5 Easy & Creative Holiday Crafts from Ribbon

Making holiday crafts with ribbons is a quickly learned skill for any hobbyist.

Ribbons are a crafter’s and hobbyist’s most versatile and fundamental tool. Especially for holiday crafts. And using creative ribbons during any holiday is sure to turn up not only the fun but the uniqueness of anyone’s decor. So, choose your favorite ribbon, from rolls and badges to rosettes and more, and let’s get started!

Jewelry

Holiday ribbon bracelets are easy to make in all different colors and styles. Use a length of ribbon roll and glue colorful and festive rhinestones on it. Once the glue dries, wrap the ribbon around your wrist and tie it in a pretty bow. Or, braid three of your favorite holiday ribbons and make it into a friendship bracelet. Buttons and ribbons are also great for creating a unique holiday bracelet!

And beads! Don’t forget the beads! Thread festive holiday beads onto your favorite ribbon to make a bracelet or necklace any length you want. Add fun charms to add a distinctive element to your holiday jewelry.

Ornaments

Does your family make a new Christmas tree ornament each year? From filling a clear, plastic ball with colorful ribbons to forming ribbons into festive shapes, every tree should be full of fun, new ribbon ornaments. Use any ornament technique with any of your holiday crafts this year for a unique way of decorating.

Table Decorations

From table runners to candlestick holders, ribbon rolls are a fun and exciting way to liven up your holiday tables! Add ribbon to an old, over-used tablecloth to transform it into your newest favorite holiday decoration. Fold a tablecloth to fit on a side table or a mantle and tie a ribbon around each end to hold it in place. Or, use festive ribbon rolls to decorate holiday place settings or centerpieces.

Door Wreaths

From ribbon scraps to flowing ribbon rolls, holiday wreaths are perfect for front doors and inside decorations! Pump up the volume on an old, worn out wreath. Colorful and festive ribbons are sure to breathe new life into your old decorations. Or, make a new wreath out of ribbon rolls and a Styrofoam ring. Just tie the rolls into any pattern your heart desires, and you’re all set to display your festiveness on your front door.

Gift Wrapping

Using ribbon rolls around boxes is just the start of this fun wrapping alternative! Think outside the box on this one. Wrap a festive bow around a mason jar full of cookie or brownie makings. Have an oddly shaped gift? Use ribbons around the neck of a bottle or a fun, unique ribbon gift tag instead of attempting to wrap paper around something.

Feeling inspired yet? Get all the ribbons you need for your all of your holiday crafts and decorating projects here!

Red Ribbon Week and 3 Ways to Participate

What is Red Ribbon Week?

Throughout the year, people wear colored ribbons for numerous reasons. During the final week of October, people wear them for Red Ribbon Week. The wearing of red ribbons started in 1988 to raise awareness of the destruction in America that is caused by drugs.

Many schools across the US participate in Red Ribbon Week. This event started with the help of Nancy Reagan, has become the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation. During the week, schools have developed programs and games to help school children be aware of the dangers of drug use.

From brightly colored hair to silly outfits, schools are filled with excited kids participating in these fun festivities. Here are a few ideas to help you celebrate this week with them by wearing red ribbons.

Badge ribbons are perfect for supporting Red Ribbon Week. Many people wear name tags and name badges at work, so it is easy to attach these ribbons to the bottom of an existing uniform piece. Wear these badge ribbons with a name tag too! From blank badge ribbons to custom classic ribbons, design something that helps to get out that “Just Say No” message.

Rosette ribbons are a fun way to sport the color red this week. Add these fancy ribbons to your clothing, notebooks or backpacks to show your support. From a simple place ribbon to a custom rosette, these bright ribbons are sure to pledge awareness to this particular cause.

And then there were ribbon rolls!

Here is a simple tutorial on how to create any color awareness ribbon that might be needed.

Step 1: Begin the awareness ribbon by cutting a section of personalized ribbon that includes the entire text. Make sure that when ordering personalized awareness ribbons that the words are appropriately spaced. In this case, a cut is made between Support and Troops. The finish of the ribbon will also need to be taken into perspective at this point. If the awareness ribbons need to have a slanted end, make sure cut the section of personalized ribbon at an angle.

Step 2: Form a small loop in the ribbon making sure to leave each end hanging down so that the text can be seen at the ends without being covered by the crossover. Attach this crossover, or intersection, together by either using a small piece of tape or hot glue. This will secure the shape of the awareness ribbon. If the awareness ribbon needs to be kept for long-term use, hot glue is the best option.

No matter your ribbon choice, be sure to make your statement during this Red Ribbon Week. Sport your red and stand for awareness!

Festive, Fun and Spooky Halloween Ribbons

From ribbon chains strung around your house to a ribbon wreath on your front door, let’s make your Halloween festive and fun with personalized ribbons!

It doesn’t take a lot to decorate for Halloween these days. Find some cobwebs and a witch’s hat, and you’re pretty much set. But, let’s go a bit beyond the norm and find a use for all those festive and fun holiday ribbons you have laying around your house.

Here’s a fun decorating idea! Do you have potted plants or scraggly trees? Tie a simple black ribbon around a branch or twig and add little white dots for eyes. It’s an instant bat!

Treat tags made from badge ribbons. Choose a spooky color to make your trick-or-treat bags festive. Just add text with a Halloween message, and you’re all set. Wrap up caramel apples, candy treats or other homemade goodies in a bag and secure them shut with the badge ribbon.

