_______

Don't forget to check out our latest contest for another chance to win 1 full spool of ribbon!

.

Prefer a bit more of a challenge?  Then click here for our "Think Spring" Craft Challenge!

Continue reading »

Right now I am in love.  Yes, with mini cards and the luxurious, beautiful May Arts silk ribbons.   I know…it is a little odd to form such an attachment to teeny cards and silk ribbon. It’s just the way I am!

This ribbon.  Delicious.  It is oh so soft, and absolutely gorgeous.  It is used in the ribbon roses post.  If that looks a bit too challenging for you, here is where the mini card love comes in!  Easy as Pie -- Pie bought at a bakery, that is!  Often I tie my little cards with May Arts burlap string.  The silk makes these cards extra special!

The mini card. (sigh) These little babies are quick.  Quick to make, quick to jot down a tiny note…and they are wonderful to receive.  Win/win!  Even when you are in a hurry, the thought still counts and these are thoughtful!
.

FAST, EASY, SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS:

• Cut paper

• Fold paper

• Tie ribbon

• Done!

For a more in depth look:

I like to use scraps of double-sided patterned cardstock.  This adds that little something extra to your card.  Kicking solid paper up a notch! 
.

If a sentiment seems appropriate for your cards, use a stamp on another little scrap-I like to stamp onto patterned paper with a light grid or worn look - this will add a bit of depth and texture to your card. Then punch it out and adhere to your card base.  (stamps, ink and punches from Stampin’ Up!)
.

If you are not a paper junkie like me with years worth of scraps, download a pattern, like the two above. I bought them from Studio 71 Design and I printed them on white textured cardstock and on Kraft Colored card stock.   If you are a paper junkie like me you can still download a pattern, it works fabulously with the silk!  And you can select your own color palette!
.

Cut the paper.
.

Score your paper with a bone folder or your hands or for professional folds, I use a Scor It board.
.

Most of my minis are about 3 inches square once they are folded.  The downloaded cards are 2 inches once folded.
.

An idea for a festive look, punch a hole at the top and to the side of the card.
.

Then I tie a ribbon in a knot (or a bow would look great, too).
.

Or I will tie 3, 4 or 5 knots!  Depending on the card.
.

a look inside at the double-sided paper…it just adds a little pop!
.

Sometimes I like to give my cards bundled together, scored but not pre-folded.  That way they fit easily in a desk drawer. This makes a nice last minute gift.
.

Sometimes I add lots of ribbons to the bundles!
.

So many variations to this simple card. You can tie your ribbon any direction in knots or bows.  Make your sentiment pop out from your card with a foam dot adhesive.
.

Small Envelopes are available through Stampin’ Up! Or can be found at Clear Bags.
.
Have a mini card making party soon.  Keep them on hand and use as a gift tag, or use for any occasion from birthday card to thank you note.  Slip a card in a lunch bag or even give one to yourself!
.
Blog Posted By: Leah Farrar-White

.

Be sure to Check out this Month's Craft Challenge: Think Spring!

_______

Do you have a craft idea or favorite crafting ribbon, but aren't participating in our Challenge?  Then our newest contest is for you!

Continue reading »

While winter dominates & many of us becoming a bit tired of all that lovely white snow, it is the perfect time to think spring!   The spring season is all about cleaning & freshening up your surroundings, creating something new that will make you smile.  Ribbon is the ultimate embellishment for so many projects.  It’s an economical, versatile & beautiful tool.  
This month we want you to think spring & create a spring themed craft project!  
Details are listed below:

• We will provide you with up to 4 spools of ribbon at 4 yards each to work with.  Your choice!    

• You will have one month to complete a spring craft project.  Any craft design will be admissible.  You are limited only by your own imagination.

• One winner will be selected and awarded the following prize.  An opportunity to become our next ‘guest blogger’ during the month of April.  One blog post will be offered.  The winner will also win 3 full spools of ribbon.  Your choice!

• 10 additional entries will win a prize of 1 full spool of ribbon.  Your choice!

