WHAT IS A BANNER?
A banner is a piece of cloth suspended between two poles and often bearing a design, symbol or slogan. Banners can celebrate the seasons, holidays or bear slogans. The designs in this series of Art Tutorials celebrate summer, spring, winter and fall.
(For the first tutorial, the Fall Banner, scroll down.)
MATERIALS
Here are some basic supplies that you will need on hand for all the banner designs:
Yardstick iron/ironing board (optional) string
Ball point pen or marker scissors tacky glue
Dowel rods Fun Foam pencil/eraser
Poster board felt or fabric squares paper towels
*Unless indicated otherwise, all felt squares should measure 9” x 12” and all sheets of Fun Foam measure 12’ x 18”.
STUFF TO KNOW
How to copy a pattern: Trace a pattern or object by placing tracing paper on its surface and tracing the design with a pencil. Turn the tracing paper over and blacken the reverse side. Then flip the tracing paper original side up again. Lay the tracing paper on the surface you want the design to transfer on to and trace the outline of the design.
Cutting a Square:
Technique #1: Measure with a ruler the desired size of the square. Draw the outline of the square.
Technique #2: Hold the paper flat and bring the top right corner down to the left edge. Then fold the paper so the edges line up on the left side. Cut off the extra strip of paper and unfold the square.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holz, Loretta. Mobiles You Can Make. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Company, 1965
Zubrowski, Bernie. Mobiles: Building and Experimenting with Balancing Toys. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1993.
Constantinides, Marion. Banners! (Unpublished)
FALL BANNER
Ages: 5 – 12 years
Time: ½ hour – 1 hour
MATERIALS:
Yellow felt 36” x 36”
Burgundy felt square
Beige or Brown felt square
Orange felt square
Green felt square
1. Measure and trim yellow felt to 14” x 20”. Holding the felt vertically, fold a 1” seam. Iron. Fold a second 1” seam. Iron again. Glue down with tacky glue. Let dry. This is where you will insert the dowel rod.
2. Using the patterns provided, cut one dark red, one green, and one orange leaf from the two large patterns. Do the same for the two small leaf patterns. Arrange on the yellow felt background in a random pattern (as if the leaves are falling from a tree.)
3. Trace and cut two acorns from the beige Fun Foam. Arrange on the banner. Using a black marker or pain, draw a cross hatch pattern at the top of the acorns. Draw vines down the centers of the leaves, too.
4. Glue the pieces with tacky glue.
5. Cut the dowel rod to about 16” – 18”. Insert through the top loop. Cut the string to a length suitable for hanging. Tie a knot at each end of the dowel rod. Your fall banner is ready to hang in your room!
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