Fabric Scraps Birthday Garland
I'm so excited to show you the birthday garland we made last week. It was for the big double birthday — Olive on the 25th and Ralph on the 26th. I saw the idea at Liz's blog and immediately fell in love.
Favorite parts:
1) It was such a great kid project. They could pick out fabric. They could trace shapes (not perfect? didn't matter). They could cut out shapes (again, mess-ups don't show). They could sort shapes. They could decide on the order/fabric of the shapes to be sewn. Basically, with some direction, they could do everything but run the sewing machine.
And we made two small changes to the original pattern: we replaced the clover shape with circles, which were easier to trace and cut out and we added a length of ribbon to each end so that we could tie it to something easily — and to make the beginning and end feel more finished.
2) We didn't spend a dime. We went through my fabric remnants and scraps from past projects and looked for a palette that would be gender neutral and look good for end-of-summer/early fall. We didn't even use the thread the original post recommended. We just used what was already in the sewing machine — blue on top, green in the bobbin. Done and done.
3) It looks so cute! I think I'll leave it up through September. A couple of the prints even feel back-to-school-ish. Love it. Directions here.
Labels: make something
posted by Gabrielle of Design Mom at Wednesday, September 03, 2008
20 Comments:
Love it! Maybe we'll do something like it for Enrichment.
I'm a little worried about the durability with just the two threads connecting them. I'd probably use bias binding in a complementary color (or colors--I know I've got remnants from several packages hanging around in my bins, so I still wouldn't have to buy anything new) and sew it along the top.
Also, I'd probably do all straight-edged shapes so I could cut the fabric with my rotary cutter. The thought of cutting out all those shapes with scissors makes my hand hurt just thinking about it.
Cute. Belated birthday greetings to Olive and Ralph.
A few weeks back I made a "pink" themed garland off the Purlbee site too. My little girl loved it. I used it for her "royal" birthday party. Very fun.
For me the hardest part was cutting out all the fabric pieces but after that it was a breeze.
The idea to use bias binding is great. I think that would look good too.
this totally reminds me of laundry hanging above the streets in some narrow European streetscapes, I always thought it looked really festive and pretty.
Thanks! We are doing this right now for my son's party this weekend. My daughter is going nuts looking through all my old scraps! My son is loving drawing, and I get to do all the cutting!
Fantastic activity to share!
I really like your inclusion of the kids in your projects. These sort of things are what I love to learn about.
Thanks so much!
Yours is great! I made one last week (same color scheme) for my nephew's first birthday. My sister-in-law loved it and now she is going to use it as a part of a bed skirt for his new bed. Next time I am going to use a few different shapes as well.
That is such a darling idea! Thanks for sharing.
super cute!!!
ahhh ok best idea ever. I have never seen that before but it is perfect!! I am going to do it for my youngest daughter's 1st birthday next month
..and it looks like it didn't take too long which means i might actually give it a shot!
What a great idea - and yours turned out awesome! Gosh, where do you find the time?!
As always, love your blog! It keeps my creative side from totally disappearing into the realm of those trying toddlerhood days!
so cool, i saw that post on liz's too. i just made a banner for my daugher's room and i am going to use the scraps to make another. i love the idea!
I love this! Especially since it looks so quick to do. Thanks for sharing.
I love every kind of banner/garland and have made quite a few. This one has to be one of my favorites. I really admire how you involved all of your children and made everyone feel successful. I love how relaxed you were about cutting imperfections, thread, etc.... because the end result is stunning and the process seems so loving and memorable. You are a wonderful role model to so many new mothers. I just love making my daily Design Mom visits. Thanks for the inspiration,
Maya
I love this! I love that it's something that you can leave up and enjoy for longer than just b-day. I also love that's it re-usable.
We had a "Project Runway" party for my pre-teen last July, and this craft would have been really fun to jazz up.
I'll be making these for my girls' room:) Thanks for sharing!
These look adorable. I was just about to make one and I will now add the rectangles and circles...thanks!
Gabriela, the flag idea was such a great idea at little Farran's 6th birthday party - got all the 4 girls involved in making them, and they looked so great, that we used some of them as a permanant decor idea in her bedroom!! Love your work - super uber cool mum!
Charmione
very cute...i have been making banners out of scrapbook paper lately. I will post on my blog soon. BTW,,,I have 6 kids!!
I linked you on my blog faithofallcrafts.blogspot.com. I love this idea & made my own.
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