How To: Canning Jars and Ribbons

No matter what the occasion is, when the urge hits to give someone flowers, keep in mind to never just steal them from your neighbor’s garden! Put some thought into the arraignment and make it a personal gift that will mean something for a long time with thoughtful personalized ribbons. And what better way than to make a personalized vase?

So, take those flowers from last week and create a home made project that is sure to please for years to come. We’re all into up-cycling anything these days. Why not incorporate all those old Mason Jars? While it isn’t required to actually use a Mason Jar, find a few of those old canning jars that are lying around your home. And here’s a couple amazing ideas to get you going in the right direction for that something special and personal. All you need is a canning jar without a lid and some scraps of ribbon!

Spring Tulips and Burlap Wrapped Mason Jars flower arrangements
gingham and mason jars a pretty cool life
mason jars with satin green ribbon and white doilies
flowers in clustered mason jars, held together with a ribbon

The simplest way to create a personalized masterpiece is an old canning jar, a wide strip of burlap and a favorite piece of old scrap ribbon. Simply wrap that burlap around the canning jar and secure down with a bit of hot glue. Next, take that ribbon and tie a pretty bow. It’s that simple!

Another way to create these simple vases is to just take a ribbon of your choice and wrap it around the top part of the canning jar. This example used gingham ribbon, but any ribbon will work. Make it personalized by ordering (or using some you already have) personalized ribbon rolls. Dress up this version with a simple paper doily wrapped around the canning jar before tying the ribbon around it.

The final suggestion is to arrange several canning jars together and secure them with a long piece of ribbon. Finish this with a simple, or maybe a more extravagant bow. Whether they be in clusters, like this example, or individual canning jars, these are sure to impress and be a keepsake for years to come.

Using Ribbons and Flowers for Gifts

Make your flowers stand out with a personalized ribbon!

Due to the recent seasons being quite wet, there is now an abundance of flowers in nearby meadows, fields and gardens. Flowers are always a great idea to either bring into a home or give as a thank you or a just because gift. Once you choose the right flower, dress it up with some personalized ribbons!

From the beginning of recorded history, flowers have been assigned special meanings and significance. The symbolic use of a flower is mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions, Chinese writings, and in Greek and Roman mythology. Subtle and secret messages can be given by choosing a flower carefully. Flowers were used throughout history as a secret language that enabled people to communicate feelings that were not allowed at certain times and places. Other factors to consider when giving flowers include color and number.

Nowadays, it has become almost a norm to give flowers for certain occasions. Weddings still dominate this category, but they are good for funerals, birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, and many more. Once an appropriate flower is chosen, such as a bunch of a dozen red and white roses for your significant other on your anniversary, choosing the right ribbon is fairly simple.

When choosing the ribbon to match the flower bouquet, make sure that your colors compliment each other well. You don’t want to choose a bland ribbon color to go with bright flowers.

yellow gold single faced satin ribbon imprint pigment white with pink roses and flowerstropic blue single face satin ribbon imprint metallic ivy green with daisies and other flowersOne idea is to wrap the stems of pink roses with yellow or gold ribbon. When choosing the printing color, make sure that compliments the arrangement as well. Make sure your ribbon choice helps the flower colors to really pop and stand out.

For some flower bouquets, use a neutral color for your ribbon. Try a white or tropic blue with metallic green printing. Can’t decide how to personalize the ribbons to match a flower? Try using your name or provide a date that the present is being given upon. Or, use a short phrase or logo to really make them personal.

silver double face satin ribbon imprint pigment black with flowers in a glass

No matter what the occasion is, when the urge hits to give someone flowers, keep in mind to never just steal them from your neighbor’s garden! Put some thought into the arrangement and make it a personal gift that will mean something for a long time with thoughtful personalized ribbons.

Summer Fun In The Sun with Coller Industries

summer fun barbecue barbeque bbq coller industries

Every year, Coller Industries Incorporated honors a job well done for their employees by hosting a summer party and barbecue. This year the party was held at a local park here in Utah. There was fun for all ages and the employees were encouraged to bring their families. Food (BBQ) was provided and there were games and a bounce house for the kids.

R&R Barbeque

Hats off to the catering company (R&R Barbeque) for providing the overly delicious food! We had the whole spread: BBQ ribs, chicken wings, beef brisket, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked beans and rolls.

Many of the employees were able to attend this year and were happy to have been included. While we’re not about tooting our own horns, as we like to focus on the needs of our customers, we would like to give a shout out to Coller Industries and the Coller family for providing such a wonderful activity for our employees. And here’s how we say thank you!

Coller Industries - Summer BBQ Party

Coller Industries - Summer BBQ Party

Kylie (Production) “The summer BBQ was a great hit. The food was fantastic and weather was great. I personally enjoyed being with friends, family, and coworkers on such a wonderful day.”

Traci (Customer Service) “We had a blast at the summer party! The kids ran around having fun with water and in the bounce house. The adults enjoyed some relaxed conversation and delicious BBQ.”

Aimee (Customer Service) “It was a beautiful day (and) we had a very good turn out of employees and their families. It was nice to see everyone having such a good time. The food was excellent this year and the bounce house was a hit with the kids.”

Eddie (Design) “The summer party overall was really a good time! (The park) was clean, had a play place for kids, big open grass area, and the bouncer of course. Also the basketball courts. Now the food, was FIRE (great)! Great environment, atmosphere, food, makes for a great party!”

