Do you know the cooking show Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee? I think sometimes crafting should be like that. I’m happy to cut out garlands for hours, but ask me to cut out felt letters and I might sigh loudly. This banner is really easy to make by purchasing pre-cut letters – and they come in all sorts of amazing colors. Using felt is great because there is no need to hem the edges, and gluing the letters on (instead of sewing) saves time too.

Materials needed: felt letters, felt, scissors, ruler, yarn, glue, thread, 3/8″ wooden dowel (22-inches length), pencil

Step 1: Lay the felt down and measure out a 19″ x 22″ rectangle.
Step 2: Fold down 1/2″ from the top to make an opening for the dowel. Sew across (by hand or machine).
Step 3: Lay the felt flat, and fold in half from top to bottom. On the outside edge, measure up 5″ from the bottom and mark it with a pencil. Use a ruler to draw from the bottom center to the mark you just made. Cut along the pencil line.
Step 4: Lay out the letters and make sure your placement is correct. Glue letters down. (I used an extra ‘E’ to create the dash and exclamation point).
Step 5: Make three 3-inch tassels.
Step 6: Cut or punch a small hole in the bottom point of the banner.
Step 7: String one tassel through the hole.
Step 8: Insert the wooden dowel.
Step 9: Attach yarn for hanging, then tie remaining two tassels to each side.

Bonus: This banner can be rolled up and put away, then pulled out for the next birthday, and the next…and the next.

Photography by Tim Gibson