DIY LOVE BANNER
This fun-for-all-ages paper craft looks like chenille collegiate letters and makes a great Valentine’s Day gift or holiday decoration for your space!
Supplies:
1. Letter downloads (below)
2. Printer or Cricut
3. For print: 4 pieces of 8.5” x 11” gold glitter cardstock
For Cricut: same or 2 pieces of 12” x 12” gold glitter cardstock
4. For print: 4 pieces of 8.5” x 11” red cardstock
For Cricut: same or 2 pieces of 12” x 12” red cardstock
5. For print: 4 pieces of 8.5” x 11” pink cardstock
For Cricut: same or 2 pieces of 12” x 12” pink cardstock
6. For print: 4 pieces of 8.5” x 11” white paper, if desired
7. Glue gun with glue sticks
8. Scissors
9. Pink tissue paper
10. Liquid glue with a plate to pour it on
11. Paint brush or something thinner than a pencil, if desired
12. Ribbon
13. Mini clothes pins, if desired
Supplies
My pro tip is to always have extra supplies in case of mistakes! Everything listed should be easy to find at most craft stores.
Printer Files
Download these 12 files if you are using a printer. Each file is named according to the color of cardstock it should be printed on. The letters are backwards so that you can print on the back and the lines won’t show on your finished project.
Cricut Files
Download these 12 files if you are using a Cricut. Each file is named according to color. The letters are backwards and meant to be cut out of the backside, which makes it easier to cut glitter cardstock. On your Cricut canvas, gold letters should be 6” tall, red should be 5.36” tall, and pink should be 5.05” tall. Cut 2-3 letters out of each piece of 12” x 12” cardstock or 1 letter out of 8.5” x 11”.
Directions:
1. Decide if you’ll use a printer or a Cricut and download the 12 appropriate files.
2. For print: Files are named according to color. Letters are backwards so that lines won’t show on the topside of your project, so make sure you print on the backside of cardstock. Print each of the 4 letters on the back of gold glitter, red, and pink cardstock. If glitter and printer are not compatible, you can print on regular, white printer paper and glue to the back of gold glitter cardstock before cutting.
For Cricut: Files are named according to color. Letters are backwards to make it easier to cut out of the back of gold glitter cardstock, so arrange your paper on cutting mat topside down. 12” x 12” cardstock is recommended but not necessary if you prefer to use 8/5” x 11”. Upload all files into Cricut Design space. Arrange all 4 gold letters on one canvas, making them each 6” tall. Cut using 2 pieces of 12” x 12” cardstock or 4 pieces of 8.5” x 11” cardstock. Arrange all red letters on second canvas, making them each 5.36” tall. Repeat cutting instructions. Arrange all pink letters on third canvas, making them each 5.05” tall. Repeat cutting instructions. If desired to cut topside up, just flip letters L and E horizontally on canvas (recommended if your mat is very sticky).
4. Hot glue pink letters centered and on top of the red. Repeat with the red on top of the gold.
5. With scissors, cut tissue paper into small squares, no bigger than 1 inch.
6. Pour liquid glue onto plate.
7. Wrap a tissue square around the end of paintbrush and dip it into glue. Glue tissue onto pink cardstock, try not to cover red cardstock. If not using a brush, scrunch the tissue paper into a loose ball and dip in the glue. Repeat until all pink paper is covered by tissue on all 4 letters.
8. Cut ribbon in desired length. This may depend on where you want to hang your banner.
9. Find the center of the ribbon. Arrange the word LOVE so that the center of the ribbon is between the O and the V. Space the letters out evenly.
10. Hot glue or use mini clothes pins to attach the letters to ribbon. Clothes pins are recommended so that it is easy to adjust letter placement once banner is hung in desired spot.
11. Hang your banner anywhere! Good places to consider are on a door or mantle, or over an entry table, bed, window, mirror, or bookshelf. You could also give it to someone you love for Valentine’s Day! Enjoy!