Make a Bouquet Card With Ribbon

This card combines paper and textile craft to arrive at an inexpensive card that's sure to get attention and be remembered. It's suitable for many occasions, including Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or any general greeting that calls for flowers. All you'll need is a bit of time and perhaps a modest bit of artistic talent.

Steps

  1. Plan the bouquet lightly in pencil.
    • Flower stems can cross. Don't be afraid to put stems behind flowers.
    • Try to take up the space of about two thirds of the front of the card, however large it is.
    • Make the total height of each flower bud about the same as the width of the ribbon.
    • Pencil lightly so that you can erase it if you change your mind, or make a mistake.
  2. Use a green color pencil to draw in the stems and any leaves you'd like. The stems can just be curvy lines, and the leaves can simply flow off the stems. Again, don't be afraid to go right over a spot where you'll put a flower later.
  3. Poke holes at the top and bottom of each spot where you'll put a flower. You can use a straight pin or the needle you'll use to embroider the card, or both.
  4. Thread a needle with the ribbon.
  5. Come up through one of the holes where you want to place a flower. There is no need to tie a knot on the back side; just catch the end of the ribbon with your finger.
  6. Bring the needle down through the other end of the same flower.
  7. Adjust the stitches as needed. Leave them a bit loose so that the ribbon puffs on the front of the card.
  8. Repeat the stitch for as many flowers as you wish to create. You can allow the ribbon to twist if you wish. It will add some texture and form to your flowers.
  9. Tie off the ribbon on the back side. It can be a simple knot. Avoid making any large lumps.
  10. Attach a bow to the spot where the stems intersect (optional). You can glue it on or stitch it into place.
  11. Tape or glue a piece of card over the back of the embroidery to cover the messy back of the work.
  12. Write anything you want in the card and give it or send it to your recipient.



Tips

  • If you're making a lot of smaller flowers on a card, it might be best to use several shorter lengths of ribbon rather than one longer one. It's easier to work with, and the ribbon gradually wears as it goes up and down through the small holes in the paper.
  • If you can't, or don't want to, draw the stems by hand, try generating them in a computer and printing them on the card with a color printer.
  • Cut ribbon on a diagonal to prevent it from fraying at the ends.

Warnings

  • When punching the holes, avoid bending or creasing the card, and avoid stabbing your other hand behind the card. Stiff card will help.
  • Use appropriate caution with needles, scissors, etc.

Things You'll Need

  • Blank card made of stiff paper
  • A length of ribbon. It should be relatively slender and in the color(s) you'd like your flowers to be.
  • A pencil
  • A green colored pencil to draw the stems
  • A needle large enough to admit the ribbon
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick or hot glue gun

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