Ribbon Wall

My camera's quality is questionable. Sorry.

If you're like me (and I assume you are), you hate boring wall decor. You also hate spending a lot of money on picture holding equipment. You should totally make a ribbon wall!

Materials:
At least two differently patterned grosgrain ribbons
Colorful paper clips
Command Strips
Eclectic crap to go on the wall (we'll discuss this more in a minute)

Tools:
Good fabric scissors
Needle and thread that reasonably matches your ribbon
Possibly a ruler or other measuring tool

Instructions:
Prep:
1. Decide a basic design for the wall. This is the point where you are creative! Lay out the design, call your friends/family/cat over for their opinions, move it around until you feel it in you heart (or until you are sick of it and it's good enough). Once you know how many ribbons and where, you can move on to step two.
2. I don't really do anything that requires a lot of exact measuring but if you are the type who will not be able to sleep if everything isn't exact, measure out and mark (with a pencil!) where everything will be going.

Make the Ribbons:
1. Using your good scissors (I'm serious on this one, you don't want frayed ends on the ribbons) cut the ribbon to differing lengths. Longer is better, you can always cut them down a bit once the ribbons are on the wall.
2. Sew a double hem* on one end of each ribbon. You can use a machine for this if you really want, but it's honestly not that big of a deal.
3. Now you're going to sew the paper clips to the ribbon. Again, I'm not a stickler for measuring so I just eyeball it but by all means feel free to measure. Starting about an inch from the hem end of the ribbon, sew one end of a paperclip to the ribbon so that the clipping part is pointed down (look at the picture, it will make more sense). Repeat this every inch and a half or so until you are about four inches from the end of the ribbon. Do this to all the ribbons.

Like this.

4. Cut the non-hem end of the ribbon into a chevron shape (think the ends of a blue ribbon type medal). This is optional but it makes the whole thing fancier.

Wall Installation:
1. Without removing any of the paper linings, lay a Command Strip on top of a ribbon. Does it fit or does it stick out some? If it fits, you're gold! If it sticks out, you have to trim it down. Don't worry about exacts, as long as none of the strip is any wider than the ribbon you've done it right.
2. Stick a Command Strip on the back of the hem end of reach ribbon with the pull tab part pointing towards the fancy chevron end.
3. Stick the ribbons to the walls wherever you planned for a ribbon. PRESS HARD!! Wait the full hour that the 3M corporation suggests. I'm serious, otherwise anything heavy you decide to clip to the ribbon may pull it and your paint off the walls.
4. Install anything else you want. My ribbon wall includes a fancy multi-frame I was given as a wedding gift and one of those wooden letters you can buy at a hobby store (or some Wal Marts) painted black. Look at the things you already have, this project looks better if it's a bit eclectic.
5. Once the Command Strips have had time to bond, you are ready to clip pictures, drawing, cards, and whatever other light-ish, clip-able objects you want to the ribbons. I went with a more minimalist look but feel free to go for the mom's fridge look! It's a canvas that's incredibly easy to redo, have no fear! You're done!

The best part about a ribbon wall? Ignoring anything else you have on the wall (like my photo frame and letter) it's super easy to change your look up. At Christmas, I take all the photos down and clip up cards instead. It's also incredibly cheap. The cost of a simple one like mine was the Command Strips (roughly $8 for a big pack, you won't use all of them either) and two spools of ribbon ($2 each). About $12 for a versatile, interesting wall.

*Double hem??!! Calm down, it's just some sewing jargon. Check out this wikihow article about it for instructions. I didn't bother ironing the ribbon, but you can if you find it tricky to hold. Be careful not to use too hot of an iron, grosgrain ribbon is usually at least a blend if not fully acrylic, it will melt!