Trendy Tuesday – Ruffles
by Katherine Elliot
Gather it, scrunch it, sew or bunch it up… anyway you try it, adding ribbon ruffles is one sure fire way to “doll” up your project. It”s probably the most feminine touch I can think of to add to a paper craft. Ruffles can be made in many ways. Some ruffles are wavy ribbons, some materials are scrunched, and some materials look pleated. Here are some examples of beautiful creations with ruffles of all kinds, using some of the most popular & trendiest materials out there today.
Card by Helen Berry, image source Helen Berry Design
Selecting what type of ribbon and how much ruffle you want on your project may be the hardest part of adding this embellishment. Of course a ruffle combines very nicely with other trends, too, like the hexagon craze that Colleen shared last week.
Hooked on Hexagon card with ruffled ribbon by Sherrie Siemens, image source sherie-cardcreme.blogspot
Stitched ribbon can be used to easily create gathered ruffles by tugging on the threads of the stitching. On double stitched ribbon, pull the stitching from both the top and bottom, or just one side. Check out these examples from talented artist, Lisa Johnson, and click the link to her blog to read about how she created the stitched ribbon ruffles shown.
Scrunched, ruffled ribbon instructions found at Poppy Paperie
Eek! Ruffled card by Lisa Johnson, image source Poppy Paperie
Stitched ribbon ruffled card by Lisa Johnson, image source Poppy Paperie
Available in many colors and sizes, find Saddle Stitch ribbon like the ones shown above at Paper Trey Ink , or your local craft store.
The tulle fabric shown on these next projects is a fine mesh that can be layered for more opaque additions, or leave it sheer to show off a little of what may be hidden behind the fabric.
Owl Occasions card by Meg Loven, image source
Instructions for how to create the tulle ribbon ruffle at
Tulle is certainly a trendy product right now, so here are a couple more examples using the material. Tulle ribbon gathered or scrunched together can also give a bow some added dimension.
Crumb Cake tulle ribbon card by Kimberly VanDiepen, image source Stampin by the Sea
Gathered tulle embellishment by Rae Harper, image source Splitcoast Stampers
Cherry Cobbler Tulle Ribbon, image source Stampin” Up! Find Tulle Scallop ribbon from a Stampin” Up! demonstrator in your area.
Seam binding is another favorite type of material to ruffle. Seam binding can be gathered, wrinkled, scrunched in so many ways. A delicate ruffle on this lightweight ribbon makes it easy to add to cards as this type of ribbon often is a bit easier to put on a card that may be sent through the mail.
Seam binding ruffle card by Amanda Mertz, image source Did You Stamp Today?
Gather the seam binding by pulling one or two of the threads from the center of your strip of binding to create this ruffled look.
Instructions for how to pull thread to create ruffled ribbon shown on Did You Stamp Today?
There”s an even easier method to create very simple waves of ribbon on your project. You can create ruffles using any type of ribbon on hand by simply gathering ribbon along a strip of strong adhesive, as shown in this example:
Ribbon Ruffles, examples and instructions by Tereza Crump, image source Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Blog
Tereza Crump demonstrates ruffled ribbon on line of adhesive, image source owhstarsandstamps.org
Ribbon is most commonly used to make ruffles, but fabric and paper can be used to add this trendy girlie-touch, too. Using a similar adhesive line ruffle technique, creative artist, Cathy Weber, chose to ruffle some patterned paper, adding a beautiful feminine touch, like a lovely, layered skirt on this thank you card…
Paper ruffles shown on card by Cathy Weber, image source The Empty Nest Crafter
Oh, and let”s not forget cotton fabric ruffles! Are you handy with a sewing machine? You can cut strips of fabric and sew and gather the fabric in ruffles in order to fit to adhere to a card or scrapbook page. Or if you”ve really got your crafty mojo running, then you may want to try one of these up-cycled ruffled bag projects.
Ruffled fabric bag image and instructions by Carrie Hoades from CarrieStamps.com
Sewing a line down the center of a strip of gathered fabric or ribbon is a way to sew your material into a perfect ruffle.
Sewn ribbon ruffle and bag shown from Little Birdie Secrets
Scraps of ribbon and your sewing machine could also come in handy to create some pretty ruffled embellishments, like this ruffled ribbon tree by Tricia Jones…
Ruffled ribbon tree applique instructions and images by Tricia Jones, image source Made By Me, Shared With You
Like the look of ruffled ribbon, but don”t think you have the time to alter what you have? Pre-ruffled ribbon like the May Arts ruffled edge ribbon shown below can be found at many on-line retailers. Find various ruffled ribbons at your local craft store or at on-line retailers, Really Reasonable Ribbon, Simon Says Stamp , Stamp and Create, and Flourishes.
A little ruffled May Arts ribbon on the card below is so delicate and adds a beautiful, understated feminine touch.
Change For No One card using May Arts ruffled edged ribbon, card and image source from The Handmade Card Blog
I hope you enjoyed the beautiful cards and ruffles shown here today. Happy crafting everyone!
Thanks for showcasing my card. 🙂
What a great way to add another dimension to one’s creations. I will have to try this.
Love ruffles–they add such a nice touch.
Thanks for all the great ideas for ruffles. They are all beautiful.
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