• To Enter: Email us at sales@mayarts.com with your idea, ribbon choices & contact information. **Please remember to note the widths you are looking for!**   We will promptly mail out your ribbon to work with.   When you have completed your project, forward us a photo or (better yet) video of your design & we will post it on the blog.

• Start Date: March 1st, 2010.

• Deadline: March 31st, 2010.  The winner will be announced on April 5th, 2010. 

Continue reading »

A while back when we hosted our Christmas Challenge, we offered our winner 1 guest blog spot.  We have been so excited to work with this very talented lady & have anxiously awaited bringing this post to you all!  Please welcome our guest blogger, Rebecca Ednie:

Hi, I am thrilled to have a tutorial featured here on the May Arts blog today. I am a 30+ SAHM of two lovely but adventurous and active little boys, Jameson, 9 and Spencer 3. I used to be an RN but I can’t work due to health reasons. I am married to Tim, a paramedic. Guess how we met, ha ha! We live in a very small town, Mount Albert, pop. 2500, about 45 minutes north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Our brown tabby and white kitty, named Jesse, was rescued from the Humane Society and has been eating ever since! I love paper crafting, sewing and other crafts as well as photography, reading and gardening. I have done some kind of craft my whole life, having tried about 25 different types. Actually, it is probably more! Right now, I am into card making and home decor. I also scrapbook and love recording my kid’s lives. My pages, cards, home decor and sewing often include ribbon, the more the better I always say! I hope you will visit my blog, Eclectic Endeavors.

Rose Napkin Ring Tutorial

.

Supplies (for one napkin ring):

• 8.5” x 3” piece of your choice of color of heavy cardstock - I used chocolate brown about 80 - 100lb weight

• Scraps of gold metallic cardstock - mine was from Stampin’ Up!

• 1 yard of 1-1.5” wide ribbon of your choice, I recommend a bit stiffer ribbon like grosgrain or satin, silk would be too soft without a stiffener - I used QA16 embroidered ribbon, perfect stiffness.

• 1 large paper or silk rose - mine was by Prima and was almost 2” wide by 1.5” high.

• Quick drying, non-yellowing glue - I used 3 in 1 Crystal Clear Glue by Beacon’s (very similar to Zip Dry)

• Border paper punch strong enough to punch cardstock - mine was a Martha Stewart punch, you could also use specialty scissors or a shaped paper trimmer blade

• Die cut swirls - I used a Sizzix die that is also available through Stampin’ Up! (see photo above)

• Adhesive halfback pearls - I used Kaisercraft

.

Instructions:

.

Step 1. You will start by making the paper ring that supports the ribbon and the rose. I started with a 8.5” long piece, the width will depend on what border punch you are using and the width of your ribbon. Punch one edge of the cardstock. Decide what width you want the cardstock strip to be based on the width of your ribbon and the depth of your punched design, adding any waste that the punch creates. Punch the other side, be sure to line up your punch so the edges are symmetrical. My final strip measured just slightly over 2” wide.
.

Step 2. Overlap the ends of the paper strip and glue. You will not need the whole strip but leaving it extra long allows you to align the punched edges for a tidy look. This is where you will see if your strip ended up symmetrical! (mine wasn’t perfect)  The diameter of my loop was about 1.5” when I was finished.
.

Step 3. Wrap your ribbon around your cardstock loop. Do NOT glue it to the cardstock, just to itself at the ends. Snugly, but not tight. This allows you to remove the paper if it gets stained and replace it. I angled the end of my ribbon, again for neatness.
.

Step 4. Cut the following lengths of ribbon. 10.5”, 8.5”,  6.5”. Overlap the ends by ¼” and glue. I use clothespins to hold the ribbon together while it dries.
.

Step 5. Fold the ribbon loops in half. This will allow you to fold the ribbon in the middle, creasing it. In the photo I used binder clips only to because I can’t hold the ribbon and take a photo at the same time. I normally just hold it and crease it by hand. Glue the crease to the overlapped area. Again, I use clothespins to secure the ribbon while the glue dries.
.

