DIY Award Ribbons

 Make your own Award Ribbon for that special someone!

Here's what you'll need...

• Empty Round Button - 2.25 in.
• Cardstock - 8.5"x 11"(60lb. or more)
• Yellow for 1st place
• Grey for 2nd
• Light Brown for 3rd
• Rah Rah Grograin Ribbon - 2.5 in. wide
• Rah Rah Grograin Ribbon - 1.5 in. wide (optional)
• Glue
• Beacon Fabri-tac (versatile)
• Hot glue gun low temp (for gluing the ribbon to plastic)
• Aleene's Fast Grab glue (for gluing ribbon to ribbon)
• Scissors
• Small Lighter
• Sewing Needle (optional)
• Sewing Thread (optional)
• Gold Paint Pens (Acrylic or Oil)/Embossing Powder/Puffy Paint

Separate the empty button, use the back to trace and cut out your cardstock paper. Decorate the cardstock paper with the they type of award they're earning! We used Deco Color Acrylic Paint pen on the plastic and we also used embossing powder directly onto the paper. To do that you'll need a watermark pen, like the Versa Marker Dual Pen or Ranger's Emboss it Pens and a embossing heat tool. I recommend buying Marvy Uchida's Embossing heat tool from HM Ben Franklin, It's light and the opening is more concentrated. Embossing powder also worked well on the Grograin Rah Rah Ribbons!!

Cut your Rah Rah Ribbon 2.5in wide to a length no shorter then 3 inches. Fold it in half, length wise and at one end of your ribbon, make a diagonal cut (45 degrees). To prevent the ribbon from undoing at the ends, swish your small lighter near the edges. Do not hold it over the flame. For a more colorful effect, repeat with these steps with your 1.5 in. and layer onto the 2.5 in. with your Beacon Fabri-tac or Aleen's Fast Grab glue.

For the gathered/ruffled trimming, get an approximate length of 10 in. of your 1.5 in Rah Rah Ribbon. Sewing is involved, so pull out those sewing supplies! The sewing thread won't be visible so any color will do. Apply a running stitch to one side of your 10 in long ribbon, and gather it. Don't pull too tightly, and knot the thread to finish. Position the gathered ribbon into a circle. To get the desired circumference use the button backing for sizing. Using a Hot Glue Gun - Low Temp (high temp would melt the plastic) or your Fabri-tac, glue your gathered ribbon to the edge backing of the button. Make sure you have the correct back side, you can double check by looking at the pin. I liked using the Fabri-tac because it held just enough but was still able to reposition the ribbon if needed. The hot glue gun, you would have to glue bit by bit.

Go the extra mile and decorate the button with more embellishments like sticky back rhinestones or stickers! Have fun and hand out those rewards!