Sneak Peek and Ribbon Tutorial

Since I currently have no followers and just a few people that read this blog every day, I am taking the opportunity to experiment.  Today I have a sneak peek and a ribbon spiral tutorial for you!

First up, I will do a quick tutorial on how to make ribbon spirals.  I used to refer to them as flowers, until Cate decided they don't really look like flowers.  She renamed them spirals!

I used Cosmo Cricket Glubers (the large size) and grey grosgrain ribbon.  The wider your ribbon, the fuller your spiral will be.  The easiest way to do this is to leave your ribbon on the roll until the end, then cut it.  You never know how much you are going to need.

First, take the end of your ribbon and put it at the edge of your gluber.  Notice that I didn't put it all the way in.  It's just enough to hold the ribbon down.  

 Your next step is to pleat the ribbon around the outside of the gluber.  After teaching many people how to make these spirals at my scrapbook store job, I have found the easiest way to do this is by grabbing the ribbon between your index finger and thumb...

Then use your index finger to stick a small section of the ribbon down, creating the pleat.  Be su

Eventually the your fingers and your ribbon end will meet.  At this point, you will...

Start a new row!  Go in about 1/5 of an inch and go around again..

And again until you reach the middle.  I made it 3 full times around.  Sometimes you will not make it around 3 full times.  We considered it a perfect spiral if you made it around 4 times.  I've never done that.  lol!

Cut your ribbon and stick the end down.  Typically I would fold the corner down a bit to hide the edge and stick it under what I use for the center.  Since my flower doesn't have a permanent center yet, I have not done that.  

For this illustration, I have used a purple button with bow. I used embroidery thread to make the bow.  I stick my centers in using a strong adhesive. Right now, my favorite is E6000.

Ok...Now for our great sneak peek!  I wasn't sure about it, but the more I work on it, the better it gets!  I'll even be using some of my sister in law's art in it.  Since it matches her wedding colors (total coincidence!), I will either give it to her, or use it for photos I run off for my family for the wedding.  I can't wait until it's done!