Last night was my first night working with a really great group of women in Atlanta. For years, the group has been enjoyed monthly get-togethers during the school year. They alternate between crafty get-togethers (card making, pottery painting, scrapbooking) and cultural events. All-in-all these ladies know how to have fun.
I am sharing the project we made last night. Brace yourself because it’s not a card. Instead, it’s an all-purpose banner. It took several tries for me to find the right balance with these materials (and learned a few tricks along the way), but I’m happy with the outcome. Here’s the banner we made (the banner is posing against the Fungeon wall – not a hugely celebratory backdrop unless you think of all the fun that happens down there):
Tips, Tricks and Reminders
- Sticky Templates. I used Stampin’ Spritzers to spray the backgrounds on these banners – the Build a Banner Simply Created Kit comes with a handful of background stencils. My first attempt at spraying the backgrounds failed miserably because I didn’t have my stencil secured enough to the banner piece – lots of ink bleeding ensued. This weekend, Justin suggested a temporary stencil adhesive spray which was sprayed on the backs of the stencils so that they will stick to the banners time after time. Woo hoo! After they were sprayed with adhesive and dried a bit, they were stored a piece of wax paper. Easy as pie.
- Filling Stampin’ Spritzers. The kit also comes with a Stampin’ Spritzer. The spritzer is filled about 6/7 full of 70% rubbing alcohol, and I then dropped in 10 drops of each color. I labeled each tube with my label maker so that no one could mix up the containers during our workshop. I sponge daubered the letters onto the banners so that they would be as dark and legible as possible.
- Mostly Regal Colors. While I could have added more drops of color to each spritzer to get a darker, deeper color, I like that the resulting color is a bit light. The ending combination of colors and the “celebrate” sentiment is perfect for almost any celebration – light enough for a baby shower, soft enough for a girl’s birthday, bold enough for a boy’s birthday, fun enough for a New Year’s party. The colors I used are: Summer Starfruit, Bermuda Bay, Gumball Green, Elegant Eggplant, Island Indigo and Tangerine Tango.
Inks: Summer Starfruit, Bermuda Bay, Gumball Green, Elegant Eggplant, Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango Accessories: Build a Banner Simply Created Kit, Stampin’ Spritzers, 70% Rubbing Alcohol
Here’s the trick with these banners – you have to let go of the “everything has to be perfect” approach you take to almost everything – I’ve seen how perfectly organized your kitchen drawers are. There will be some bleeding from the stencil, and there will be some imperfect sponge daubering. I didn’t realize until I was done that the letter placement on my banners were far from perfect. But that’s OK – it’s part of what makes this banner so special and cool.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Brian
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What a sweet little Banner! You’re right the tone of the colors make it so versatile! Justin your tip on the tack spray was helpful! Great job guys!
Nice work Brian!! What a fun banner for a multitude of occasions!!! 🙂 The colors you used look great together!!!
Great little banner, can be used for many occasions, I like the tip Justin gave you about the temporary adhesive spray, that can will last you a life time!! Thank you for sharing.
Yeah! it turned out great! I love it, a touch of whimsy and your colors are perfect! I had so much fun in the Fungeon!! Can’t wait to do it again! 🙂
Cute banner… It is “one size fits all” in use . You could probably rent it out to people to make a few bucks now and then (giggle) Like your colors !
I’ve been waiting to see someone give tips for making the banner. Now I think I have the courage to open my package. I like the celebrate. Very versatile.
Thank you Brian (and Justin!) for the great tips on using the stencils! MY first attempt was an epic “Oye, that looks awful!” lol Love your colors and the simplicity of it so it can be used again and again for any occasion!
O.K. Brian – you fooled me. I looked and looked and looked and the letter placement looks perfect to me! I bet getting together with that group was a blast. Sounds like a group I’d like to meet with for sure. I love the colors in this banner. They make me smile.
Cute little banner indeed. I think the slight uneven placement of the letters makes it more interesting. Good tip from Justin too. I will let my upline know because we have been struggling with those.
Yep, after letting go of the “my banner must be perfect” mentality, they really come out cute! Love your “Celebrate” banner!
The weekend was definitely a “friends stamping with friends from long distance” kind of weekend…Jen Lane and I bridged the 325 mile gap and rocked the SU Witches Brew washi tape & Gorgeous Grunge! Glad you, Justin and the Atlanta ladies had such fun!
Ha Ha! I did a celebrate banner too. Great minds think alike! Mine was all in cherry cobbler and I hate to admit this, but I think I like yours in the multi-color maybe a teensy bit better than my all red one. Albeit mine was specifically designed for fall, Christmas, Chinese New Years, Valentines and all the patriotic days (Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans’ Day). Very nice – all it needs are some embellishments…..or not 🙂
Thanks for the tips! They are really appreciated.
Great project Brian. I love the colors that you used which make it perfect for all occasions.
thanks for the post of your project and for a much-needed chuckle. I wondered who had been rustling around in my kitchen drawers!
Well, I tee-totally love that banner. That Justin–he is full of wonderful ideas. Nice work, guys!
Brian – you are absolutely amazing ! As one of the girls from that night, I loved meeting you, seeing your great work, and sharing in your humor !! Looking forward to more fun time with you and strolling through your blog – how exciting. Ps say hi to your cat for me. Heeeeheeee
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