Today, we have a very special guest on the May Arts Ribbon Blog!  Please help us welcome Cathi O’Neill!  She will be doing a series of posts with us, so we hope you enjoy her work as much as we do.  Don’t forget to post your comments at the end!

I just love May Arts Ribbons and I wanted to use them this year to dress up some of my Christmas packages!!!  There is no need for step by step instructions for this project. I just used the great new Elastic Ribbon in brown (465-58-33) and wrapped a length around my packages, using some hot glue to join the ends together.  After that I simply cut lengths of my favorite ribbons and layered them. I added an ornament to each package and tied them all together around the elastic ribbon. I love the look of the brown paper and simple doilies and the layered gorgeousness of the ribbons.  You can glue all the layers to each other, or you can do like I did for my crafty friends, aside from the elastic ribbon, I simply layered the beautiful lengths of ribbons. When you untie the bow you can take the gorgeous pieces of ribbon (and the doilies and kraft paper wrapping for that matter) you can use those on craft projects, a beautiful package and some extra goodies, how great is that!! The ornament can be hung right up on the tree as part of your gift as well. For those that like the look of the package decoration, they can also simply slip them off their own gift and reuse them on a package they were giving as well!

For this first package I started with a few doilies from my stash, slipped my Elastic Ribbon over the package, then began my decor with a base of the gorgeous Wired Burlap Ribbon.  Then I chose the gorgeous Woven Chevron Striped Ribbon in red (443-15-14). I then took the gorgeous Burlap Center Stitch Ribbon in red (463-58-14) and some gorgeous  Frayed Flowers Ribbon in ivory (393-25-09).  I used the Burlap String in Ivory (SM-09) on my handmade and stamped ornament and tied the whole package together with the Burlap String in Natural (SM-10).

For this next lovely package I started with a large doily background, then slipped my Elastic Ribbon on again so I could build up my package decoration.  I again used the Wired Burlap Ribbon for my base. Next I chose the beautiful Woven Stripes Ribbon in olive green (454-15-16) and some fun Pom Pom String in antique gold (462-32). I then put a snowflake ornament I purchased on top and used the Twill Ribbon w/ Chevron Stripes in champagne (382-14-02) to tie them all together.

For my final package I again used a doily as a base, then slipped on the Elastic Ribbon and used the Wired Burlap Ribbon. My next layer features the Natural Burlap with a Striped Edge and then again I used the  Burlap Center Stitch Ribbon in red. I added a lovely glittery reindeer ornament and then tied all the layers together with the Solid Wrinkled Ribbon in ivory (EA-09).

I hope you have enjoyed these simple ideas for package decor and if you are a ribbon lover like me the receiving is just as fun as the making!!!