#26...name banner for baby

The above image, which I found on Domino Magazine's former website, was the inspiration behind the orange spray painted airplane canvas that I previously posted, and the name banner in today's post. I crafted a similar name banner for baby Andrew's new room, and hung it spanning the window to serve as a valence of sorts.Here's how I made it:

I purchased two 12"x12" scrapbook paper stacks from Joann Fabric & Crafts, entitled "All About Boys". Joanns has a lot of paper stack options on-line, and some of the same stacks in the store. I did not end up using all of the paper I bought, I can probably make another name banner with the leftovers, however having two stacks gave me more sheets of each individual paper pattern and allowed me the ability to use the same pattern in different spots in the banner.

I decided which papers I wanted to use for the backgrounds, trying to vary light and dark papers and spread out the colors throughout the banner. I cut each of the backgrounds into an 8 1/2" x 11" rectangle.

Next, I used Microsoft Word to print various fonts for the letters. Once I found fonts that I liked, I made the font size between 600 and 650 depending on the letter. I wanted the letters to be close to the same size, and not all fonts are the same size, so I had to play around with this part a bit. I printed the letters one per page in 10% grey scale (as not to waste black ink)

After printing the letters I cut them all out, creating templates.

Next I chose which papers I wanted to use for the letters, trying to insure that each letter contrasted each background and really stood out, so that they could be read from a distance. I traced each letter onto the back of chosen papers, tracing each letter backwards, so that when cut out the pencil lines would not show on the face of the paper, yet the letter would be facing the correct direction on the paper front . Using a small foam brush, I painted a thin coat of matte Modge Podge on each letter and placed them onto the background papers. Once dry, I applied a Modge Podge coat to the entire surface. Once dry, I placed the letters between sheets of wax paper and flattened them under a stack of books overnight. After flattening, I worried that the letters would curl over time, so I decided to make the letters a little bit stiffer by adhering a 140lb. card stock paper to the back of each letter. I tried a spray adhesive, but the letters started peeling off the backing, so I again used Modge Podge to glue the papers together and once dry, re-flattened for a few days.
Finally time to hang! I purchased some mini silver binder clips from Office Max, and some picture hanging wire and eyehooks from the hardware store. I screwed the eyehook into the top of the window frame, attached the wire and strung the wire across to the eyehook on the opposite side. I did not tighten down the right side of the wire until hanging all of the letters by their clips, in case the wire needed to be let out or tighten to raise or lower the banner. Once it was set in position I wrapped the right side of the wire around the right eyehook and Voila!
This project took me about 5 hours to make, and cost about $50 for papers, hanging materials, and Modge Podge. It really adds a lot to the plain window in Andrew's room, and was fun & simple, albeit tedious, to make!