May Arts Ribbon Border Tutorial~

I am so very excited to be writing this post today. I am honoured to have been chosen to take part in Round 2 of the May Arts Design Team Challenge. With this post and project I hope to be chosen to be a part of the 2014-2015 May Arts Design Team.

So here we go.

Today I am sharing a tutorial on how to create this elegant ribbon border. Perfect for that very special layout with a favourite photo.

It didn't take me long to figure out what I wanted to do for this project. I also knew that I wanted to use ribbon that had some shine to it. I wanted the end product to shimmer and shine with an ornate look. I compiled my golden wish list of beautiful May Arts ribbon, look at how oh so pretty it is!

Project Recipe:

• 348-14-30- 1/4" Gold Chain Cord
• 373-58-30- 5/8" Satin Grosgrain Double Band Ribbon
• 377-38-30- 3/8" Gold Velvet Ribbon
• A478-15-30- 1.5" Adhesive Sequin Heart
• G31-3- 3" Metallic Gold Ribbon
• 437-01- 4mm Pearlized String Beads Ribbon
• Dazzling Metallics Gold Paint (DecoArt)
• My Mind's Eye- Market Street Collection
• Prima Flower
• Curtsey Boutique Hand Dyed Doily
• Gold Sequins
• Hot Glue Gun
• Ruler

Step 1: The very first thing that I did was take these pretty pearlized string beads and make them gold as well. I used Gold Dazzling Metallics paint and a foam brush to make the transformation.

Step 2: To create the base of your elegant border, I cut a strip of brown cardstock to 1.75x12. Then I used a gold pen to mark the following measurements: 1.5", 3", 4.5", 6", 7.5", 9", 10.5".
This will be your guide for this entire process.

Step 3: I then cut 3 pieces of the satin grosgrain ribbon that were 4" long. Using my hot glue gun, I attached them as a loop to the border base at the 3, 6 and 9 inch marks.

Step 4: Cut yourself 4 pieces of the Metallic Chain Cord that are each about 4". Once again with your hot glue gun, you are going to attach this ribbon in a scallop fashion. Start at the very end of your border base, and scoop your ribbon to the 3" mark. The next piece will go from the 3" mark to the 6" mark, and so on.

Step 5: I cut my painted gold string beads to, again...about 4" long (19 beads to be exact). You will need 4, maybe 5 lengths of this. Don't get too far away from the hot glue gun, this time you are going to attach the beads starting at the 1.5" mark and scooping it over to the 4.5" mark. From the 4.5" mark to the 7.5" mark and so on.
Now, the slightly tricky part is the ends. If you scroll up and take a quick peek at the finished product again, you will see that to continue the pattern, I have a half scallop on each end. All you're going to do is attach one end to the 1.5" and scoop it down like the others, where it crosses the gold cord scallop, you are going to attach it with a tiny dab of hot glue.
Cut off any ribbon or cord that is now hanging over the ends of your border.

Step 6: The top piece of the border is pretty simple. I layered some patterned paper and some coordinating cardstock. Then I cut a piece of the gold velvet ribbon to about 14" long. I ran a narrow strip of double sided tape up the middle of my paper border and adhered the ribbon to it. Instead of cutting ribbon to exactly 12", I always cut it longer and wrap it around the back. It makes for a much cleaner look.

Step 7: Now you are going to be attaching your top border strip to your bottom border strip. Because your bottom strip is quite thick due to all of it's layers, I used 3D foam dots. Lots of them. The last thing you want now is your border to sag at any point. Then just simply place the top border on the bottom.

Taaaaa Daaaaa!!
You have created a stunning, elegant and SPARKLY ribbon border!

Here is a closer look at the finished product. I thought the Market Street collection from My Mind's Eye was the perfect match to my ribbon border.

I chose one of my favourite photos of my husband and I, from our engagement photo shoot. I thought the shine of our brass instruments worked perfectly with glitz of the layout.

If you look closely there is shimmer all over this layout. 

There it is, the finished ribbon border, looking beautiful on the layout.

Thank you so much for stopping by to see my Round 2 project to hopefully be a part of the May Arts Ribbonistas!