Recently I made a “Believe” book page banner for Christmas and shared it here on the blog. I didn’t share a tutorial to make the banner and today, thought that I’d take the time to write up a tutorial for the banner. This month I was in the mood for a “Crafternoon” and invited a bunch of friends over to make the banners.
Book Page Craft Idea; Create a Holiday Banner:
To create this banner, I used a Cricut machine. If you don’t have one, it’s okay. You will need to go to the craft store and buy a Sticker Alphabet and find a heart to trace. In the place of the silhouettes, you could use vintage images, or more hearts, etc.
This banner was created for Valentine’s Day but the beauty of this project is that you can do this for any holiday or occasion. I’ve created a CELEBRATE one for Mother’s Day, a Believe one for Christmas and a Happy Birthday one as well.
You will also need to “destroy” a book. I know I know, don’t freak out. I love books and the first time I tore a page out of one, I felt more than a little guilty.
Supplies for the Book Page Banner:
Old Book you can cut up -Just find a book you can dismantle. Look in your closet, thrift store, Half Price Books, etc. I found an old dictionary at a thrift store and that is what I have been using.
Cricut Machine or Sticker Alphabet
Cricut Light-Grip Cutting Mat
Solid Cardstock in any color
UHU Glue Stick
Wire Ornament Hooks
Glitter & Glitter Glue
Distress Ink & Sponge
If you don’t have a Cricut machine you’ll also need a “shape” to trace, like a star, heart or tag. This is the shape of the pieces of the banner.
Construction Steps:
Step One: Decide on your Banner Shape & Phrase
Decide which shape you’d like to have as the base of your banner. For the Be Mine banner, I chose a heart. Go into Cricut Design Space and type in heart.
Size it to the size you want then save the file. You also need to know how many pieces you want in your banner, so you know how many hearts to cut.
Next, decide which phrase you’d like on your banner. Create the file in Design Space as well.
Step Two: Prep the Paper & Cut
I found out the hard way that a Cricut does not cut the thin book page paper well. It STUCK to the mat. When cutting paper with a Cricut I always recommend using the Light-Grip mat. Even with the light grip mat, I’d recommend cutting the book page paper adhered to the cardstock first.
Take a piece of cardstock and using your UHU glue stick, adhere book pages to the cardstock until it’s totally covered. To do this, cover the back of the book page with UHU glue stick, then attach to your cardstock. You want to “think” about where the hearts will be cut so that you don’t get a heart cut with a seam of paper down the middle.
We cut four 6×6 book pages to cover the 12×12 cardstock sheet. After you glue it, roll a brayer (or a rolling pin) over it to make sure your glue is evenly distributed. Set aside and let dry (we had a bit of trouble because we didn’t let the glue dry all the way).
After the glue has dried, run the paper through your Cricut and cut out your hearts. Use the “cardstock” setting on your machine.
Step Three: Distress
If you’d like your book page banner to have a more aged look, then using a sponge and ink, lightly distress the edges of the hearts.
To add a bit of glitter to the edge of the pieces, take glitter glue and spread a little bead around all the edges. Then dip the edges in glitter. I used Martha Stewart glitter.
This step will also help you if your hearts tore at all during the cutting process. You can cover up any tears with glitter.
Step Four: Add the Letters
Using your Cricut machine, cut out the letters you’d like on your banner. Again, make sure that you size the letters correctly. I chose to also cut out two child silhouettes as well to add to my banner. The silhouette images are from the “Child’s Year” design file in Cricut Design Space.
Step Five: Finishing and Hanging
Do you know those ornament hangers that DRIVE YOU CRAZY at Christmas????? Well, break ’em out, because they are perfect for this!
Punch a small hole in the center of each heart.
Get a piece of tinsel (as you hang on your Christmas tree, mine came from IKEA)…
Use the ornament hooks to attach the hearts to the tinsel (or ricrac would be super cute if you can’t find any tinsel).
You’re done!
To Make the Celebrate Banner:
Everything is done the same way with one exception. Instead of adding extra hearts to the sides of my banner, I added a paper rosette. If you’d like to learn how to make a paper rosette, check out THIS post.
