Burlap Love Banner

It took me a while to jump on the “banner bandwagon”. I kept seeing banners all over Blogland. Parties, holidays, whatever-days.

I just didn’t get it.

Which, by the way, isn’t that unusual for me. I’m not much of a trend-follower.

And completely forget about me being a trendsetter of any sort.

If you’re being kind, you’d call my style “classic”. If you’re honest, you’d say “boring”.

Which I’m totally okay with. More than ok. I’m comfortable. I wear neutrals and black and very, very rarely any patterns. My home is pretty much the same.

Then there’s the whole Valentine’s Day, Sweetie Pie, Honey Bunch thing.

Ugh.

When you’re a widow, you dread most holidays. But Valentine’s Day in particular.

Not that Hubs was much a romantic. I think he gave me flowers once in 21 years. But still . . . we had our own thing. Our own way.

We knew.

Things that hold memories of our time together our especially precious to me now. I have them gathered on top of a dresser, with photos of him and stuff the grandson makes me.

It’s my love altar.

I also have a bulletin board on the dresser where I pin different things, like Grandson’s paintings or special sayings.

Just stuff. Special stuff.

One day it hit me . . . the bulletin board needs a banner. A love banner for my love altar.

It’s the perfect finishing touch and it makes me smile every time I look at it.

Whether you make this banner for Valentine’s Day or you just want to add some love to any day, it’ll make you smile.

And smiles aren’t trendy. They’re classic.

note: I didn’t take a photo of my love altar simply because my bedroom is extremely dark with poor lighting and I didn’t feel like moving all of my memorabilia out into my workroom.

How To Make a Burlap Love Banner

Materials

• burlap (I used scraps so I have no idea how much is needed.)
• pretty scrapbook paper
• cereal box cardboard
• Mod Podge
• silver paint
• brown paint
• jute twine

Once you decide how many pennants you need, apply Mod Podge to the burlap to stiffen it. I slipped some wax paper underneath first to prevent sticking. Let it dry thoroughly.

Cut the ‘podged burlap to your desired shape, allowing enough to fold over to create a backside.

Cut the scrapbook paper into squares to form a “frame” for your letters and Mod Podge it to the burlap.

While that is drying, cut out your letters from the cereal box. Or, in my case, my Sweet ‘n Low box.

I drew mine by hand but you could print out your favorite font and trace them onto the cardboard if you want to get fancy.

Paint the letters silver. Or any color you want, of course.

To tone down the metallic a bit, apply a medium to dark shade of brown over the silver paint . . .

Then wipe off with a towel or rag.

Glue the letters onto the scrapbook squares. I used Mod Podge but you could use white glue or even a glue gun.

The brown paint ‘stains’ the silver just enough to work back to the brown in the burlap.

Cut a piece of twine long enough for each of your pennants and also to allow some swag. Fold the burlap pennants over the twine.

Hang it somewhere and smile.

Colleen

about Colleen

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