Coller Industries - Summer BBQ Party

Coller Industries - Summer BBQ Party

Avoiding Boring Badge Ribbons – Part 2

The boring badge ribbon has proven functional at many professional gatherings. Keep this in mind when choosing badge ribbons as they are meant to improve the effectiveness of a name badge. The five previous tips were aimed to help decide which type of badge ribbon was the best for each ribbon project. Here are five more tips to help with the overall design of any badge ribbon.

TIP #6 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Choose a distinctive font.

The easiest way to drastically improve how your ribbon looks, and to keep it from being boring, is by using a nice font. There are many fonts available that will meet most any need. Keep in mind that most fonts will require a metal die.

Badge ribbon printing requires the use of dies, which are made to imprint onto the ribbons. A die is basically like a stamp as it presses a printing foil down on to the badge ribbon. Wherever the stamp touches the foil to the ribbon, the foil will stay printed, or dyed, onto the badge ribbon.

Many badge ribbons may be printed using a polymer die. Polymer dies are faster and less expensive, but they do have a few drawbacks. They are made from a softer material than metal dies; they also wear out quickly, so they can’t be used for large runs of the same ribbon; and they don’t hold detail well, so only thick, plain letters and shapes can be used. Small holes in the design, like the inside of a letter “a” or “e” may fill in because the die can’t press hard enough to ensure a clean impression.

A metal die, which is much stronger than the polymer die, can hold much more detail and will ensure a much cleaner imprint. Using a metal die no longer limits the choice of font; text may be made smaller or even add a logo or other image. Metal dies give much more freedom in the design of a badge ribbon and are well worth the additional cost. They can also be saved to use again and again.

TIP #7 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Have fun with your text.

avoiding boring ribbons badge ribbon imprinted metal die fitting textText doesn’t have to be boring like straight side-to-side or up-and-down. Depending on the badge ribbon chosen, the text can be set at an angle or even on a curve. This is a great trick to get longer words to fit on a narrower ribbon and doesn’t always require a metal die.

TIP #8 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Don’t limit yourself to one color.

For a better looking badge ribbon, use a combination of colors. A plain badge ribbon suddenly seems less boring when changes to a few elements are made. If the badge ribbon really needs to make an impression, try a Full Color Custom Ribbon. This badge ribbon will be printed in full color and has no limits to fonts or number of colors and no metal dies. You can even get a photograph printed on these badge ribbons.

TIP #9 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Plan the shape and size of your ribbon.

Each ribbon should take content and function into account when adjusting the length or shape. If there is extra empty space, make the ribbon smaller or request options for making the text fill it better. Each badge ribbon should fit the text comfortably and not be crowded or empty. Make the badge ribbon unique by replacing the pinked ends with a fishtail.

avoiding boring ribbons badge ribbon metail die add a logoTIP #10 Avoiding Boring Ribbons: Add a company logo.

Nothing spices up a badge ribbon like an image. Use a company logo or find a basic image that will set off the design on the ribbon; it will instantly increase the ribbon’s appeal. Remember, a metal die will be required.

So the next time you find yourself in need of a ribbon for that upcoming event, keep these 10 tips in mind and the planning stages should be a bit easier and more enjoyable.

 

 

*Tips and graphics provided by guest author Melanie Bunch, Graphic Artist at Coller Industries.*

Avoiding Boring Badge Ribbons – Part 1

stock badge ribbons horizontal badge ribbonsThe boring badge ribbon makes its debut at many business conventions, corporate retreats, or any number of other professional gatherings. One can usually find these badge ribbons attached to someone’s name badge or possibly just pinned onto someone’s shirt or jacket. The boring badge ribbon is meant to be functional in presenting a word or short phrase, usually in all capital letters and a very plain font. Please note that there is nothing wrong with this ribbon type if the purpose is to simply designate a particular person as a “Speaker” or any other title.

Badge ribbonsstock badge ribbons verticle badge ribbons that are going to be given out as prizes or promotions are ribbons that aim to get the viewer interested in asking about a particular topic, business or cause you are representing. These badge ribbons are meant for something more, but sometimes they look just as plain as the examples described above. It is this ribbon type that deserves a little extra planning to really perform in their function the best way possible.

TIP #1: Remember what medium you are working with.

You are printing on a ribbon not a brochure or flier. Your text should be concise and to the point.

TIP #2: Consider the badge ribbon size you are ordering.

A horizontal ribbon that is four inches wide can fit words like “promotional” or “team leader” and still be big enough to read from a short distance. But, if you’re getting a vertical ribbon that is only two inches wide, try to use shorter words.

TIP #3: Vertical text should be limited.

Vertical ribbons typically have printing running vertically stacked down the ribbon. Usually you can only get away with having one word like that; any more and it becomes hard to read.

TIP #4: When lots of text is acceptable.

There are promotional ribbons with entire poems that are used as bookmarks, ribbons with wedding details for favors, and keepsake ribbons from family reunions or church events. But, if you want your ribbon to say a lot, plan on having small letters and be prepared to order a metal die to be able to imprint the fine details that are required to have this small print.

TIP #5: Consider the tone of your words.

A corporate meeting would be a great setting for the boring badge ribbon with a simple ribbon saying “President” but, if you have a smaller or less formal meeting why not have a ribbon saying “Man In Charge” or “Big Cheese” instead?

Innovative and Engaging Badge Ribbons promotional badge ribbons stock badge ribbonsTake some time to consider these five tips when choosing which badge ribbon is the best for your purpose. There will be five more tips to follow up after you make your choice to help solidify what you really need. These final tips will help you maximize your badge ribbons and promotional ribbons.

*Tips and graphics provided by guest author Melanie Bunch, Graphic Artist at Coller Industries.*