Ribbons upon ribbons

You would be amazed at what you can do around your home with ribbon. Especially when you don’t use ribbon for the ribbon. Often times a length of nifty fabric can do the trick just as well. Sometimes even better. The key, I’ve found, is to fold, roll or bunch the fabric to make your ribbon – if that’s going to be too unwieldy, then go ahead and use proper ribbon.

Having a dinner party? Use “ribbon” to tie a square knot around rolled napkins and place them on the plates at each setting. Cut the fabric three times as wide as you want your ribbon to be, then fold the edges in twice, until you have a flat ribbon, with a ‘seam’ down the middle of the underside. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, a few dots from your hot glue gun will secure the seam. Or use ribbon to tie a pretty bow, its ties trailing on the floor, around each seat back. Cut the ends of the ribbon in an inverted triangle.

Having people over for cocktails? Use different colors or patterns and tie short streamers around the stems of your wine glasses (help your guests help themselves to remember which glass is theirs). Wrap a ribbon around glass votive holders – tie them in a bow, or use that handy glue gun and (after folding the edge under) glue the folded edge to the other end beneath.

Use ribbon to hang holiday cards or postcards or photos – staple or glue (or punch two holes in the card and thread the ribbon through) the cards to the ribbon. Hang the ribbon over a door – showing your items coming and going, or hang it on the wall, or from a hook on the ceiling.