Creative Chat-Ribbon Storage

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum.  This month, we were asked the following questions:  

Show us how you store your ribbon.

What are your favorite types of ribbon?

Any tips or tricks on how to use ribbon on stamped creations?

I've taken off the past few months, not joining in on these creative chats.  I love looking into other crafters spaces, and I have gained a wealth of information from my fellow MFT DT members during these chats.

 I decided to join in this month, because it's no secret I ♥ RIBBON!!!  I admit it....I have an obbession with ribbon. Love it, can't have enough of it, and use it on almost EVERY card I create.  

Because of the amount of ribbon I own and how/where I purchase it from, I have quite a few different storage methods to share with you. I hope you'll find some of my storage methods helpful in your ribbon organization. 

Before I get into all of the storage pics, let me quick answer the other two questions of the day.....

My top picks for my fave types of ribbons to use are:

• grosgrain-solid and saddle stitched
• gingham (I really love the 3/4 inch width and the 7/8 inch)
• twill ribbon
• seam binding
• twine-bakers twine and burlap twine
  

But I am open to using any type of ribbon....I'm really not THAT picky! lol!

As for how I use ribbon on my cards.....that's EASY....anyway you can! haha. I do love a great loopy bow! Add a button and some twine and it's even better :)

Soooooo, now Let me start with  my ribbon winding.  I LOVE these plastic spools, by Cropper Hopper.  I use the 3x3 size to wrap my ribbon that does not come on a spool.  The cool thing about this larger size, is they fit 2 side by side in the drawers I have for my storage units.  They are 6inch drawers.  Wrapping ribbon, might seem a little tedious and boring, but I do this task while watching TV with hubby at night.  He appreciates that I actually stay awake. lol!

 I am clearing out the drawer next to this one, to make room for all my LOVELY new MFT Grosgrain ribbon!!!!

Take a look at this ribbon heaven I received today in the mail. Ahhhh! You can check out all the new MFT ribbon HERE....and it coordinates with all the yummy new cardstock!

Go see....but come on back! I'll wait. 

Ok...glad you came back...here's a look at the ribbon cards without being wrapped.  This is the smaller size I use for my twine. 

Here is all my twine, wrapped and stored on a wire ring. 

Another of my favorite "ribbon" is my burlap twine.  LOVE this stuff.....love it! I store these wrapped around wooden spools. I stack them out in the open on a shelf, right at my finger tips. 

 Now on to some of the ways I store my actual ribbons. I am a HUGE fan of plain grosgrain and saddle stitched grosgrain ribbons.  While I love the pretty polka dots, other patterns, and ruffley ribbons, I always fall to this basic style of ribbon. I struggle with tying bows and have the patterns all lay the right way. The solid grosgrain is always easy to tie and make pretty bows with. SOoooooo happy Kim has started carrying this type of ribbon.

One way I store my grosgrain collection is on a paper towel holder. I took this idea from a Taste of Home catalog (I think. it might have been when they were Southern Living at Home).  It's an old paper towel holder. The top screws off, and I slide the spools over the rod.  I do have to use some scissors and make the cardboard spool hole a little bigger, so it can fit over the rod. 

Next up is my FAVE ribbon storage. One of my first trips to IKEA was to purchase these metal kitched rods (Bygel Rail) to hold my punches and then the cooridnating Bygel baskets.  I just love how the spools of ribbon sit right in front of me and are so easily accessible.

I have two of these baskets and as you can see they hold A LOT of ribbon. I have 15 spools in this one.

Before I send you on your way. I did want to show you one more way I store my ribbon. I adore the pretty seam binding ribbons.  I don't have a ton of it, and I even ae made my own (spritzing with Glimmer Mists).  I bought this particular ribbon and I just LOVE that they came wrapped all pretty on these shipping tags. Such an easy and econmical way to store ribbon.  So I kept them wrapped this way, and decided that this is at least how I'll continue to store my seam binding ribbons.

I sure hope you found my post informative and that you'll feel inspired to share your ribbon storage ideas, or incorporate at least some of my tips.

Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team.