A Banner That Will Make You Smile

I felt that my room needed something else to make it feel more “complete.”  I wanted to do something crafty that I could hang on my walls which are still a little bare that would bring color and happiness into the room.  I decided to make a banner to hang above my window.  I was inspired by Kate’s thankful banner and Meg’s peace banner.  I had first wanted my banner to say “Imagine” because it is something I’m doing all the time and it is a variation of “dream.”  I decided it would be too long, however so I chose “smile.”  The word smile makes me happy and I thought it would help to remind me to not get overly stressed out from school.

I gathered my supplies and I got to work.  I used glitter, tacky glue, white ribbon, a sponge to spread the glue with, scissors, five sheets of thick scrapbook paper (not the flimsy kind), scissors, and a large sheet of tagboard.  I picked out colors that would work both in my room at my apartment but also at my room at home.  I try to make sure I can reuse everything during the summer when I am at home.

I cut a triangle out of each sheet of paper, using the first one as a guide for the rest.   Then I cut smaller triangles out of white tagboard. I didn’t use any stencils or precut letters.  I instead just stenciled some letters and used those.  I am no artist in any way, so if I can eyeball the letters, you can, too.  I then spread glue on them using the sponge and sprinkled silver glitter on them.  I did end up filling in the white spots after I had glued the letters on to the banner.  Next I glued the tagboard triangles to the scrapbook ones, using the sponge again to spread the glue out.  There were small wrinkles in the paper even after flattening them, but it wasn’t noticeable after I added the letters and hung the banner.  Then I added the letters after they were completely dry.  This is when I took the sponge and dabbed a small amount of glue where ever there were white spots and sprinkled glitter over them. Then I used a utility knife to cut little slits in each of the corners where I pulled ribbon through and tied a bow where each triangle connected.  Then came the fun part: hanging time!

This banner instantly made my room a happier place.  Every time I walk into my room now, I end up obeying the banner and smile.  This would be so cute above a crib, in a kid’s room, in a craft room, behind a dining table, in a kitchen…  The possibilities are endless and they can look so different depending on what colors, paper, glitter, word, and ribbon you use.  I love mine!

Have you ever created a banner before?  What did you use it for?