When I fell in love with Grosgrain Ribbon

I always liked grosgrain ribbon but I much preferred satin ribbon. Actually, I would say that I adore satin ribbon as you well know by now. Satin ribbon always moves easily in my hands when I tie a bow, cooperates in a smooth manner while grosgrain resists tight twists and turns more than most ribbon types. Gros grain actually means coarse texture. Because of it's weave (and signature horizontal weave lines) it is a stiffer fabric, it will fight with you a bit but in the end it does make for a lovely stiff bow. Some people simply like the crisp, classic look of grosgrain ribbon better than the more feminine satin sister. 

It wasn't until I received a 2.5" wide grosgrain ribbon recently that I changed my mind, the extra width made all the difference. Revealed it's unique texture better too. Ever since this 2.5' grosgrain showed up in chocolate brown, hot pink, black and turquoise, I have been using it like crazy (you know how I love a lavish presentation). I like any ribbon that holds it's shape a bit, one of the reasons I rarely use wired ribbon. Once a gift is wrapped, it should be wrapped. I can't stand fussing and fluffing with it on the way to an event. Truthfully, by that point I am more concerned with my attire than my gift presentation.

You may notice I have combined 3 gift wrap techniques, wrapped them all together in one presentation. I have re-cycled a Henri Bendel store box, used a magazine image(Fashionista Gift Wrap), and clipped on a stray earring as a jewelry embellishment (believe me, if I had the pair I would be wearing them). Oh, and I used a type of ribbon that you have rarely seen me use before, so technically that makes it 4 techniques as far as blog tags go. This view to the side and rear is to show the effect of longer ribbon tails. My guideline, the wider the ribbon, the longer the ribbon tails, even more glam if they trail off the package.

As I mentioned before, remember to scan your favorite magazine images and re-use or re-format in the future for gift wrap or gift tags. I would certainly want to use this costumed Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth (torn from the pages of Vogue) as a matching gift tag. And I will as soon as I figure out this new scanner. I promise to show you.

All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Henri Bendel Regift Box 3...with Sunflower

Remember the Henri Bendel box I was regifting a few weeks ago? I forgot about this one as it got lost in the computer shuffle that was going on around here. I am calling it a Sunflower only because that's what it reminds me of......a happy sunflower.


I love chartreuse green and chocolate brown so I used a 1/4" wide grosgrain ribbon in chartreuse and a wider cotton one for banding the box. It is the ribbon that is hiding the store logo so you may want to glue it down over the logo. The label will cover it beautifully on it's own should you wish to delete the band. I like this effect with or without the band ribbon as it gives the presentation some dimension without ribbon bows. Some gifts and some people just don't suit bows, know what I mean?

It is as easy as it looks. Any one of us can do this easy technique. Simply cut ribbon lengths in a narrow ribbon and stick them to the adhesive back of a larger label. Just go along the edge because you still need a adhesive center to stick the label to the box. I kept the backing handy until I was ready to stick the label in position. I wasn't too precise as you can see with matching ribbon lengths and was being deliberately random to see the effect. I am going to experiment with this technique a bit more and see what I can come up with for you. In fact, I have an idea right now as I look at this.

I even like it moved off center with the ribbon over the box edge. Just for something different.

These Bon Voyage Labels are from a company called Cavallini & Co. As you know if you read this blog, these labels are a gift-wrapping girls best friend. These Bon Voyage Labels are vintage luggage labels and in sharper colours and stronger images than the Ephemera Stickers or Paris Labels which have a more feminine style. Good gift wrapping value as each tin has anywhere from 24-48 labels of varying size and retails for about $16.00. Bon Voyage Labels are great to have on hand if you do male-gender gift wrapping. I use these labels in all of the styles for tissue wrapping, box and bag regifting, and over the back flap of any envelope. I just think they make anything more fun to open.

All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life