A Ribbon Recipe

It's another Daring Friday today and a very special one too, as the Team were all sent fabulous goodies to play with for this one - and we have the most fabulous prize to give away too.

We are being sponsored by The Ribbon Reel, who offer a fantastic array of ribbons, trims, twine and other gorgeous goodies.  Just looking at this picture of the prize one lucky person will win will show you exactly what I mean!

In our little goodie bags the DT received ribbons, some lace, baker's twine, buttons and heart shaped pins - it was Nat's turn to come up with the challenge and she came up with a great recipe - any sort of cards, but they must include all of these ingredients:

Two items of ribbon/trim/twine
One or more buttons
At least one heart element

The rules for entry to the prize draw are simple:
1. Make your card using the recipe above and add it to your blog
2. Add links to both The Ribbon Reel and The Daring Cardmakers
3. Enter your card for no more than FIVE challenges -ncluding this DCM one

Visit the Daring Cardmakers this week and you'll see some fabulous cards - all very opulent with lots of ribbon and other beautiful trimmings!.

I've decided not to go down the valentines route, instead I made a birthday card - this is the first card I made, but it's not the version you'll see on the DCM blog, because as soon as I'd finished this one I decided I didn't like it - don't you hate it when that happens?

I thought I'd still share the first version so that you can decide which one you like best, and whether I was right to pull it apart!

 I was trying to use the current Sketch File LO again, and I wanted to do the bunting in a different way - actually, I quite like that bit, but I'm not keen on all the little bows- too fussy, I think.  Most of all though I hated the big layered flower - it just looks a mess.  So I ripped that off, cut down the  lace/buttons/Kraft section and re-mounted it on fresh black card and a new card blank, made the rosette, added one of the bows from the original with a pretty brad and added some more buttons.  I used the heart pin to balance things out on the left side and ended up with this:

Red is my aunt's favourite colour and I think I'll put this away until her birthday comes round.

I made the rosette with wide twill ribbon, the bow in the centre, and the trim on the heart pin are gorgeous, soft silk ribbon.  I gathered the lace slightly for the ruffled effect.

Materials:

Heart pin, silk ribbon, red twill, red/white striped button all from The Ribbon Reel

Smooth White card blank, Black Bazzill, Ribbed Kraft card

Metallic red thread, extra buttons, decorative brad all from my stash

Sentiment is one of the "home made" rub-ons I made ages ago

So, what do you think? which version do you prefer?  I'd be really interested in knowing which you like best and also why - it's always interesting to get an insight into which components and styles other crafters like, isn't it?

That's all for now, but please do join in this week - it's got to be worth having a go at getting your sticky mitts on that prize - I'd certainly be having a go if I was allowed!

Thanks for visiting