.........Birthday Banners.........
A fun way to brighten up birthdays
I've been writing guest blogs for DCWV (http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/)
and thought you all might be interested in those posts too. Here are some of
the projects I've been featuring there, with a little more instruction so you can make the crafts too. Enjoy!
For my friends at work I make birthday cards for everyone in the
office to sign but I can't stop there. Everyone needs something to make
them feel extra special on their birthday, so I've been making mini-banners to
drape across their computer screen or the back of their chair. It is a fun
little touch that makes the day feel like a celebration. The mini-banners are
really cute on cakes too. (To put the banner on a cake, I tie the ends of the
banner to two decorative drinking straws or two dowels and stick them into the
cake top.)
You can also tie the mini-banners to a card to mail to a far away
friend. I bet getting a handmade card with cute little banners would make
anyone's day.
The banners are easy to make even if you don't have a template
handy. Here is how you make your own:
1) Cut basic shapes from folded scratch paper to create templates
of any shape and size.
2) Punch a hole in the
top corner of the folded paper to make evenly spaced holes.
3) Use the templates to
cut the individual flags from scrap paper. (I used the Chalk Art Paper Stack
here. This paper is available at Hobby Lobby Craft Stores.)
4.) String the flags
together on twine, floss, or ribbon and embellish with flowers cut from the
paper or with buttons.
P.S. The chalk paper easily erases with a damp
cloth. It is very forgiving and reusable too. I used chalk markers to decorate
this larger banner with the intent that the name, age, and occasion could
quickly be changed for the next celebration. It is very handy to have a
reusable custom banner ready at a moment’s notice. (This banner is made from
The Chalkboard Paper Stack by DCWV. It is available at Michael's Craft Store
and JoAnn's Craft Store.)
I've made a printable
version of the mini-banner's instructions for your craft library. I don't know about you, but I like
to keep an inspiration library on hand for when I'm drawing a blank in the
creativity department. 
Do something happy today!