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I bought your valentine pouch pattern. I love the way it looks. I just hope mine turns out to look like yours. Of course when I told my 7 yr old boy waht XOXO meant he said, “Mom, PLEASE don’t put that on mine.”
i love the banner!! and i love your love pouch pattern on your etsy site. so creative!!
for another pattern i’d like to see… i’d have to say i would love to see a little girls purse/bag of some sort. my daughter loves carrying a little bag and i really want to make her one!
oh and i subscribe to your blog via google reader 🙂 love it! thanks
Boy stuff would be great to see! I love all the girly skirts & bags, but as the mom of 2 boys I don’t have much use for them.
I love the June Bag. It is on my “when I get around to it” list.
I’d like to see the image of a shamrock on one of the Soldered Pendants.
I subscribe to the blog already 🙂
Hmmm, I love the custom photo pendants and would adore the banner if I shoudld be lucky enough to win it. I really must get a cricut!
I have already bought 3 soldered pendants, two V-day ones and one custom photo. One for me and two for gifts. I love them.
I love the Love Pouch! I actually bought your pattern for it, and finished 6 of them last night! My kids love them!
I’m also a follower!
I think vintage holiday images would be super cute on the pendants. (I’m thinking about Easter bunnies right now since I’m ready for spring!)
I’d love to win the banner! I like the soldered pendants. Like many people, though, I can’t wear metal against my skin because of allergic reaction. So I would like to see pendants with sterling silver chains.
I would like to see a pattern for a diaper bag. Everybody I know seems to be having babies right now…
I tweeted about your giveaway!
I love the XO pillow in your shop! It is my fav!
I am a follower!
Melissa- SO cute.
I totally forgot to put your shirts on my post on 30days. I’ll have to add both of these. Thanks so much for sharing. 😉 Love all you do!
xoxo Mique
You know I’m not going to make this myself……..
And I love you’re Sunday bag on your etsy shop. Love it!
Love your Valentine pillow – so cute.
I follow you on google reader:)
I would love to see an Easter banner although I bet you are already planning one.
My favorite item in your shop right now is the T pendant with the bluebird on the reverse. Although I really think I’d like to make one of the Valentine pouches too; that pattern is cute!
I love your banners! The glitter is so cute. I’ll be linking.
Thank you for the giveaway! I love the The Sunday Bag, Handbag purse in you etsy shop!
I would love to see some “Summer” bags,in you shop to take to the beach or swimming pool.
On your pendents I would like to see a picture with a cupcake on it!
I’m a follower of your blog!
My favorite item from your Etsy shop is the fabric scrapbook kit. And I loved the tutorial on the blog!
I would love to see a pattern for a table runner. 🙂
My suggestion for the Soldered Pendant would be a whisk (like you use in the kitchen), and it could even say, “whisk me away!!” 🙂
I am now a follower of your blog!!
I just tweeted too!!!
http://twitter.com/ashlanclements
I’m not sure if you can see because my tweets are protected, but I promise that I did!
I sure hope I win. 🙂
Hi there!
I love your banner!! And would totally have the perfect spot for that, right on my fireplace mantel!
I really like your Kiss Me pillow cover as well!
[email protected]
I love your cross my heart pillow. So cute! I would love to win the banner.
I subscribe to your blog.
Very cute! I’d love to include this in a post I have planned for my blog http://www.thematernallens.blogspot.com/ if that’s ok with you!
that banner is awesome! i love your Soldered Glass Initial Charm with the T and bluebird.
I love your banner. I am already a follower.
Love the banner! I am a follower!
I love your soldered charms in the shop.
I really like the soldered initial S charm….so cute!
~Stacey
[email protected]
Love this – it is so cute! I subscribe to your blog on Bloglines.
In your shop I love the June bag pattern best – love how it can be worn cross body.
An idea for a soldered charm would be a pressed dried flower, or a curly lock of baby’s hair (for a mother).
I would like to see you offer more banners like this Valentine’s one because it is so cute and I’d LOVE to have some to hang on my fireplace mantle and switch them around!
~Stacey
[email protected]
I have your blog under my favorites because I love to see your different creations (and my daughter is interested in sewing & tutorials). I really enjoy visiting it a few times a week to see what it “new”…..thanks for sharing!
My favorite thing in your Etsy shop is the Sunday bag pattern. Once I have a few bucks scraped up, I’m definitely getting it … I think it would make an awesome library tote.
I’d love to see your paintings in your shop. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of your artwork there … maybe you have it somewhere else??