Step 6. Stack the ribbon loops, aligning the centers and glue. Next glue to the loops to ribbon strip wrapped around the cardstock.
.

Step 7. Glue on the swirls, rose and pearls as per the photo.

.

.
Blog Posted By: Rebecca Ednie

.

Be sure to check out our latest challenge "Think Spring", for a chance to win a guest blog post of your own......and, of course, Free Ribbon!

Continue reading »

Blog Posted By: Leah Farrar-White

Continue reading »

.
Last week I posted how to make a reversible table runner.  Keeping with the kitchen theme, today I am showing an apron and a pot holder with the same color scheme.   Back in June, in a post about embroidery on ribbon, I mentioned my really bad Jr. High Home Ec apron.  Wanting to give it another go and still being a sewing newbie, I called in an expert, my Mother-in-law.  Dorothy, a former Home Economics teacher (now known as Family and Consumer Sciences) whipped up this hand towel apron in no time at all.  If you are not a sewist, find a friend with a machine to help and give it a try!  Can’t hurt & might be fun.  With so many amazing fabrics out there needing some May Arts embellishing…you have to give it a go!
.

APRON

For the apron, Tipnut.com has about 152 free patterns on-line!   The apron shown is one adapted from a few of these towel apron patterns.
.

.

.

.

POT HOLDER

.

Materials:

• 8 strips of 2.5 x8” rectangle fabric scraps (I used the scraps from the table runner)

• Coordinating thread

• Jumbo Ric Rac in yellow 330-27.

• Scraps of Batting  (I doubled my regular or use heat-proof batting)

.

Directions:

• Sew 4 strips of fabric together, add Ric Rac and sew in place

• Repeat step one

• Create a quilt “sandwich”: one piece of fabric wrong side up, batting doubled over, other fabric right side up. Pin in place.

• Bind the edges together with quarter inch seam

• With grid fabric bind pot holder.  (A binding tutorial can be found at crazymomquilts.blogspot.com)

• Place near stove and order carry out!!!

.

.

.

.
Blog Posted By: Leah Farrar-White

Continue reading »

Throw pillows may not be on everyone’s “Thrifty Things,” list, but I find that changing a room’s pillowscape can make everything else appear new and fresh.  It’s not necessary to discard the current decorative pillows, just give them a vacation.  Remove the covers, if possible, clean and pack them in a clearly labeled container for their re-entry a few seasons from now.
.

The photo above features an easy and versatile pillow that uses a textured solid color ribbon appliquéd onto a neutral linen-weave cotton fabric.  The Greek geometric design is at home in any room with any decorating style. Customize the color combination, style of ribbon and pillow fabric for a fine looking accent pillow.
.

MATERIALS:

• 14” pillow form or 12 oz bag of polyester fiber-fil

• 1/2yd fabric (I used 100% cotton- Oasis, color R79, by Marcus Brothers Fabrics.)

• 5 yards ribbon (I used May Arts Ribbon: 3/4” black corduroy #357-34-10)

• Glue stick

• Basic sewing supplies

.

.

DIRECTIONS:

• Iron fabric and cut 2 pieces, 14” square* ( This will result in a 13 ½” square pillow which will fit snugly, eliminating wrinkles and “rabbit ears” corners.)

• Lay one fabric square face up on a flat surface.

• Cut ribbon into 2 pieces – each 2 1/2 yards long.

• Consulting ILLUSTRATION #1, draw a 9” square on a piece of paper.  The 4 sides of this square make up the perimeter of the design.  Within this square, copy the remaining lines of the design, including the BOLD DOTS.

• On your drawn design, make a small hole at each DOT.

• Center the 9” square paper pattern onto one face-up square of fabric.  Pin in place.

• Through each hole in the pattern, make a discrete mark on the fabric, using pencil, chalk or wash-out marker.  Remove paper pattern.

• Using the first piece of ribbon, follow the placement path indicated by arrows in ILLUSTRATION#1, and the corner-folding technique shown in ILLUSTRATIONS #2, #3, and #4.

