Valentine Love Banner: 14 Days of Crafting Love

For some unknown crazy reason,
I have the urge to go all out for Valentine's Day this year.
If you have been hanging out with me for any period of time,
you may remember that I have a disdain for holidays...
and I barely got anything up this Christmas....
but apparently the Love Bug has bitten me...
or my little girlie loves hearts and flowers.

This past weekend I participated in a a vintage market and made spoon pendants, wreaths...and these LOVE banners. This is my favorite method for making banner, so I thought I would share it with you.

I also have some left for sale if anyone is interested....

Drop me a line at holly504main(at) yahoo(dotcom).

They are $20 plus shipping.

But if you want to make one, here is a tutorial!

SUPPLIES -
This can be a "sew" or a "no sew" project!

• Fabric for the banner. I use drop cloth. You really need less than 1/4 of a yard (see diagram right below.
• Fabric for the letters: I buy Fat Quarters and use about 1/4 of that
• Thermoweb 17-Inch by 5-Yard Heat'n Bond Ultra Hold Iron-On Adhesive  - I only use a small portion of this and at some craft stores you can buy smaller amounts or use a coupon! I use this because it bonds so well to the fabric and then in turn I encounter no fraying on the edges of my letters. NOTE: You could use Mod Podge or glue for a different effect.
• Ribbon, your choice, 2.5-3 yards
• Buttons, trim, spools - depending on how you want to accent your banner. For this I used small craft spools tied with lace seam binding or small strips of fabric from my stash that compliment my letters.
• Letters - I use chipboard letters from the craft store.
• Sewing machine (or hot glue gun or fabric adhesive). I prefer to sew my triangles...but you can use hot glue or fabric adhesive or buy pre-made triangles from Canvas Corp.
• Scissors 
• Iron and ironing board/surface
• Optional: tea or dye.

MAKE IT

• Optional: Prepare a pot of hot water on the stove. Once it boils, brew about 5 black tea bags. Let cool. 
• Cut 8 triangles, 9" wide and 10" long. I like to cut them double so each set matches exactly. See above diagram from measurements.
• Sew the two sides using a straight stitch or a zigzag stitch.
• Submerge the triangle in the tea to "dye" them. The tea gives a vintage-y look and it is even better (in my opinion) when the dye looks a little mottled. Let sit for at least 10 minutes (longer for more color). You can also use fabric dye in a color of choice.
• Rinse the triangles and dry them. I dry them in my dryer so that the edges fray and look old.

 

•  Follow the package directions and adhere the Heat N Bond to the back side of the fabric.

• Trace the letters on the back of the fabric (essentially you are tracing them on the Heat N' Bond backing). Be SURE to flip the letters (mirror image) when tracing on the back, so that when you cut them the letter are going the right way. Cut the letters out.

• When the triangles are dry, press them, carefully peel the back off of the Heat N Bond, and then position each letter on the triangle. Once happy with the placement, press into place with an iron.
• Sew the triangles onto a ribbon. Leave about 24" on each side of the first and last letter for hanging.  
• For the spools, thread 5 spools onto the ribbon; pull one up to the starting point; position the triangle and sew; then pull the next one up; position the next triangle and sew; repeat until I am finished. NOTE: you can sew or glue this step.

• Tie a knot on the end of each side right next to the spool to keep the spool from falling off.
• Tie short pieces of ribbon or seam binding or fabric strips around each spool. You can also hang ribbon here too. 

•  Finish off the banner with buttons sewn or glues into place.

   

Now let's celebrate Valentines day!

I am joining in 14 Days of Crafting Love with JoJo and Eloise 

and these other amazing bloggers!

Kristin from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Lisa and Sarah from A Spoonful of Sugar Designs
Kelly from Live Life Rowe
Carol from The Polkadot Closet
Lucy from Craftberry Bush   
Malia from Yesterday on Tuesday  
Jessica from Mom4Real 
Holly from 504 Main
Jenn from Rook No. 17

If you head over to JoJo and Eloise, you can enter to win this sweet apron

Have you decorated???

 This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre