This year, make your Christmas cake extra special with this stunning handmade ribbon

What you need...

• Linen, cream
  Ribbon, red and white
  Stranded thread, green, black
  Bell, silver
  Sewing kit
  Safety pin
  Sewing machine (optional)
  Iron
  Card blank, white
  Card, red
  Alphabet stamping kit
  Adhesive, craft

instructions

1. Cake Band - Measure the circumference of the Christmas cake, using a tape measure. Add 5cm onto this measurement to find the required length. Cut a strip of linen which measures 6cm wide by the length of the ribbon. Turn under a 1cm hem along each long edge, then pin and stitch.
   
   Take two sections of red and white ribbon which measure three times the length of the ribbon. Stitch along one edge of the ribbons in running stitch, then pull the thread to gather up. Sew a gathered ribbon to the underside of the top and bottom of the linen strip. Hand stitch along the top and bottom edge of the linen in green thread.
   
   Using black thread, embroider a message to the centre of the ribbon, such as 'HAPPY CHRISTMAS'. Make a simple rosette from red and white ribbon and fix a silver bell to the centre. Attach to the cake ribbon with a few small stitches. Wrap the ribbon around the Christmas cake and pin the overlap together at the back with a safety pin.

2. Christmas Card - Take a plain white blank and cover the inside back with red card. Trim if necessary. Measure the width of the blank and using the instructions above, make a length of ribbon from linen and red and white fabric.
   
   Using an alphabet stamping kit and black ink, print a word onto the front of the ribbon, such as 'NOEL'. Stick the band to the front of the card using craft adhesive.

http://www.fredaldous.com – for sewing essentials, 08707 517 300
http://www.coxandcox.co.uk - alphabet stamping kit from Cox and Cox