This week we are thrilled to welcome back May Arts! In today’s spotlight you’ll learn more about May Arts, see a fantastic project by Charlene Driggs and have the opportunity to win a “winners choice” of 2 spools of Ribbon from May Arts. (details at the end of this post).
About May Arts
May Arts Ribbon was founded in the early 1980’s in Riverside, Connecticut. The original products were high-end silk flowers imported from Taiwan, which were decorated using quality ribbons. The decorative ribbons proved so popular among customers that the business gradually evolved into a dedicated ribbon wholesaler.
As a family-owned and operated business, May Arts began a long-standing tradition of quality, affordability and exceptional customer service. We are dedicated to carrying on this same tradition by offering high quality products at competitive prices. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is always happy to answer your questions or to assist you in placing your order.
May Arts carries a wide selection of quality ribbons to choose from; such as grosgrain, silk, satin, burlap and a variety of prints and patterns. All inventory is held in stock, so we can ship orders out right away—typically the same day.
Where to Buy May Arts Ribbons
The May Arts website is their wholesale site for online and brink and mortar retailers. We’ve linked to it so that you can easily view their entire product line in one place. There are numerous places where you can purchase May Arts Ribbons including many local scrapbook stores as well as online stores. Two of the online stores that carry the biggest selections that we are aware of include Amazon, who carry the complete May Arts Ribbon Line (plus you can qualify for free shipping). Click on the link we provided and it will take you to our May Arts Ribbon Search Results. To find a particular ribbon, go to the May Arts website, find the name of the ribbon and color and then enter that into your Amazon search results. Please note that through Amazon you’re buying by the roll. Most other online and local scrapbook stores sell May Arts Ribbon by the yard. One of the online stores that carries a great selection is Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.
May Arts Designer
Today we welcome Charlene Driggs. We are so excited to have her showcase her work today on Paper Crafter’s Library. You can see Charlene’s fabulous project below, but first, here is a little more about her:
Hi! My name is Charlene Driggs. I’m a member of the May Arts Ribbon Design Team as well as a wife, mom, Nana, friend, business owner, gardener, baker, crafter, sewer, card maker, paper collector and ribbon lover. I love my life and my jobs and my sweet little puppy buddy who keeps me company as I work.
Gift Bag
Today, I’m going to share how I turn my tiny ribbon scraps and findings and a plain brown bag into a beautiful gift bag.
I started with this plain brown bag that measures 8 ½” x 5”. You can use virtually any size bag you’d like, just make the window larger or smaller to suit your bag.
I used a Spellbinders Square die to draw a square onto the front of my bag, and then cut the square out of the bag with scissors. You may cut any shape you’d like!
Next, gather your ribbon scraps, findings and pretty papers.
Cut the designer paper to fit your bag, then, place it over the opening on your bag. You won’t be attaching it yet. Trace your bag opening onto the designer paper you’ll use to cover the bag front. Die cut the designer paper with your Spellbinders die. Attach the designer paper to front of your bag with double-sided tape or glue. Sponge edges of the bag front with ink, if desired.
Die cut a piece of acrylic slightly larger than your window. Place double-sided tape around the edges of the acrylic, and then attach it to the inside of the bag over the opening. Cover the outside edge with ribbon, if desired.
Now, die cut a square slightly larger than your bag opening, from a scrap of designer paper, then get ready to play! Arrange your scraps of paper, ribbons and findings on the designer paper square until you’re satisfied with how they look. Some of my paper scraps were only ½ inch wide! Don’t be afraid to overlap them, stack them, mix and match them! Even the glittered heart was salvaged from an old project.
Once you have a design you like, you can begin gluing the pieces down. I used double sided tape for the paper and hot glue for the embellishments.
Once you have your piece of art finished, slip it into a clear bag. Place double sided tape at the top and bottom of the bag and attach to the inside of the bag over the window.
Tie on a big beautiful May Arts bow and you have gift bag that doubles as a gift! The mixed media piece can also be used as a card front, if desired.
Supplies: May Arts Ribbon; buttons, metal key, pearls, paper flowers, chipboard heart, DCWV designer papers, Scor-Tape, hot glue
We hope you have enjoyed today’s feature. We want to extend a sincere thank you to Charlene Driggs for her fabulous project and May Arts for sharing their company with us. Be sure to visit May Arts to see more of their great products.
In order to enter the give-away to win your choice of two rolls of ribbon, please leave us a comment in the comments section of this post. One winner will be announced next Wednesday on the Paper Crafter’s Library blog!
What a cute idea!
what a lovely way to present a gift.
and a great way to use those wee bits of ribbon we just cannot bear to throw out.
A great gift! I love MA!
Always a pleasure to see your May Arts projects! Love this idea! It would make a beautiful gift!
