Best Ruffled Wishes

I love the look of ruffles on a card or a scrapbook layout, however I hate to always pull out my sewing machine. Today I am going to show you how to make these no-sew paper ruffles that look like fabric. Clare Buswell created this tutorial and I’d like to thank her for allowing us to share it. She has more great projects on her blog, Clare’s Creations. Go check it out!

Putting ruffles on a project really adds fabulous texture. Who would have ever know that these were not sewn?

First make sure you have a good quality of paper. Cut three strips of 12″ X 1.5″. You can adjust your widths of paper to your desired width of ruffle. You will need at least 12″ for the length.

You will need a mist bottle filled with water. Spray along the back of your strip of paper with water. Use only a few squirts, don’t over wet the paper or it will become to soggy.

Using your finger spread the water so that it is even over the back of the paper strip. Leave it on the paper for a minute or two so it can absorb in. This will make the paper easier to shape.

Flip over your paper strip, and start to gather. Pinch along the edge of one side of your strip.

Keep hold of as much of the strip as you can. Continue gathering, the gathers do not have to be uniform in size. Keep going until you get to the end of the paper. It should look like this.

Once you get it gathered and to the end you can let go. You will need a tool with a flat rounded end (such as the end of a pair of tweezers). On every other gather use the tool to plumb out the pleat by pulling the tool along the back of the pleat in an upwards motion. Do this while holding the pinched side, and on a few of the gathers.

Once you get to the end pinch the gathered side tight before leaving it to dry. Put your ruffle to the side to dry for at least 15 minutes. Very important that it is dry as the double-sided tape will not stick to damp paper, and you will have a bit of a mess.

You can make your other ruffles while this one is drying. Once dry then gently lie the ruffle flat on the right side. Then add a strip of double-sided tape to the top of your ruffle (on the back), and press down firmly. Remove backing.

Flip over your ruffle. Take your time doing this next step. Start to re-gather your ruffle. Sticking the pleats as you go along the double-sided tape. It can be pretty sticky. Just focus on a section at a time. Work your way along to the end of the strip. Once it is all gathered and secured, use your tool to fluff out some of the gathers. Then repeat the same with your other strips. You shouldn’t need to add any more tape to the back of your ruffles, you should be able to stick them directly onto your card. Just don’t forget they’re sticky when you put them down somewhere!

To add more than one row of ruffles, lay down your bottom ruffle first. Gently press the middle down, and make any adjustments so that it is straight. Once you are sure it is straight press the top of the ruffle down firmly. It is best to trim the ends of each ruffle (cut flush with the edge) before you add the next one.

Add your next ruffle after the steps as before. You can space them as close together as you wish. Then add your final ruffle.

Now tease out the edges of the ends, they should fan out nicely. I do this for each ruffle.

Now you have your ruffles completed. It should look like this. You can finish off your card however you would like. It is fun to play with the fullness of the ruffles, along with the depth. The shorter strips for less ruffle and longer strips for fuller ruffles.

Creativity involves in breaking out of your traditional style. Take a look at your project in a different way, and never hesitate to try something new.

I hope you have a Beautiful Spring Day. Happy Crafting!