
DIY Horse Show Ribbon Shadowbox
I will never be one of those people who throw away ribbons. Being able to show horses has been a life long dream for me. I’ve worked really hard to win and also pay for all of these ribbons. You can bet that I want them out where I can enjoy them instead of locked in a box or thrown away!
Even that being said, my ribbon area was looking a bit hodge podge lately. I had stuffed Elvis’ entire show collection in two large glass jars, but that didn’t leave any room for Simon’s new ribbons. Last year I put them on an empty curtain rod as they came home, but that looked too hodge podge for me. Plus, the ribbons get dusty and gross just hanging up there.
My original plan was to send most of Elvis’ old ribbons off to be into a ribbon quilt, but that didn’t seem like the best choice of funds at the moment. Tired of no solution, I headed off to Michael’s in search of a shadow box.
The idea was to make a collage out of the rosettes so I could display them easily, but still be able to salvage the ribbons in case I wanted to get my quilt made in the future.
First, I made sure that the streamers of every ribbon were carefully rolled up and tucked behind the metal clip.
Next I went through and selected my favorite 1st, 2nd and 3rd ribbons from my collection. I tried to pick the ones that were from a more prestigious show or sentimental favorites. In the end, I made sure that I had at least one from every show and I started placing them on the black felt shadowbox back.
Before I secured any ribbons, I got the general placement and closeness how I wanted it.
Then I got out the trusty hot glue gun, and carefully put hot glue just on the metal part of the back of the ribbon. I don’t think hot glue will hurt the actual ribbon, but for me it was better safe than sorry.
I glued the ribbons down from back to front, and went row by row. I don’t think the small amount of hot glue would survive a child tugging on these, but for being protected by glass and not moving around much… the glue job is totally fine.
Once I got all the ribbons down, it was as easy as getting my husband to help me hang it on the wall.
I think it looks pretty good! I do wish I had them closer together in some areas or had ribbon streamers to cover up the black areas showing through, but for an hour project I think this looks really nice. Plus, I can take them out anytime if I decide to do something different with them.
As for special champion ribbons, I ironed out the streamers and placed them in what I’m not calling my “trophy case.” Let’s face it – I have more interest in champion ribbons than I do fine china, so these have a welcome home in the top shelf of my China cabinet alongside my grandfather’s carvings.
Now there’s some more room in the jars for my (hopefully) 2015 collection, and I can fully appreciate the other ribbons!
42 thoughts on “DIY Horse Show Ribbon Shadowbox”
Now I feel guilty…all of my ribbons are in a box under the guest bed…lol. Except last years…I think they’re in a closet downstairs…maybe? In my defense, they’re from a bunch of different horses and I’m reluctant to make anything until I have enough from one horse…if that makes sense?
Hey there’s no need to feel guilty… whatever works for you!
I made something like that, but yours turned out way better! I think I need a smaller box…somewhere along the way I lost a box of ribbons so mine looks a little sparse.
Cute! Pretty sure I’ve saved all my ribbons – got a couple of boxes of them but no great way to display them as of yet.
Brilliant idea, I think it looks awesome!
Those look awesome! Great ways to display ribbons. I can’t throw mine away either. Mine are all in boxes in the garage… future project someday! 🙂
The shadowbox looks really nice, good idea!
Very nice. I plan on doing a shadowbox sometime in the future, not like yours but yeah should be interesting!
Share pictures when you do!
What a cool project. Maybe I can do it when I win something…
I like it! I need to do something similar for my 2014 ribbons here soon.
I think it looks totally awesome!
I am also of the never-throw-out-ribbons camp. I have ribbons from 1998 hanging out in an Ariat tall boot box from around the same time! I have my favorites on a string in the living room, because that’s my idea of decorating. LOLZ
I would probably do that too if I weren’t cohabiting a house with my husband 😉
You are so crafty! I love it! I am a guilty member of the ‘throw the ribbons away’ club. My excuse is that I’ll always have the memories. 🙂
Looks fantastic!
Love it! Looks fab! You know what is cool, I have a shadow box from 1901 that someone made of their ribbons from the “Montreal Horse Show” – 3 Blues and a Red. It’s such an awesome antique and I love that I have someones cherished memories from over a hundred years ago.
I’m making a “shrine” in my tackroom. Since you only get one ribbon at events – they are superbly coveted!
Oh…I love that! I have done the ribbon jar with Roz’s ribbons but Emi’s might need this!
Love how this turned out!
Love it!! It looks really nice. Once I get Red’s papers I’m planning on doing a shadow box kind of like this. Super cute idea!
Awesome! I was at target and saw some lamps with glass bases that you can fill today and thought about getting them for my ribbons… But I think I like this better!
Very nice! What size shadow box did you use? I think I’ve got almost every ribbon I’ve ever received from when I started riding at 9. When I was younger, they were on a wire and formed a border around the top of my room. Now they are just sitting in a Rubbermaid container at my parents’ house. Love this idea for getting to display them and also loving that I’m not too old to display my ribbons in my 30s (as long as I’m not stringing them around my bedroom, I guess.). 🙂
I want to say this was 18″ x 30″ ?
Love this idea! My parents are constantly asking when I’m going to take all my old ribbons off my hands, and this is such a pretty colorful way to display them!
Cool! Looks good! I have made some ribbon wreaths and I’m really happy with them
Wow – it ended up looking like modern artwork!
I also really like the carvings from your grandfather. They’re beautiful.
Thank you! Those are very, very special to me and probably worth a post of their own sometime.
Very nice! I also never throw away ribbons…the thought makes me so sad! Even cutting them up to make a quilt makes me cringe a little lol even though the quits are really cool. I have the same sentiments are showing being always what I wanted to do, so ribbons are a real treasure to me! Plus like T Myers pointed out eventer only get one per event!
Looks fab! What a fun (and looks relatively easy) project!
I love this and will have to steal your idea! My latest display for ribbons was a large picture frame with chicken wire where I hang them, but I like your idea of using a shadow box for my special ribbons from my heart horse. 🙂
Great idea! I really want to do this 🙂
That is super cute! I need to find something to do with all of mine. Like you I usually only have the past years ribbons hanging at a time.
The shadow box looks great!!
All of mine live in a tupperware container in the spare room….I NEED to do this. So awesome!
wow that turned out really well!! i like how organized and clean it looks (and you can always add little sewing pins if the hot glue starts to give out). nice diy!!
I’ve been wanting to do this for months and really need to get around to it. Yours turned out great!
That looks nice! Mine are all hanging from my bulletin board. Maybe I will get creative now and make a shadow box too. I refuse to throw any out, but I do follow a couple of blogs that do. Boggles my mind!
hmmm … may have to try this!!!! :0)
Wow! That looks amazing! Nice job!!
What a great idea! I have all my ribbons in a bag because I too was thinking of having them made into something, but I might just do this instead. Thanks for sharing.
May I simply say what a comfort to find someone who truly
understands what they’re talking about on the net.
You certainly understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
A lot more people ought to look at this and understand this side of the story.
I was surprised you are not more popular because you most certainly possess the gift.
That is a good tip especially to those fresh to the
blogosphere. Brief but very precise information… Thank
you for sharing this one. A must read article!
Whеn someone writes an paragraph he/she maintains the thoսght of a ussr iin hіѕ/her mind that how
a user can know it. Տo that’s wһy this paragraph іs perfect.
Thanks!