Party Box...... #1 - Banner Tutorial

A Party in a box! The items crafted up in this tutorial are easily customized for any event - Birthdays, GAME day, Baby Shower, Holidays, different seasons, etc.

This week we will create a :

Party Banner!

*For the purpose of this tutorial, we will be creating our party items in a Birthday Theme!

Materials needed:

Banner:

Fabric - around the size of a fat quarter works great! (We used 7 different fabrics of a smaller size and repeated them a couple of times)

paper/pencil

Scissors/pinking shears and/or

Rotary Cutter and mat

Pins

Thread

Extra Wide Double Folded Bias Tape (3 yds)

Sewing Machine

Iron

Fabric Marker

optional - interfacing/fusible fleece/heat n' bond

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Making the Banner:

1. Create a Pattern Template - Choose any size of triangle that fits your occasion and space. For our template we took a 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and folded it down the middle lengthwise. Open it back and up and fold each side from the corner to the middle crease creating a triangle. Cut away the excess paper. (see illustration) If this size is too big, simply cut to desired size.

2. Options: Reversible or 1-sided

Reversible - If you want your triangle pieces to have more "weight" or a stiffer shape to them you can use interfacing between them or heat n' bond to adhere the two fabrics together. You can also use nothing in between them if desired.

1-sided - Again, to add more weight and shape to the triangle pieces we recommend using a fusible fleece on the back side of your fabrics. You can also create a banner without anything on the back of the fabrics.

(*We created a reversible banner. One side is for a girl's birthday and the other for a boys birthday)

3. Creating -

Layer your fabrics wrong sides together (if creating a reversible banner) and add any materials in between them that you'd like as mentioned above and follow the package instructions for use. Pin the fabrics together if necessary.

Position, trace and cut the triangle shapes with all the different fabrics. You will need (11 triangles for 3 yds of bias tape if using the same size of template). Sew around 2 sides of each triangle piece stitching ¼” inside of the pattern line.

Cut out the pieces using a rotary cutter, scissors or pinking shears. *think about cutting more than one triangle from the same fabric.

Once all the triangles are cut, it’s time start stringing them together! Starting about 8" in, place the triangles in between the two layers of the bias tape and pin in place. This allows enough space to have room to tie the banner if necessary.

Repeat until you reach the end the opposite end, again leaving about 8”. You can choose to create a pattern of colors or have no pattern at all! Your triangles can also be overlapped slightly, placed end to end, or have a bit of space in between. The design is up to you! (*for this project we place our triangles end to end)

Once all the triangles have been placed and pinned, sew down the entire length of the bias tape securing all the pieces in place.

You are finished! Find a fun container, fabric box, etc to store it in and we will be adding more to it! Then all of your fun party decor will neatly be stashed away in the one place.

Extra options: Add felt letters to spell out an event phrase (i.e. Happy Birthday!, Baby Shower, Go Team, Autumn, etc). The letters could be ironed or glued on. Another option is to stencil the letters on with paint. Get creative! Just be sure you have enough triangles for the letters you need. :)

If you want to make your banner longer, simply sew another strand of bias tape to one end and continue. If you want to make the banner shorter, cut the bias tape to the desired length.

next TUESDAY......we will create another item to for our "party box!"

upload and share your banners in the Brassy Apple Flickr Group - Get your CRAFT ON! have fun!

linked up with DIY day on A Soft Place to Land and Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

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Chalkboard wall organizer.....tutorial

I was catching up around blogging land a little while back and I saw this post about a chalkboard. The frame color and shape of hers reminded me that I never had shared my chalkboard! silly me......I created a chalkboard on the wall back in May before school got out. So better late then never, eh? :)

So here is the wall before.......You've seen photos of this area before. Those are my kids school wall pockets- a place to hold their papers, pictures, etc instead of piling on the counter. Bulletin board holds lunch menu, calendar, etc. Just a handy spot we pass a million times a day in and out of the garage and on our way!

I wanted to put a chalkboard on the wall in the empty space to the right of the bulletin board and wall pockets. Handy for messages, daily chores, etc. I tape off the size and shape I wanted. **Hindsight tip: Be sure to cover your floors well if you will be using chalkboard SPRAY paint. I learned the hard way that it travels and "sits" everywhere. Also a good idea to sand down the texture on the wall a bit for a smooth surface. ** (yes honey you were right)

After a good coating of chalkboard paint, drying time and pulling off the tape I painted a bold RED border around it. I cut out a quick template that I simply placed and traced over and over again around the outside. Then I went back and higlighted some of the curves with some black paint and a small brush.

I also spiced up the wall pockets with a RED color wash on the outside......

Added a touch of RED and pattern to the face of the bulletin board frame. I cut some strips of scrapbook paper and glued it down. Nothing fancy.

And that's IT! Our information is all centralized and fun too! No more blah, but more of an "aHHhhh!" nice.

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Teacher gifts.......

There are a smattering of great ideas out there in blogging land! Don't you love how the internet and the "world wide web" has completely changed the crafting scene? It's wonderful to be able to share so many creative ideas with people all over the world!

I came across this idea and knew that is was the one I wanted to craft up this year for our end of the year teacher gifts. No need to re-invent the wheel when a great idea is staring you in the face! :) 

We made Chalkboard plates this year! They show you all the "steps" in their tutorial! It couldn't be easier! My little guy them wrote on them for each of this preschool teachers. This one says "Thank you Miss Des - AJ" in case you couldn't figure it out. ;) I thought it would mean more to them to have him write on it then me. 

Then of course they got packaged up in these oh so stylish fabric gift boxes from Hullaballo done up in Sandi Hendersons fabric! 

This is was very easy and quick to whip up yet packs a big punch! and it stylish and useful for the teacher! gotta love that and I am sure they do too!! If you craft some up, let me know! Make it great day! xo- Meg

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Summer Creativity

I'm seeing lots of color and fun creative ideas as summertime finally hits. I'd love to pass along a few ideas and tutorials I have come across if you don't mind. ;)

Fabric pompoms. Aren't these so sweet and the perfect addition to the right room! Visit MollyChicken to view her tutorial and other sweet photos of her daugthers room.













SewMamaSew the blog has Featured Creativity today. There Flickr pool is FULL of inspirational ideas in all forms! aprons, children's clothing, quilts, accessories, etc all bursting with summer flava'!

thanks to the girls over there for featuring my ginger blossom apron as well! smooches!




Do you have a stash of buttons around? Craft up a necklace or bracelet with Zephyrama How to!













And let's wrap it up with YouCanMakeThis.com. Have your checked out their FREE section lately? There may just be a fun free pattern or informative tutorial right up your alley !

Have fun creating today!!!! Let me know if the crafting bug bites ya! ;)

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