Garlands, Banners and Bunting, Oh My!

Besides making many crocheted hats, I've been busy with some holiday garlands, as well as name banners. They are quickly turning into a popular item in my facebook shop. I love making these because each one turns out so different depending on the colors used.

Two years ago I came across a kit at my local quilt shop with materials to make a heart garland for Valentine's Day. I loved how easy and quick it was to make! Shortly after, I came up with my own template to make a shamrock one for St. Patrick's Day. These are the two I made then.

 

This year, I've been so busy with making hats, I asked my sister-in-law if she wanted to tackle making some garlands and banners. She made the garlands for the few orders we had for V-day and St. Paddy's. Then I came up with some new templates and she made this one for Easter. We put a surprise white Easter bunny in the middle of the eggs!

 

My sister-in-law also helped me with some name banners. As I said before, I love how they all turn out so different because of the colors.



One of my mother's friends ordered this name banner and a birthday bunting.We used glittery fabric for these two.

 

And don't forget about the birthday banner I made earlier this year! I made a matching one in blue for boys to use.

 

I just got an order for another name banner for a little boy's nursery. Gray, orange and turquoise...I can't wait to see how it turns out!!



Bunting and Garland

To continue with DIY party decorations, I made a few wall decorations. I was inspired by the month-by-month bunting from The Scrap Shoppe, but I wanted to customize it for the Very Hungry Caterpillar theme. My sister-in-law suggested I do circles for the caterpillars body (why didn't I think of that?)

It was a super simple project. I started with circles cut from green scrapbook paper and cut the pictures a little smaller, then used foam tape to adhere them so the pictures would pop off a little. I wanted to add a little more so I included the head of the caterpillar, added some shiny gold stickers for each month and made some glittery, gold clothespins for some sparkle. I think my guests will enjoy seeing how Little Bub changed over the past year!

I also wanted to make a happy birthday bunting that I could use every year if I wanted to. First I made a triangle template from cardboard and traced it onto the wrong side of the fabric. Then I used pinking shears to cut on the lines, so I could leave the edges unsewn. I used some of the leftover fabric from his shirt and hat (I just love that number fabric - it's so perfect for a birthday!). I used store-bought double fold bias tape and sewed it with metallic gold thread to tie in with the gold clothespins.
I didn't sew down the edges on this yet:
1. the letters are so small they intimidate me
2. I just did this the last weekend before his party and haven't had the time!