"cheerful" ribbon cans tutorial

These ribbon-embellished containers made cheerful, beautiful centerpieces

at our tea party...

Here's how to make them:

Materials:  

• metal rim key tags- ours were 1 1/4 in.
• ribbon (see photo collage below for widths- all purchased at Michael's in 2010)
• stretchy cord (we used silver from Michael's)
• double-sided tape
• empty cans (15 oz.) **use a can opener which leaves a smooth, safe rim (Pampered Chef has a great one)
• glue (we used Tacky Glue)

click on collage for larger view

prep work/set-up:

1. collect cans: we asked moms to bring in pre-washed cans
2. pre-cut ribbons: as many as desired to fit around can, plus one ribbon per can to span from top to bottom (I used a rotary cutter- you could ask a mom to help with this)
3. placing double-sided tape on seam of can is a time-saver, otherwise, pre-cut those and put them on the edge of a table or tray so the girls can place the tape quickly without having to wait for tape.
4. pre-cut stretchy cord, and thread through blank tags. Tie the ends so the girls merely slip the corded tag around the can.
5. pre-cut tags (if your girls are good cutters, you could let them cut out their circles- don't forget to add scissors to your materials list!).  I had a handy Creative Memories circle cutter that made quick work of the tags.

Place double-sided tape along seam of can

( if you are using no-seam cans: just place tape from top to bottom anywhere on the can)

Line up edge of ribbon on seam...

Apply glue- use 2-3 small dots, either on the ribbon, or directly on the can.

Repeat with each ribbon.

Here is the back with all the ribbons lined up...
we'll cover that unfinished seam in a sec.

If desired, layer ribbons using same technique.

The tape will be covered, so use small dots of glue on the ends.

*A handy hint: to be sure each girl holds the ribbon down long enough for the glue to set, remind them to count to ten ("silently, in your head"),
or better yet, pray a Hail Mary!

Use one ribbon to cover the unfinished seam- apply glue and press gently.

(Sorry- no picture here...we used brown grosgrain)
----

Our girls created tags from key tags and stretchy silver cord. 

A little glue on the back of each image, then applied gently to the key tag...

Our Lady on the front,

and St. Therese on the back...

Just slip the stretchy cord over the can, and...

Aren't those cheerful?

They sure make me happy :-).

This project could be adapted

and used for orderliness as well.

Below are some printable tags for you to use- 

note that the St. Therese tag is a different image than the one on the can above. 

Just click on the "cloud" with the down arrow to download.

*A printing tip- choose to print "page 1 of 1"-

there are 2 blank pages on each document.

Our Lady Tags

Our Lady of the Rosary Tags

Our Lady of Guadalupe Tags

St Therese Tags

Immaculate Conception Tags

Faith Journal Tutorial

This is a place for the girls to journal their faith as they choose- prayer journals, memory verses, drawings, perhaps a list of blessings.  Inspiration comes from Ann's lovely journaling- see Holy Experience. Scroll down her page for more examples.

 Here is how we made ours:

Supplies:

• small notebooks (we used these)
• grosgrain ribbon, pre-cut to desired size
• fabric glue
• decoupage medium (we used Mod Podge, but I hear that a recipe of 3 parts glue, 1 part water works fine)
• containers/paper plates to hold decoupage medium
• color copies of images (we pre-cut ours to save time- see end of post for the clip art we used)
• scissors (if girls are cutting their own images)

If girls are cutting out their own images, cut first, and set them aside in a safe spot.

Place notebook on table with covers out to each side, with the binding in the middle (see picture below).
*Be sure that the front cover is on the right side and the back cover is on the left!

Lay ribbon on notebook with one end against the binding.
Starting at the edge of the notebook, run a bead of glue to the end of the ribbon.

(That's a nifty little trick so they won't glue the entire length of their ribbons.)

 Carefully flip ribbon over and press gently to notebook. 

Hold and count to ten.

Repeat on other side: glue from notebook edge to binding, flip, press, count.

 A good next step is to arrange the images on the front and back of the notebook, then place the arranged pictures on the table.   This makes it easier than composing on the sticky cover.

(Sorry, no photo :-( )

Cover the entire front cover with decoupage medium-
including ribbon.
(be sure the notebook isn't upside down!)

Use enough medium to stick pictures on,
not so much to create pools o'glue.

Place pictures on surface of cover,
with no images hanging off the edges.
Smooth each so that there are no bubbles, wrinkles,
or curled-up corners.

(Sorry- one pic shows painting the front cover, the next shows images placed on the back...
I didn't want to take another picture, so y'all work with me here:
Paint the front, put pics on the front.
Smooth the bubbles, crinkles, and corners.
Kindly ignore the speck in the lower corner too.)

Repeat for back cover:
Paint cover, place images, smooth.

Decoupage over all pictures. 

Use enough to cover pictures with a milky film, not so much as to leave puddles or ooze into the binding.

Look for peeling corners, and add a little glue or decoupage medium beneath those spots.

Hold down and count to ten.

Allow drying time- we were surprised that our "gluiest" notebook took no longer than 15 min. to dry. 

An idea: bring shoebox lids or paper plates to send home sticky notebooks, just in case.

  A fun option would be to create a sunflower pen to accompany the faith journal.


Faith Journal Clip Art