Flashback: Colorful Bunting Card for Any Occasion

Craft & Design Paper Crafts
Flashback: Colorful Bunting Card for Any Occasion

Image (1) CZ_WebBanner_A_Flashback.gif for post 17682

CRAFT_bunting_card_tutorial_final_01

By Haley Pierson-Cox

Send out a cheerful greeting for any occasion with this colorful bunting card with string writing!

It’s always nice to have a handmade card or two tucked away, ready to pull out for special events or handwritten hellos. So, inspired by the beautiful summer bunting that’s been popping up just about everywhere lately, I designed this fun little card that can be used for just about any joyful occasion. Make one today, and send out some serious DIY smiles!

Materials

Cardstock, one 4½” x 3″ white rectangle and one 7″ x 5″ blue rectangle
Small notecard or scrap piece of cardstock, at least 1″ x 1″
Envelope, 3 ⅝” x 5 ⅛”
Pearl cotton embroidery floss, 60″ of green size 8
Fabric Scraps, at least 3 colors
White glue
Warm water, 2 TBS
Small mixing bowl
E-6000 craft adhesive
Fray Check
Wax paper, at least 4½” x 3″
Scotch tape
Scissors, fabric and paper
Ruler
Permanent marker, fine tip
Pen or pencil
Straight pin
2-3 Toothpicks

Directions

bunting_card_tutorial_step_01.jpg

Step 1: First, we’re going to make the string letters.

To begin, tape the wax paper to your workspace (just the corners will do), then use your ruler and a permanent marker to draw a 4½” x 3″ rectangle in the center.

bunting_card_tutorial_step_02a.jpg

bunting_card_tutorial_step_02b.jpg

bunting_card_tutorial_step_02c.jpg

Step 2: A mixture of white glue and water is used to create the string letters and make sure that they hold their shape.

To prepare the glue, combine 2 TBS of white glue with 4 TBS of warm water in the mixing bowl, then stir them together with a toothpick until thoroughly incorporated. When the glue mixture is ready, carefully submerge the embroidery floss in the liquid, taking care not to twist or knot the string.

bunting_card_tutorial_step_03a.jpg

bunting_card_tutorial_step_03b.jpg

Step 3: Using the rectangle on the wax paper as a guide, use your fingers and a toothpick to arrange the glue-covered string to form the letters for “happy happy” as shown. If needed, you can write the letters out first on a piece of scrap paper, the place it under the wax paper as a template. The two words and bunting are all connected, so only one piece of string is used for the writing.

When you’re done making the letters, set the piece of wax paper aside and allow the glue to dry and harden completely.

Tips for writing with string:

• Make sure you stay within the lines—the rectangle you drew on the wax paper is the same size as the white rectangle that you will attach the letters to when you make the card.

• Work as quickly as you can so that the string doesn’t start to dry while you’re arranging it.

• If the string gets stiff or too sticky while you’re working with it, apply a little bit of water with the tip of your finger as needed.

• Use a straight pin or toothpick to make small adjustments to the shape and placement of the letters once they’re on the wax paper.

bunting_card_tutorial_step_04a.jpg

bunting_card_tutorial_step_04b.jpg

bunting_card_tutorial_step_04c.jpg

Step 4: While the letters dry, it’s time to get started on the bunting.

Fold a notecard or scrap piece of cardstock in half, then cut out a triangle shaped template as shown above. My triangle was ⅜” wide and ½” long.

Using your scrap fabric, cut out at least 16 fabric triangles using the template as a guide. To keep them from fraying, apply Fray Check around the edges of each.

bunting_card_tutorial_step_05a.jpg

bunting_card_tutorial_step_05b.jpg

Step 5: Now, it’s time to attach the string writing to the white rectangle.

Use a straight pin to carefully remove the hardened string letters from the wax paper. Place the letters on the white rectangle, then use a toothpick to apply a thin layer of E-6000 (or your favorite fabric-to-paper adhesive) to the back of each letter before pressing it firmly into place. Continue gluing until both words are securely attached to the paper.

bunting_card_tutorial_step_06.jpg

Step 6: Use the top of a toothpick to gently rub away any excess glue from around the letters.

bunting_card_tutorial_step_07.jpg

Step 7: Use white glue to attach the fabric triangles to the string between the two words. You can use a toothpick to make any necessary adjustments once the triangles have been placed.

bunting_card_tutorial_step_08a.jpg

bunting_card_tutorial_step_08b.jpg

Step 8: Fold the blue rectangle in half width-wise, then use white glue to attach the white rectangle to the blue rectangle as shown.

Once all adhesives have dried completely, you can put your finished card in a 3 ⅝” x 5 ⅛” envelope and send it on its way!

bunting_card_tutorial_final_02.jpg

Done! Now let’s get down to the most important part: Who’s getting your first bunting card?

About the Author:

Haley.jpg

Haley Pierson-Cox is a Brooklyn-based craft writer who loves granny glasses and loathes extraneous apostrophes. She blogs about crafts, cats, domestic bliss, and DIY goodness at The Zen of Making.

What will the next generation of Make: look like? We’re inviting you to shape the future by investing in Make:. By becoming an investor, you help decide what’s next. The future of Make: is in your hands. Learn More.

Tagged

Haley Pierson-Cox from Red-Handled Scissors is a maker of crafts, a lover of cats, an avid swearing enthusiast, a cross-stitch book author, and a general purveyor of quirk. She's also sometimes an irritable cartoon named Tiny Cranky Haley. https://www.redhandledscissors.com

View more articles by Haley Pierson-Cox
Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!

ADVERTISEMENT

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 16th iteration!

Prices Increase in....

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
FEEDBACK