Needing a decoration that will stand out? This ribbon topiary is sure to do the trick (pun intended)!

Ribbon topiaries are fun to decorate with as well. First, choose several different, festive ribbon colors. Find a foam or floral ball and dress pins. You will also want a small dowel, or a pencil works well. Finally, you will need a base such as a vase or other stand that can hold the topiary upright.

Cut each ribbon piece into approximately four-inch strips. The more strips you have, the larger the topiary will look. Then start rolling the ribbons, so the ends meet. Secure these together with a pin and push it securely into the foam ball. Cover the entire ball with these ribbon rings. Make sure to stagger the ribbons and colors and alternate directions the ribbons are being placed to give it a fluffy look. Add a finishing touch with a bow on the dowel that has a spooky message.

And, don’t forget your costume!

Use a rosette ribbon to state you have the best costume ever. Or, make festive hair bows with clips and personalized ribbons. From ghosts and witch hats to spiders and pumpkins, use your imagination and create something that is sure to wow this holiday!

Homecoming Mums: A Perfect Tradition

Ribbons and flowers are perfectly synonymous. And in Texas, mums are no different!

Have you heard of homecoming mums? While this is typically a Texas tradition, it is something we can see happening pretty much anywhere! With a simple creation made from chrysanthemums and custom ribbons, any dance or school activity would gain popularity.

Tradition of Homecoming Mums

From China to Japan to Sweden, chrysanthemums have been around for centuries. Tracing the first recorded information about these flowers takes you to China about 3,500 years ago. Decorative mums traditionally consist of artificial chrysanthemum flowers, originally real chrysanthemums, surrounded and decorated with floor-length ribbon and little trinkets.

Now, mainly in Texas high schools, mums are worn to the homecoming dance after the football game. The tradition is that the boys create a personalized mum for their date to wear. Girls make garters for the boys which are similar to mums but shorter and worn on the guy’s arm rather than around their neck like mums.

Mums Today

use custom rosette ribbons for your next homecoming mum and garter — Photo by Jana D. Nelson

While it is still debated, the University of Missouri has been recognized as the official place of birth of homecoming. In 1911, the athletic director at Mizzou presented the incentive to attend the homecoming football game by having a huge celebration. In turn, these gatherings turned into homecoming dances. And, at some point, the tradition of a boy giving a chrysanthemum to his date as a corsage was born in Texas.

Around the 1980s, mums were usually about a maximum of three Chrysanthemum flowers and a few ribbons, but as the years have gone by, the size and expectations of mums have increased and have become more elaborate. The size of the mums and garters tend to grow along with the grade in which the person is that is receiving the mum.

For the longest time, homecoming mums were a Texas-only tradition, but in the last few years, it has expanded into neighboring states such as Oklahoma and Louisiana. A huge mum can be a source of pride for a girl in both her school and her homecoming date. Even though homecoming mums have cropped up in other states, like most things, they are still bigger in Texas.

How To Make A Mum

While there isn’t a specific way to make a mum, we recommend that you start with a rosette ribbon. Rosettes are the perfect base for small to large mums! Choose your favorite colors or go more traditional with school pride. Then just add your embellishments as you would like.

Just don’t forget to personalize the ribbons! Add names, dates and other school details that your date is sure to enjoy.

3 Ribbons to Liven Up Fall Festivals

People are seeing red, orange and yellow trimmings now that fall festivals are here. Promote your company, club, school or non-profit organization while hosting a harvest festival for the community. And make your fall festivals more upbeat with custom ribbons for prizes, awards, labels and decorations.

Start by customizing ribbons with your company or school logo and include a personal message for festival goers. If your harvest festival is an annual event, put the festival’s name and the year, so attendees remember to come back next fall.

There are countless ways ribbons enhance festivities. Here are three fun ribbons to get your creative ideas flowing.

Fall Festivals and Rosette Ribbons

Games and contests are at the heart of most fall festivals. Make festival goers feel special with custom rosette ribbons. Hand award ribbons to each winner for pie baking, pie eating, scarecrow building and pumpkin decorating contests. Children love receiving rosette ribbons for the first, second and third place for corn tossing, bobbing for apples, sack racing and other fun games.

Fall Festivals and Badge Ribbons

Badge ribbons are great for labeling items while also bringing more color to your event. Create labels for a cake walk with ribbons that specify which cake is which. For bigger events, designate festival workers, volunteers and vendors with color-coded ribbons to make their name badges. If your company is hosting a festival, spotlight employees and staff members with personalized ribbons with their names and job titles.

Ribbon Rolls

Wrap giveaways and prizes with custom ribbon rolls. Tie a cute bow around utensils and napkins. Or, drape ribbon garlands on the walls to liven the room. If the event is outside, hang them from tree branches. Attendees can make their wreaths by wrapping and tying the fall-themed fabric around straw circles. Children can enjoy making ribbon wands. Another fun way to use ribbon rolls is to decorate the edge of tables or hang them on the back of chairs. You can also tie them around centerpieces, candle holders or glass jars filled with candy corns. Custom ribbons also make great photo booth backdrops. The possibilities are endless!

No matter how you use ribbons for your fall festivals, they are sure to add fun and excitement in ways festival goers won’t forget.