DIY Fabric Occasion Banner

By Leah

Hey, you! You're not busy, are you? You finished your holiday shopping months ago, your year-end family newsletter is already in the mail to everyone you know, and you're just sitting there by the fire, sipping your homemade eggnog, practically begging for something to do, I can feel it. Allow me to be of assistance.

My son turned one whole year old on Monday, and in a fit of insanity (or perhaps to commemorate my twenty-six-hour labor?), I decided to slave away late into many nights creating a fabric "Happy Birthday" banner to hang during his party (and during every birthday party until the thing disintegrates from overuse, so help me Santa). To those of you not so cavalier as to have a baby in December, I'll offer this up as a holiday craft instead; whenever you read "birthday," please insert Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice/Whatever, and then give yourself a hearty pat on the back for not having a baby in December and making this already crazy time of year a little more crazy.

Okay, that last bit there was me just being melodramatic because although, yes, the banner took up a major chunk of time, it was actually really simple to make, and if I'm to be perfectly honest, the main reason I'll insist that the banner feature prominently in every birthday celebration until my son moves out of the house is not because it was an arduous project involving lots of booze and, uh, "festive" language but because I'm just so darn proud of it (and myself). 

I used these instructions, provided by Wood, the mama half of Sweet Juniper, who not only made birthday banners for her two kids but also made a banner for a friend's wedding, featuring the names of the bride and groom in the wedding color. (Sweet Juniper features an entire sub-blog devoted to DIY crafts. (Look at this year's pegasus and griffin Halloween costumes and prepare to be stunned.)

Meanwhile, back on earth, maybe you're like me and the only Christmas gifts you've bought so far have been for yourself, in which case you might be better off not making a fabric banner this holiday season, in which case might I suggest Emily's paper banner--but only after you bookmark this post for a less hectic time of year. Have you ever seen a banner for Groundhog Day? I didn't think so.

Comments

[samantha jo campen]

Did you sew it or can I like, glue it and stuff? Because that's more my speed.

SUPER CUTE!

[Jennie]

You have no idea how much I love this. I need to get cracking, so I can get one made for Kyle.

[Maura]

That is so cool! I applaud you for taking on such a project with a squirmy one year old in the middle of holiday season! It turned out beautifully. And holy Hannah! Sweet Juniper's costumes made my jaw hit my laptop. I imagine your bebe will be dressed as splendidly come October. :-)

[See Sherm Blog]

I cannot tell you how excited I am that you posted this! I've been looking for a good pattern for my sister's baby shower for EVER! And now I can get to work on it. (Well, after the holidays).

THANKS!