I was hoping that once summer vacation came I'd have more time to play and create. Nope. I feel like I'm still just as busy, but doing 'summer' things instead. What's a busy mom to do when she has the hankering to create but she's gotta supervise the kids in the pool??? Slather on some sunscreen and grab a cute tote bag filled with a few simple supplies. We are going to multitask.
I love banners. I see them everywhere on design blogs. They are so fun and versatile! That's what we are going to sit by the pool and make today. A kraft paper banner decorated with spunky polka dots and colorful buttons.
Everybody have on their sunscreen and have a refreshing drink close by? Great! Let's begin.
You will need a flat surface to work on. I used a clipboard. I had a scrap of kraft paper left from wrapping my store orders, but you can use a grocery bag or even a brown lunch bag. Buttons in your favorite colors. A white pen. Some sort of string or thin ribbon. A diamond template, which you can make inside before heading out to the pool. Scissors. And adhesive. I used mini glue dots for the buttons and a Dotto for the paper pennants. That's it!
You can throw those few things into a tote bag, right?
Are the kids behaving so far? Awesome.
Use your template to draw diamonds on your kraft paper. (I forgot to mention that you may need a few paper weights depending on the breeze.) You can make your template any size you want. Mine is about 1 1/2" wide across the fold and about four inches from point to point, unfolded.
Cut out your little diamonds.
Go fetch the swim noodle that blew out of the pool. I'll wait.
Okay, fold your diamonds in half to make the little pennants and make simple dots along the two side edges with the white pen.
Cover the inside of the pennant with adhesive and then fold it over the string so the folded crease lays along the string. Leave about 10 - 12 inches at the end so you can tie your banner up.
Attach all your little pennants and trim the string at the other end, leaving 10 - 12 inches for hanging.
Now the ball got thrown out of the pool? Might as well go get it. And take a sip of your drink, too. :-)
Grab your buttons.
And start attaching them here and there to your pennants.
That's it. You're done! See ~ moms are great at multitasking!!! This project took me about an hour from start to finish, including multiple swim noodle and ball retrievals.
After we came inside so I could start supper, I took a moment to hang my pretty, new banner from the shelf above my art table.
I love it.
I hope you get the chance to make this poolside project! :-) Enjoy!!!!
Very sweet craft....I love it! Thanks for sharing.
Clorissa
Posted by: Clorissa | July 10, 2010 at 10:01 PM
love it patty...now i just have to get motivated to do something other than veg out when we are at the pool :)
Posted by: Nicole | July 12, 2010 at 07:56 AM
LOVE this. And yay for it being a quick craft- I'm always looking for those :)
Posted by: Ashley | July 14, 2010 at 04:12 PM
Love it!! =)
Posted by: Adriel | August 02, 2010 at 09:10 PM
This is so awesome and could be done in so many different ways! I want to start one right now!
Posted by: Joiedetea | August 03, 2010 at 07:15 AM
What a great tutorial! This looks like a fun project. I've seen so many little pennants, but now I see just how easy it is to make them!
Posted by: Jaimee | March 22, 2011 at 08:15 AM
I love this very much. I was just thinking 2 days ago about the HUGE(seriously huge) jar of buttons I have and I wish I could find a craft to use them up with.
Thanks for sharing!
I think I might get on this tonight:)
Posted by: Donna | September 15, 2011 at 08:02 PM
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw your grass wreath featured by LionBrandYarn - that's lovely as well!
www.etsy.com/shop/knitknackNstuff
~J
Posted by: Jessica C. | April 04, 2012 at 05:36 PM