Fall Patchwork Ribbon Sign Tutorial

This year I am so excited for fall!  Normally I don't even think about putting out seasonal decorations until the "official" September 23rd date, but this go round I'm already whipping out the pumpkins & autumnal colors. I started with this new Fall Patchwork Ribbon Sign project and just LOVE the fall feel it brings to the house.

Not only is it easy to make, but it can be done in whatever size you want (and is the perfect use for ribbon scraps!).

I wanted to have lots of texture, print & color so I used an assortment of grosgrain, satin linen and burlap ribbons in lots of fun fall shades and designs:

It's really helped make our foyer look fall festive:

Materials:

- Wood Frame with some depth
- Craft foam (or foam floor mat)
- Assorted ribbons (mine are mainly from JoAnn Stores & Sugar Pink Boutique)
- Wood plaque
- Acrylic craft paint
- Card stock 
- Craft glue
- Tape/Fabric Fusion Permanent Tape
- Dressmaker's pins (basic silver flathead pins)
Optional: cutting machine like a Cricut

I started with a craft wood sign frame I picked up at JoAnn Stores that had an opening that was 6 1/2 inches high by 13 1/2 inches wide and had a depth of 1/2 inch.  I cut up an old 1/2 inch thick foam floor mat to fit inside as the base, trimming it to be slightly smaller to allow for the extra thickness of the ribbons.  Thinner foam can be stacked for different depths.  I used ribbons that were mainly 1 1/2 inch and 7/8 inch wide so they wouldn't have to overlap.  

Start by arranging the ribbons in the preferred order vertically and cut to a length that will wrap all the way around and over lap ends on the back.  Since my foam width was 13 1/2, I used seven 1 1/2 in wide ribbons and three 7/8 in lengths to completely cover the front. 

Tape the ends together at the back:

For the textured ribbon that tape won't hold well (you don't want the ribbon popping open during the next step!), I used fabric fusion tape that is doubled sided and has permanent hold power.  

This is how the front will look:

Time to make it patchwork!  Cut several lengths of other ribbons in a length that will wrap horizontally and overlap on the back.  Snake the first ribbon alternating over and under the vertical ribbons. 

Repeat with remaining ribbon cuts.  I did just four of various sizes, so it won't be a precise checkerboard, but more of a plaid kind of design.  Attach ends on the back like the first row was done.

Insert the ribbon block into the frame.  It fits nice and snug so there's no need to glue it to keep it in place.

For the center pumpkin design I painted an unfinished wood pumpkin plaque with some acrylic craft paint I had in my stash.

It dried nice & fast for the perfect background.

I used a free font called Good Feeling Script to create this script-style Fall png file:

It's easy to transform into a cut file.  I used my Cricut Explore and cut it out on some deep purple card stock (also from my stash):

Brush on some decoupage or glue on the back:

Press into place on the wood sign.

I was going to glue the pumpkin sign onto the front, but was concerned about the weight pulling on the ribbons. I figured out an even easier way to attach it: I used a few dress maker's pins around the bottom and top to "catch" the edges.  They were easy to press right into the foam and hold it in place perfectly.

The great thing about this project is you can customize it to match whatever colors or designs you have in the house and everything can be pulled apart if you want to reuse things for other projects down the road.  

I used mine as a tabletop decoration for our entryway, but it's pretty hung on the wall too.  Now we're ready to greet fall as it arrives!