Hi Crafty Friends!! When your child's birthday falls near 4th of July, a firework-themed first birthday party is the only logical choice! And of course, you're going to need a cute banner! This stars and stripes banner is simple to put together, full of sparkle, and sure to make a statement in your party or home decor setup. I've also included a version that says "USA" in the file if you'd like to make this for a 4th of July party! Let's get started...
Materials:
- Cardstock Warehouse cardstock papers:
- Cut File: 4th of July Banner (Cricut Design Space Project)
- Cricut Cutting Machine
- Scoring Wheel or Stylus
- Bearly Art Glue
- Foam tape or Foamies
- Acetate
- Glitter/Shaker Filler
- Embossing Machine & Folders (optional)
To start, open the Cricut Design Space file linked above, choose your banner version, and cut all of your pieces. I will be making the "ONE" version for a first birthday client, but I have included the "USA" version in the file as well. For mine, I also duplicated the white banner pennant backgrounds and added a printed blue star pattern to them, but you can just use the white ones if you want.
Once cut, I separated my pieces into piles by element (pennant pieces, letter pieces, accessory pieces) and placed them off to the side. I always like to start with the pieces that take a bit more time to assemble, so we are going to start with the letters.
I started assembling my letters and layers for the word “ONE”. To do this, I assembled the E first, as it has stripes and stars to glue on to represent the American flag. To make this step easier, the file has the stripes scored onto the E so you know exactly where to glue them. Once the E was completed, I used foam tape to add dimension between the completed letter and the two offsets, in this case the white E and the holographic E.
I also used my Sizzix embossing machine and two different folders to add some texture and flair to the O and N. Once they had been embossed, I placed foam tape between each layer for an elevated look.
I then moved on to the other elements which will be glued onto the fronts of the banner later on. Simply layer the pieces on top of each other with liquid glue. Once these are complete, you’ll have a popsicle, drum, balloon set, firecracker, and fireworks. I glued the fireworks directly onto one of the scallops.
Next, assemble the banner bases. Glue the print-then-cut pieces directly onto the white cardstock pieces to add sturdiness if you created a printed layer. Add skinny strips of foam tape to the edges. Seal small gaps between tape pieces with a bit of glue so no glitter escapes. Add glitter, peel the release paper, and adhere acetate. Glue the widest blue border onto the acetate, and if desired, glue the holographic layer on top. I added another strip of skinny foam tape between my holographic and blue layers to make it pop. Repeat until all three shakers are done.
Glue the elements onto the front of the shaker banner pennants, using foamies of different depths for a layered look.
Flip the banners over and add little hangers to string the banner. Fold along the scored lines on each hanger piece, apply glue to the middle section, and attach in the same spot on each pennant.
Now your beautiful banner is ready to be strung and hung for a fun celebration!
I hope this project inspired you to Make Something Beautiful®! I can't wait to see your projects.
Follow me at @lacedesignsstudio_ for more party and paper decor ideas, and share your creations with Cardstock Warehouse on Facebook and Instagram! Tag your projects with #cardstockwarehouse to be featured on our page!
Happy Crafting!
Amanda (@lacedesignsstudio_)