Recycling items to make something new is one of my favorite things to do. Dubbed “Upcycling”, I love bringing new life to old pieces of furniture, clothing, and even holiday decorations.
Fall Banner
This fun, “FALL” banner was something I’d made for the fireplace at our old house. I surrounded it with a grapevine pumpkin, old wooden Nick Knacks, and other rustic Autumn decor. When we first moved into our new house, I really missed the cozy feel our old living room had. The crisp white lines just didn’t have the same hearthy feel. It wasn’t until I hung my Fall banner that I began to fall in love with this new space. Bringing in more Classic Country decor, and sticking to a traditional orange, black, and white theme really helped to pull the look together in our new space. This year, I couldn’t wait for September 1st to arrive so I could roll deck out my mantle with a little fall charm!
Happy Fall!
Can Do How To
To make the Banner:
Supply List
- 10″ x 16″ piece of burlap (I used leftover scraps from a piece of burlap table runner).
- 5″ Stencils for the letters F, A, & L
- Black craft paint
- Sponge brush
- Scissors
- Jute string
- Card stock in various shades of orange, yellow, and brown
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Ruler
- Hole Punch
Directions
Cut 4 burlap pieces 5″ x 8″, and stencil 5″ tall letters F, A, L, L with black craft paint (leaving more space at the top than the bottom for the flap).
Measure the length of your fireplace mantle, add 4 inches (this will give a nice swag drop to the banner), and cut one long piece of Jute string that length. Also measure and cut 4 – 12″ pieces of Jute, and 3 – 24″ pieces of Jute for the strings that hang down.
Cut out 16 leaves of various shapes in different shades of orange, gold, and brown. I used this template I found online. You can print the template onto your colored paper and then cut them out with scissors, or use a Cricut or Silhouette machine. Use a hole punch to punch 2 holes in each leaf (this helps keep the leaves from spinning around on the string).
Attaching Them
Lay out the long piece of Jute string onto your work surface and tape each end down to help hold it in place while you work. Place the burlap pieces face down on your work surface (be sure they are in reverse order so they will be in the correct order when you flip them back over), and slide the top end under the string (about 1″ down), spacing them out evenly. Thread 7 leaves onto the string and space them with two on each end, and one between each burlap piece. Run a small bead of hot glue along the top of each piece of burlap, and fold the top down about 1″ gluing it down below the string to create a mini “rod pocket” over the string.
Hot glue the tip of the 12″ and 24″ string pieces to the back of each leaf, alternating lengths, starting with a 12″ piece on each end (you should end up with a 24″ piece in the middle).
Dangling Leaves
Thread a second leaf onto each of the 12″ pieces of string, and two additional leaves onto each 24″ piece of string and space them out evenly. Secure the bottom leaf to the end of each string with a drop of hot glue on the back.
Once the glue is dry, flip your banner over to the front side and it’s ready to hang! I’ve found clear gift tape works best for me. The banner is light enough to stay in place.
Always test a small, inconspicuous spot first to ensure the tape doesn’t damage your wood or paint.