DIY Network

Kid's Birthday Party Make your favorite child's birthday extra special with these fun party ideas. From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-606

Steve Piacenza and Cathie Filian have some crafty ideas that will make any child’s birthday party an event to remember. They design a festive homemade banner that really spells success, make some noise with out-of-this-world party hats and get the scoop on an ice cream birthday cake that’s just too cool.

Fabric "Happy Birthday" Banner

Get the party started right with a cool, customized banner that's perfect to announce the special occasion.

Fabric "Happy Birthday" Banner

Materials:

fabric scraps
5/8" wide ribbon
felt in assorted colors
Stiffy fabric stiffener
plastic wrap
scissors
cardstock (optional)
pencil
marker
scallop shears or other decorative edged scissors
letter stencils
Fabri-Tac glue
glitter paint
dimensional paint
embellishments: rhinestones, buttons, pipe cleaners, pompons, etc.
tacky or jewel glue
pipe cleaners

Figure A

1. Cut 14 12"x7" rectangles of fabric and 14 6"x7" rectangles. Use 14 rectangles to spell out the words "H-A-P-P-Y-*-B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y, including a star spacer, or use the appropriate number of rectangles for your message; larger rectangles will be the pennants and smaller rectangles will be used to cut out letter shapes. A mix-and-match group of fabrics will provide interest and variety. Lay the fabric pieces out on sheets of plastic wrap and brush with fabric stiffener (figure A). Let dry for approximately 6 hours (drying time will depend on the amount of fabric stiffener used).

2. Trim the 14 large rectangles into triangles (pennant flag shapes). To ensure the pennants are uniform in size, make a triangle template from a piece of cardstock (figure B). Use letter stencils or enlarged computer font letters as templates to cut out letters that spell "Happy Birthday" from 13 of the smaller rectangles (figure C). Cut a heart, star or other design from the remaining smaller rectangle to act as a spacer in between the words "happy" and "birthday."

Figure B

Figure C

3. Cut a backing piece out of felt for each letter and spacer shape, using the stencils as a guide. The backing pieces should be slightly larger than the letters themselves. Mark the reversed letter shape on the back of the felt and use scallop shears or other decorative-edged scissors to cut out the felt letter (figure D).

4. Using fabric glue, glue each piece of felt to a pennant. Next, glue each stiffened fabric letter on top of the corresponding piece of felt (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

5. Add embellishments to each pennant using glitter glue, dimensional paint, buttons, rhinestones, pompons and other trinkets (figure F). Use jewel glue or tacky glue to attach buttons and rhinestones.

6. Lay the finished pennants out, spacing the letters to span a predetermined space (these letters are spaced approximately 1" apart). Cut a piece of ribbon long enough to stretch across the pennant letters, leaving enough extra ribbon on each end for hanging. Use fabric glue to glue the top of each pennant to the back of the ribbon (figure G).

Figure F

Figure G

7. Add extra embellishments with pipe cleaners tied between each pennant.

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