Mini Banner DIY: A Handmade Baby Space

The nesting continues! Here's an easy and satisfying project for adding some graphic detail to any space in your house. I made my first felt banner two Christmases ago based loosely on a vintage banner I'd thrifted. It was long and narrow with some Christmas carol lyrics on it and took ages to hand cut. This is thirty minute version of that project. Ha!

1. Supplies: Two pieces of soft felt (thicker is better), a small dowel rod, yarn, sharp scissors, elmer's glue or a hot glue gun, hand saw, saucer or lid. 2. Using a lid I traced the shape of a semi-circle right up against one edge of my felt piece so that I'd have a straight line on the side. Then I folded it in half to mirror a straight line on the opposite edge and cut out my banner. I measured the size I wanted and then added about 2.5" to the top for folding over my dowel rod. 3. I cut two shapes the same height that felt like they were about the right width for each of my two letters. I obviously needed to keep it short and sweet using such a small size. 4. I hand cut my letters in a lower case font. I folded my felt over the dowel rod and glued it in place. Then I carefully centered my 'hi' on the front and glued those down.

5. It's tricky to see but the felt is folded over the back of the dowel rod and glued down. I also added some twine but changed my mind about the black and white and switched back to cream. 6. Next I made two small tassels with the same cream yarn by making about four loops around three fingers, leaving the ends at the bottom. Then I tied a longer piece of yarn through the middle and knotted it. 7. Next I took another 4" piece of yarn and tied it about 1/2" below where I tied the knot at the top. After smoothing all of my yarn down I trimmed the bottoms to make a tassel. 8. I carefully attached them to the sides of my banner by tying knots over the dowel rod that I cut to fit.

I'll add this to the same corner I'm going to hang the God's Eye and a few other fun things I've received from friends. At times it's been frustrating to not have a nursery to decorate for this sweet baby but then I remember how much I'd want this baby close to me in our own space those early months anyways. When it's time for it to move into the kids' shared room it'll be a tight squeeze but I've seen creative moms do it before and I'm hopeful we can enjoy the benefits that can come from having to share.

Someday they'll all get their own space and I'll be wishing I didn't have so many rooms to clean, right?

-Rachel

P.S. if you love the idea of a graphic banner but don't get excited about making your own, my friend Ruthie has some larger felt banners in her Etsy shop and may even do custom orders! She made one for us to welcome Brett home and her attention to detail is really lovely.