I’d like it as a card front for one of my creative friends, and a unexpected use of all my cannot throw away scraps, thanks for the inspiration.
I love May Arts ribbons. They also have twine, wired ribbon flowers and various other beautiful supplies.
This is such a great idea. Beautiful..thanks for sharing.
I love it ! So cute & a wonderful idea. Thanks so much for sharing.
Interesting way to decorate a “plain brown wrapper.” thanks for the tutorial on how to recreate this project.
What a great idea to create a handmade bag and to be able to put scraps to such a pretty use May Arts has stunning ribbons thanks for the chance
Wonderful idea I have a large supply of brown paper bags this will work great
Great way to use small pieces of leftover ribbon. Very pretty : )
I love the idea of using my ribbons scraps as I hats to just throw them away! Thank you all the inspiration.
This is a very interesting way to use scraps.
This is such a lovely gift bag! I’d love to try making one, especially with all of those fun ribbons from May Arts!
This gift bag is beautiful. What a fun idea, and the ribbons you have used are perfect. I love the striped ribbon tied to the handle. I also love the little collage in the window.
What a brilliant idea to use up all the lovely little bits and pieces that we all love to hoard. I’ll definitely be giving this a go. Thanks so much for the inspiration. Margie
I would never have thought of something like this! I love May Arts ribbon!
This beautiful bag is the present itself, Such a pretty project.
Wowzers….this is so cool and so unique! I’ve not seen any project with a window in it. Adorable and fabulous idea! So vintage and right up my alley! Thanks so much for sharing!
WOW, I just love that black and white striped ribbon project. So elegant and classic! Nothing like a gorgeous bow to top off the perfect gift!
Gorgeous gift bag.
isoscia at aol dot com
This is just so beautiful and a great way to use those bits and pieces of embellishment! The colors are so elegant!
LOVE the bag and LOVE May Arts ribbons … they’re the best.
What a fantastic idea! Now I know what to do with all those ribbon scraps that I can’t bare to throw away! Love your ribbons MA!
There is just something about black and white that says classy!! I love the gorgeous striped ribbon and that pretty gift bag design so much!
Gorgeous gift bag! May Arts sells the most luscious ribbons. They dress up any project. This is a great idea for using up bits of ribbon that are too beautiful to throw away.
The bag is so beautiful who needs a gift?
What a darling bag! I am so thankful for such talented artists.
Now that’s a gift bag!!
I’ve never liked to wrap presents so I started using gift bags instead. I decorate the outside and make a gift tag to coordinate. I love getting ideas for my bags so I want to thank you for this post.
Wonderful idea….so many possibilities !!! Thank you for the inspiration 🙂 I’m looking for a gross grain ribbon in the colour Dazzle Blue. Do you know of a source?
WOW, your gift bag design is to die for — absolutely stunning!! Thank you so much for sharing.
Cute gift bag. I have everything except the acrylic. I often make tissue paper flowers to fill in the top of the bags. Thanks for the idea.
What a cute idea. It can be themed for any occasion you need. I cannot wait to try this one, thank you!
What a great idea!!! Great scrap buster too! TFS and for the chance to win!
Have a wonderful day!
What a great idea! Who doesn’t have piles of bits we can’t bear to throw away!
I LOVE this idea -very chic!
Love the window filled with embellishments.
What an excellent way to use up all those bits and pieces that we have stashed away. Come on don’t try to deny it we all have them…
love how the window was created. Beautiful bag.
Gorgeous gift bag. It is amazing how something so ordinary can be turned into the extraordinary.
What a gorgeous creation, Charlene. Love the mixed media piece – so creative!
Wonderful new idea for a gift bag. I never think about something like this, just put the stuff on the outside. TFS.
WOW- stunning!!! Love the black, cream and brown – so very elegant….
Loved the gift bag tutorial, it is a gorgeous bag. Thanks you so much for sharing your amazing talent and inspirations with us.
Most creative–the directions were very clear!
Wow, I want to receive this beauty of a gift bag. Charlene, i would like to visit your creative mind and see what you see………….. perfecto.. Great showcase of may arts ribbon.
ava
This bag is a wonderful idea. I never would have thought of it and it isn’t very difficult to make. The ribbons are just beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Great idea. I have a container with scrap ribbon this will be perfect for.
YOU have come to my rescue!! I save every scrap of ribbon and I have a ton. Was waiting for a clever idea such as this one to come along. Already have a person in mind to make this awesome gift bag for!!
THANK YOU!!!
What a gorgeous and yet simple design idea! I LOVE IT!!!! I will definitely be sharing that with my daughters and daughter-in-law who enjoy the paper crafts as well. I also love using May Arts ribbons as there are so many choices in color, design, width and fabric content!
G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!!! LOVE May Arts ribbons.
<3 J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
Great Idea! Thanks for the inspiration.