Felt banner DIY tutorial
If you ask my 4 year old what you need for the perfect birthday party, the answer is undoubtedly a birthday banner.
This is why her favorite item to sign up to supply for a birthday party for kids in need with Box of Balloons is DIY Décor.
We have made several felt garland/banner decorations for different holiday’s at our home and recently made our first birthday inspired garland/banner. Now that we have our first birthday banner under our belt, we are excited to start making some of these for birthday parties for some kiddos in need too!
I will show you how we made an adorable “Guess HOO’s 1” birthday banner for my sweet little niece.
While this tutorial shows you how to create an Owl themed birthday banner, the same principles can be applied to make any type of felt banner – so get creative and get crafting!
Step 1 – Gather Supplies
Supplies we used:
Several pieces of felt in the birthday colors
Fiber fill
Embroidery floss in the birthday colors
A large needle
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun and glue sticks or Fabric Glue
Yarn
Crochet hook
Paper/Pencil
Marker
Step 2 – Develop a pattern for the shapes on the banner
I knew that my niece was going to have an owl themed party and I found some adorable felt owl stickers at a fabric store that became my inspiration. I used the stickers to free hand a larger version on a piece of paper to use as a pattern for the owl. I wanted to break up the owls on the banner so I decided to do a plain heart in between each owl. For this pattern I just printed off a heart from the computer. (For other simple shaped banners I have done – four leaf clover, hearts, bunnies – I just printed off simple shapes found by searching online or Microsoft word). For the owl I had to cut a few different patterns to make all of the shapes (eyes, wings).
Step 3 – Trace pattern
Using a marker I traced the patterns onto the various coordinating colors of felt. When you trace the large objects make sure to trace 2 for each object you want to make because you will need a front and a back, as you will sew these two pieces together. Trace all of the pieces that you will need (For the owl you need: 2 large body pieces, 1 outer eye ring, 2 white parts of eyes, 2 black parts of eyes, 2 wings and 1 beak. For the heart you need: 2 large heart pieces).
Step 4 – Cut out shapes
Cut out the shapes that you traced. Make sure to cut out two large objects for each one you want on the banner because you will need a front and a back for each object. Your cutting doesn’t have to be perfect. I think it adds character and gives your owl personality if they aren’t perfect!
Step 5 – Glue eyes
For the owl eyes are three pieces. First glue down the outer eye ring. Next the 2 white parts of the eyes. Finally the 2 black parts of the eyes.
Step 6 – Glue wings
Each owl has two wings. Glue each wing down to the large owl body.
Step 7 – Glue beak
Again, the beaks don’t have to be perfect. I didn’t use a pattern for these, I just cut little triangles, so all of my beaks are a little different.
Completed Owl Pieces
Step 8 – Thread needle
Cut a long piece of embroidery thread. Take your large needle and thread it with the color of embroidery floss you plan to use. Tie a knot at the end of the thread.
Step 9 – Sew pieces together
Using large stitches sew your large objects together (owl body and hearts in my case). Make sure to stop and leave an opening so you will have room to stuff your object.
Step 10 – Stuff objects
This is my daughter’s favorite part to help with and of course her little hands seem to be great at it! She likes to take the stuffing and stuff each object to give it a little life. Of course this step is optional, but it just makes the objects puffier.
Step 11 – Sew together
Sew up the opening that was left to stuff your object.
Step 12 – String objects together
I used yarn to string my objects together for a few reasons. 1 – I already had some on hand, 2 – it’s cheap!, and 3 – you can easily leave a lot of extra to make sure you have enough to tie it up with. You could use ribbon or something else if you would prefer. I used a crochet needle and stuck between the front and back of the object, thru the stuffing. I then hooked the yarn on the hook and pulled it thru the object. I alternated owl then heart then owl, but you can customize yours however you would like.
Step 13 – PARTY!
Hang your banner and celebrate!! ☺
Step 14 – My adorable niece
I mean really, isn’t she adorable! We even used the banner for my niece’s First Birthday photo shoot. And now it hangs in her bedroom, since the party colors coordinated with her bedroom colors. See just look how many ways you can use a felt banner!!
My daughter and I are honored to be volunteers with Box of Balloons. We plan to create some banners for some very special and deserving kids this year. You can get involved and help celebrate kids in need by visiting www.boxofballoons.org
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