Banner Letdown.

Back in September I was bitten by the banner bug.  I couldn't help it.  I came across some unorthodox fall fabrics and couldn't fight the urge to turn them into a "thankful" banner to hang across our mantle.

I started by cutting out some letters that I printed out on computer paper.  I had the entire alphabet printed out and filed away from when I made a banner for my sister-in-law's baby shower.

Then I taped the letters down to some brown felt that was also left over from my prior banner.  {Taping the edges down allows for much easier cutting.}

 


I cut out enough letters to spell out "be thankful", but I scrapped the "be" and just went with "thankful" due to the length of all the letters together.  {Ignore the cup rings on the tray...I will be re-finishing it soon.}

With the letters completed, I turned my efforts to the pennant part of the banner.  I used another stencil I previously printed out.  I taped that down too and then cut out all of my flags.

After all of that...it was time to glue.  I pulled out my Tacky Glue and used a couple drops on each letter to glue the felt to the fabric.

Then I searched in my supplies for some left over brown ribbon to hold everything together.  I cut the ribbon to size and glued the flags to the ribbon.

Once everything was dry, I hung it in place...

...and was immediately disappointed.  Hubby really liked it, but I wasn't sold.  I kept it up for a week or two hoping it'd grow on me, but I just wasn't a fan.  Fortunately I did like the hounds tooth fabric as a runner on our console table.

Here it is looking all spiffy with some new owl friends.

And here is what our mantle has been looking like for most of the fall...sans banner. :-/

Even though the banner was a fail, I'm still happy I tried it out...especially since it allowed me to take part in the Dare to DIY (Be Thankful) Link Party that is being hosted by the amazing Michelle, Kim, Chelsea and Rachel!

Maybe I'll have more success with a Christmas banner.  And at least this party got my butt moving to show off our fall mantle before I switch it out for all things mistletoe come this weekend! ;)