Super Sweet Mini Bunting

My big project the last 6 months has been preparing to fix up a playhouse for my niece Hadley.  The time is finally here - I leave this week to go do the project (stay tuned for the #BigPlayhouseReveal in the next few weeks) so at the last minute I decided I wanted to make a mini bunting.  I'm not even sure where I'll put it, but bunting always makes a space happy!

I went to JoAnn's Fabric to look for fabric.  I didn't know exactly what I wanted.  I thought about a shades of pink look or a rainbow look, but I saw this fabric and fell in love with it. 

For this project you'll need:

Fabric in coordinating colors
double fold bias tape
paper/printer
piece of cardboard
pins
scissors
rotary cutter/mat
sewing machine

I used Microsoft Word to create a pattern.  My triangle was 5x5.  I printed it, cut it out and then made a pattern out of cardboard. 

I then used my rotary cutter to cut the triangles out of the fabric.  You'll need two triangles for each bunting flag.

Then I sewed the two long sides together.  The top will get sewed when you add the bias tape.  Then laid out the flags in the order I wanted.

And then pinned them inside the bias tape.

 Then I sewed on the bias tape, using a zig zag stitch.

 I love how it turned out - super sweet!!



Embroidery Hoop Bunting Wall Art

This project was actually really easy to make!  I bought an embroidery hoop from Michael's for only a couple dollars and I had all the fabric.  I used my rotary cutter and mat to cut little triangles for the bunting.

I used a pencil to faintly make lines and then I used my sewing machine to sew the two lines.

Then I used a q-tip to put a small dot of  Mod Podge on each flag, to keep them in place during sewing.  Then I sewed over the top of each flag.

I positioned it in my embroidery hoop and then cut off the excess fabric.

Colorful Bunting for a Backyard Bash

You work hard, try to provide for the family, and then, for one minute, everything´s good. Everyone´s well. Everyone´s happy. In that one minute, you have peace.

-While You Were Sleeping

Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of that one minute of peace.  Often it's at the wedding receptions I photograph, right after dinner.  People are full, happy, enjoying the decorations and atmosphere, surrounded by friends and family with just the right music playing in the background and people are exactly where they want to be at that moment in time.  A summertime, backyard party with friends usually evokes the same feeling.

 

To create those moments takes planning, sometimes!  Last weekend my friend Amanda had a backyard barbeque to celebrate her new house and birthday and I got to help decorate!  I looked at pictures online for inspiration and was drawn to colorful bunting and fun lighting. 

To make the bunting I pulled out all my scrap fabric and used this fantastic blog post from The Longest Year.  Start with a fat quarter, fold in half.  Measure six inches in from the top left corner and continue making triangles from there. 

Cut the pieces with pinking shears.  Sew the two long sides of the triangles together with a long stitch. 

Then I made my own bias tape, which I still find kind of confusing, but this blog by Made and this video helped me.

Then I just laid out the bunting, to make sure I liked the color/fabric order.  Don't look at the mess!

Then I sewed the bunting flags about 3 inches apart, making sure to leave several inches at each end to tie.

I loved the colorful, happy vibe the bunting added to the backyard party!

 

▼▼DIY Banner▼▼

 

This banner is so easy to make - you could make one for every occasion! 

 

For this Project you'll need:

computer/printer

washi tape

craft paper

string

 

Step 1 - Choose a word and print each letter using the font, size and shape you want.

 

Step 2 - Cover the entire letter with washi tape.

 

Step 3 - Cut out each letter.

 

 

Step 4 - Cut out a banner shape from your craft paper, one for each letter of your word.  I printed a triangle as my template.  I also folded my craft paper and cut only 2 sides, so my banner would fold over my string.

 

 

Step 4 - Attach the letters to the banner pieces.  Since my glue stick is dried out, I used mod podge. (Don't worry, the mod podge will dry clear.)   Any glue or tape would work, but my letters were pretty thin for tape.

 

 

Step 5 - Fold each banner piece over your string.  I used yellow baker's twine.  You can glue or staple or tape them in place, but I decided to sew across the top of each banner piece.

 

It turned out so cute!  What word would you choose to make into a banner?