For the soldered pendants, I think it would be great if we could get them customized with portraits of our kids! Sort of like a locket without the cover.
I am now an official follower of your blog. I could’ve sworn that I was already, I visit almost everyday, but I guess I never officially hit the follow button.
haha… you want me to pick just one! Im gonna have to narrow it down. I love the Sunday bag and the June bag. I’d love to see a book bag/backpack for my daughters to carry their stuff to school. Im a follower (daily) and my blog is pokeymacandjack.blogspot.com Have a blast in Paris!
I’m a follower now yeah!
The Sunday bag SOunds great for all my stuff
I would love to see some more pillow covers! I just love changing up my pillows.
I would love to see some temples or norman rockwell images on some pendants.
i’m following you! 🙂 happy v-day
Fabric Scrapbooking Kit, Tula Pink Fabric Kit No. 1
I have boys but love the pink in this kit 🙂
love the cross my heart pillow in your etsy shop–and all the pendants.
And, now I’ve subscribed to your blog!
The photo and initial pendants are great! [email protected]
I follow you! [email protected]
I’m always looking for new big shoulder bag patterns. [email protected]
I’d like to see a crown pendant for my princesses. [email protected]
The Valentine pillows are my faves-probably because I have a daughter that was born on Valentine’s Day.
For a pattern that I would like to see-how about a scripture tote for church:)
For a soldered pendant I would love to see a fleur de lis-my fave:)
I follow your blog via google reader:)
I really like the “Kiss Me” pillow cover!
oh. my. goodness. I ADORE this banner! I LOVE silhouettes, and this is just gorgeous! What an awesome giveaway!
Your Etsy shop is great…I really like the Sunday bag pattern!
For images to use on the beautiful soldered pendants, the black silhouettes would be super! Also vintage cookbook/apron art!
I’m already a subscriber to your blog…what fun! I’m still working on mine, but pop on over for a visit sometime!
That valentine banner is so darn cute! Very creative!
My favorite item in your shop is the custom soldered initial & photo squares. So cute!
Claudia
[email protected]
I’ve added a post to my blog about your giveaway, which will also post to Facebook! Again, what a fabu giveaway…thank you!
I like all of the stuff you make, so whatever you put up in your shop would surely be a hit.
But if I had to say…cute bags are always great patterns to have. And all the pillows you make are so cute, so cute pillows…
Claudia
[email protected]
A silhouette image would be adorable for the soldered tiles…can you get them that small??
Claudia
[email protected]
I’ve subscribed in my Google Reader and become a follower. I’m glad I found your blog!
Claudia
[email protected]
I love everything in the etsy shop but my fav is the Sunday Bag!!!
I love the Kiss Me Pillow! So cute!
I’d love to see more pillow covers in the shop. I love the style you have with the print, so different versions would be great!
As for the soldered pendants, maybe a fleur de lis or bee?
On your Etsy shop, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the June Bag!!! So cute!!
I would love to see a maxi dress pattern! I’ve been searching for a cute one!
A cross or vintage flowers (possibly dried flowers?) would be a cute idea for the pendants!
I’ve subscribed as a follower to your blog!! Thanks! Love your ideas!
Fabric kit for the Sunday Bag – but I love your banners!!!! I wanted the halloween one you had too.
So I made a comment and linked your blog on my blog! 🙂 Thanks!
oooh yay, i found your blog just in time for this giveaway 🙂 i subscribed to your blog!
Wow-wee!!! Your fabric scrapbook kit is so cool! How original!!!
Smiles,
~nance
I love the love box, so cute. I love a lot that you do!! you are so creative. Thank you for sharing it all with us!!
would love to win–still haven’t even made my own banner. love to see what you are doing–it’s one of the few I check almost daily 🙂
I love the fabric scrapbook kit! I’ve never even heard of such a thing, but the pictures look AWESOME.
augustgirl01 (at) hotmail (dot) com
I love silhouettes – is it possible to stick a silhouette in the soldered pendants? I have no idea if it would look ok that small, but I think that would be really neat.
augustgirl01 (at) hotmail (dot) com
oh, and I’m subscribed to your blog now through my iGoogle page. yay!
augustgirl01 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Those Valentine pillows are adorable! You are very talented!
Hi, your site is adorable!
Thank you for the giveaway!
Xoxo and Love,
Lila
I am a new subscriber to your blog, thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for the chance to win! I’m now following your blog.