• Use small dabs of glue stick & pins to keep the ribbon in place.

• NOTE: By beginning and ending at the *, you have concealed both raw ends of the ribbon. 

• Trim away any excess from the ribbon’s end. Under the crossing ribbon, secure the 2 raw ends of ribbon, end to end.   **I find it helpful to baste the ribbon in place at this point by hand or machine.**

• Machine stitch the ribbon in place, following both edges carefully around the entire design.

• To position the second piece of ribbon as the border decoration, draw a thin guideline ¾” from the fabric square’s entire outer edge and follow the same procedure for placing, basting and stitching this ribbon.  The ribbon’s end will overlap the beginning.  Trim, turn under and stitch.

• Place the second 14” fabric square, face to face, onto the appliquéd square and pin together around 3 sides.  Pin the 4th side 2” from both corners, leaving a 10” opening in the center.

• Stitch all pinned seams - using a ¼” seam allowance.

• Trim excess fabric at corners and turn right side out.

• Insert the 14” pillow form or loose poly-fil through the opening.

• Close the opening by folding the 2 raw edges under and stitching closed, by hand or machine.

.

The following photos are examples of several more ribbon-updated and ribbon-embellished pillows.
Stay tuned to the May Arts blog for better views and instructions for all of these thrifty temptations.

.
Blog Posted By: Ellen Highsmith Silver

Continue reading »

Recently, a customer of ours was kind enough to share some photos of her beautiful ribbon embroidery.  Her work is so exquisite we couldn’t wait to share them with all of you!   For this contest we want to know your thoughts.  Do you have a favorite?  Do any of them inspire you to create something special? What ribbon would you use?

.
Please take the time to review the pictures & post a comment!

.

.

.

.

All designs have been created by Mrs. Nirmala Gunawardene, Needle Treasures, Sri-Lanka:  "My favourite flower has always been roses & I have captured it's beauty in simple stitches & given life to May Arts ribbons to bloom as roses."

.

Details are listed below:

• To enter: Post a comment. 

• Start date:  Monday, February 15th 2010.

• Deadline: Sunday March 7th, 2010. 

• The prize:  1 Full Spool of your favorite May Arts Ribbon!

• We will select one entry.  The winner’s name will be posted on Monday March 8th, 2010. 

• The winner will have 2 weeks to contact us & claim their prize.

• Domestic & International entries are all welcome.

Continue reading »

Think Spring!

.
At this moment outside my window it is sleeting, the ground is frozen mud with absolutely no sun in the forecast.  Blah. It is plain old icky blah this time of year.  So, I decided to pull out ribbon that made me feel sunny, happy and bright!  The answer…RIC RAC.  Not any ric rac, mind you, JUMBO, fun, make me smile, May Arts Ric Rac!  

With this in hand I wanted to make something this week that made me feel springy.  Something I could use and see all the time. I decided to make a reversible table runner.  It’s on my kitchen table and I notice it as I pass by.   That little bit of sunshine makes me feel that spring and sun MIGHT just be around the corner!
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Materials:

• 1/2 yard rectangle of green polka dot fabric

• 1/2 yard rectangle of aqua with white and yellow polka dot fabric

• 1/4 yard of grid fabric or any binding strip.

• Coordinating thread

• Jumbo Ric Rac in 330-94 Turquoise and 330-27 Yellow.

• 1/2 yard Batting

Directions:

•  Even up edges of fabric, pin and sew ric rac in place on both 1/2 yards of fabric. 

• Create a quilt “sandwich”: one piece of fabric wrong side up, batting, other fabric right side up. Pin in place.

• 3.    Quilt together as you like.  I used lines in a sort of grid pattern.  I used green thread on the green fabric and white thread in my bobbin for the reverse aqua dot side.

• With grid fabric bind table runner.  (A binding tutorial can be found at Crazy Mom Quilts)

• Place on your table immediately!

• Go to your favorite florist and splurge on a beautiful spring bouquet.  Tie May Arts ribbon on your vase and ENJOY!!!

.

.

.

.

Continue reading »