Birthday Banner Tutorial

Well, it's that time of year again...my little peanut's birthday!  I will usually refer to her as that, Little Peanut.  This year is birthday number 3 and the theme is Hello Kitty.  What can I say, Little Peanut has a slight obsession with "Kitty" and I may, or may not, have something to do with that.  I digress.  If she wants Hello Kitty, then Hello Kitty she'll get!

Please note that we do not yet do birthday parties.  We're saving those for when she can truly appreciate them.  I do decorate and do fun things to celebrate, however.  This year I made some really cute decorations.  I won't post them all here at once, but I am going to share with you the banner I made.  And, here it is!

Super cute, huh?  Last year I made a black and pink one with Minnie Mouse.  It said "Happy Birthday" but it ended up being too big to hang anywhere (except awkwardly on my steep staircase) and it took forever because there were so many letters.  This year, I kept it simple and simply spelled out the birthday girl's name.

To make a banner here's what you'll need:

• a Cricut machine and cartridges (Hello Kitty is shown, but I also used Accent Essentials and Alphalicious)
• coordinating scrapbook paper (it's up to how many different patterns and colors you use)
• ribbon (5/8" or thinner) and/or tulle on a roll
• rubber cement (I'm bringing it back people)
• hole punch (not pictured)

The party hat is only shown here because I was trying to choose papers from my stash that coordinated, you do not need a hat to make a banner-tee hee.

1. Cut out a set of scalloped circles using the 5 1/2 inch setting.  I used the Accent Essentials cartridge, but there are many out there that have this element.  Cut out the number of scallops you need.  I used seven-five for the lettering and two for the Hello Kitty accents.

2. Cut out a set of circles using the 4 1/2 inch setting.  You will need a circle for every scallop.  Again, I used Accent Essentials, but you can likely find this shape on many cartridges.

3. Glue the circles to the scallops using rubber cement.  It might be stinky, but there is no warping and you can rub the mess away (I hate it when glue squishes out and then 'stains' the paper when you wipe it away).

4. Decide which order you want your scallops to be in and then cut out the letters. I used the Alphalicious cartridge and cut my letters using the 3 1/2 inch setting.  Use rubber cement to glue the letters to the circles.  If you use a different alphabet cartridge and are worried that the letters might not fit properly, cut them out using paper you don't care about until you figure out the correct size (Tip: I use the white page inserts that come in scrapbook photo albums which means I don't waste the good stuff).

5. Now that the word part of your banner is finished, you just have to create two end pieces.  I used the Hello Kitty cartridge to to cut out her face (3 inch setting).  Use any image that suits your theme/recipient.  And, again, if you have to fiddle with the size use those white page inserts that come in the page protectors of scrapbook albums so you aren't wasting the good stuff.  Cut your decorative pieces out and glue them to the two left over scallops.

6. Yay!  All of the scallops are finished and ready to be laced together!  You'll want to hole punch the left and right side of each scallop (along the edge, in the middle).  I did not punch holes on the outer edges of my first and last scallops, but you could if you want to add ribbon embellishments.

7. Now, you're going to use your ribbon and/or tulle to lace the pieces together.  I stacked 12 inch pieces of pink and brown tulle with alternating green and pink ribbon.  I laced the stack through the back side and tied a simple knot on the front.  You will want to trim any excess ribbon/tulle.

8. Your ridiculously fabulous banner is now finished!  Hang it across a doorway, along a staircase, or over a mantle and admire it until your heart's content.