Now that you've learned how to use fibers and ribbons from a design standpoint, you might be wondering how to adhere them to your layout from a mechanical or practical standpoint. That's what we'll cover this week. There are several options to choose from, some better than others for different types of ribbons and fibers.
The easiest way to attach either a fiber or a ribbon is simply to "tie one on!" Just cut the ribbon the length
you want, wrap it firmly around the piece you wish to embellish, and tie a knot or a bow. It may take several tries to get a good-looking bow. I, personally, am bow-challenged. If you are using
a ribbon to adorn a long area - as with a border - you may want to use a bit of adhesive underneath the long part of the ribbon to make sure it doesn't slip.
Notching isn't much more work than tying. Cut short notches, approximately 1/8" long, in either end of the cardstock to which you are tying the fiber. Cut fiber a little longer than the length of your cardstock. Secure either end of the fiber in the notches. This has an advantage over the tying method - it doesn't add to the bulk on the edges of the page or element to which you are securing the fiber. This is especially important for borders, as well as direct-to-background fiber applications.
Another common way of attaching ribbons to page elements is with the use of adhesive. As with any other time you use adhesives in scrapbooking, the two main things to watch for are 1) make sure your adhesive is photo safe, and 2) use the adhesive in such a way that it does not "show." Following are my favorite adhesives for adhering ribbons.
You can purchase sheets of double-sided adhesive, which you can then cut into any size or shape you wish. This works really well for attaching wide
ribbons. Several brands are available - I use Therm O Web's Mounting Adhesive Sheets. Simply cut 2 rectangles from the adhesive, each a little narrower than the ribbon. Peel back one side
of the paper backing from each rectangle, and stick one to each end of the ribbon. Peel off the remaining paper backing pieces, and adhere the ribbon to the page or element of your choice.
If the front of the ribbon seems a little "floppy", you might want to use another bit of adhesive underneath the middle of the length of ribbon.
Another option, which is similar in application to sheet adhesive, is the use of dots of adhesive. These are manufactured on rolls of waxy paper, so the dots of glue are easily removed
from the rolls and applied to your paper or ribbons. The brand I use is Memory Book Glue Dots, but there are others that work the same way. All you do is unwind the roll until there is
an exposed dot of glue. Press the back of the ribbon down onto the glue dot (do not try to pick up the adhesive with your fingers). The glue will stick to the ribbon, which can in
turn be stuck to your layout or page element. Glue Dots come in a couple of different sizes, good for use with different widths of ribbons.
You can also use sticker machines like the Xyron 150 to make ribbons adhesive-backed. Simply cut the ribbon to the appropriate size, run it through the machine (consult the product's documentation for directions on proper use), and adhere it to your layout or element.
Eyelets and snaps are great for attaching fibers to a scrapbook page. They act as anchor points, as well as add a decorating flair. Fibers can be run through the hole inside an eyelet, or they can be attached directly to the underlying paper or cardstock.
Next week, we'll discuss eyelets, snaps, and other small metal embellishments in greater detail, including directions about "setting" each one. Once you know how to set eyelets, you can use them for securing fibers to your layout or element. Set two eyelets in your background page, or the element you wish to embellish. Cut a length of fiber about three times the distance between the two eyelets. Run one end of the fiber through first one eyelet, then the other. Tie the two ends together, using either a knot or a bow depending on the type of fiber and the style desired.
With this method, you first punch a hole in a piece of cardstock, then insert the fiber into the hole, leaving approximately 1/2" hanging through the back. Insert the eyelet or snap into the hole, then set the hardware. Repeat with the second hole to secure both ends of the fiber.
Practice adhering and attaching ribbons and fibers to scrap cardstock using the methods mentioned above. Find which work well for you, and which results you like best.
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