DIY Burlap Pennant Banner for St. Patrick's Day

Give those Irish Eyes something to smile about during St. Patrick's Day!  Create this fun burlap pennant banner.  Our  no-sew Burlap Pennant Banner that is both rustic and contemporary is easy to make and will really set off your St. Patty's day decorations!

The burlap pennant banner and a metallic lame wreath (from a previous post) are the perfect accent for a St. Patrick's day buffet table!

Supplies

• 9" Natural Burlap Ribbon
• 1.5" Deco Flex Mesh Ribbon: Metallic Lime Green
• Shamrock Medallion Bead Necklace
• Hot Glue Gun
• Scissors
• Ruler and/or a Paper Template

Optional Accessories

• 1.5" Lime and White Houndstooth Ribbon
• Deco Flex Tubing Ribbon: Metallic Gold
• 21" Poly Mesh Roll: Metallic Emerald Green

COST/TIME

The cost of the basic garland is $20.  There will be product left over, (More than half the roll of burlap and of the Deco Flex Ribbon).  This 9 foot garland took under 45 minutes to make.  The cost does not include optional accessories shown on the banners below.

Step 1- Measure and Trim

Measure the burlap.  If you would like a 6 foot banner with 6 pennants, you will need 6 feet and 6 inches, (78 inches total, or 2 yards and 6 inches) of burlap ribbon.  If you would like a 9 foot banner with 9 pennants, you will need 9 feet and 6 inches, (114 inches total, or 3 yards and 6 inches).

Step 2- Make a Template

Your pennants don't have to be exact, but if you want them all about the same size, a template will make cutting them out easier.  Simply fold a regular sheet of 8.5"x11" paper in half horizontally.  Make a mark 3 inches down from the seam, and then cut towards the corner of the seam.  (You end up with an isosceles triangle with a fold down the center, and both sides of your paper are equal.)

Step 3- Cut out Pennants
Lay the template down on the burlap, 6 inches in from the outside edge.  Cut toward the selvage, but do not cut all the way through to the edge!  Leave about 1-1.5" of burlap across the top, this acts a band so that there is no need to sew pennants together.  See the below photograph.

Step 4- Trim the Band
Cut from the edge of the burlap towards the pennant, leaving about 1" of burlap as a band.

Trim in between the pennants, making sure to always leave a band.

Step 5- Cut in 6 Inch Increments 

Continue to cut out pennants.  They should all be about 6 inches across, and be 6 inches apart from each other.

The finished burlap pennants- Now time to add accents!

Step 6- Add ribbon underneath the Burlap band

Begin to unroll the Deco Flex Mesh Ribbon, and place it underneath the burlap band.  This provides added strength to the banner and a nice splash of color!

Step 7- Glue on a top band

Add a spot of glue about the size of a dime ever 3 inches.  Be careful the glue is hot.  Be sure to have wax paper or scrap paper between the banner and your work surface, as the glue will want to press through the layers.

Step 8- Trim the Ribbon

Trim the Ribbon from the roll at the edge of the Burlap band.

Step 9- Cut Ribbon Squares

Cut squares of ribbon that are 1.5-2 inches long, you will need 1-2 squares for every pennant you cut out of the burlap.

Step 10- Glue on Ribbon Squares

Use a dab of hot glue the size of a dime and apply 2 squares of ribbon so that they criss-cross.  Then apply the shamrock bead medallion with a little more glue.

Step 11- Glue on shamrock beads
We liked leaving some slack in the bead strand so that it will hang off of the burlap band, but you could pull the beads taught before gluing.

Finished!
After gluing on the Shamrock medallions, you have a rustic burlap pennant banner with two-tones of green.  You can stop here, or continue to tie on other ribbons to match the rest of your St. Patrick's Day Decorations.

 

  

This pennant banner is accented with pieces of metallic green ribbon (scrap pieces left over from other projects) and gold deco flex tubing made into tassels. Keep reading below to see how to create these.

Simple Tassel Tutorial:

• Cut four lengths of ribbon the long enough to double over- about 8 inches.  
• Fold them in half as shown
• Using a shorter length of ribbon,  tie them together. Make a knot, and wrap the ribbon around the tassel a few times, tying again.  
• Trim the tails of the tassel to keep them relatively even.  
• Run a third length of ribbon through the top, and voila, ready to hang!

The Burlap Banner tied with extra ribbons adds color and shine to your decorations.

Our 9 foot pennant garland will go over a doorway, across a door, or decorate a tablescape for your St. Patty's Day party. Welcome your guests with a bit of the Luck of the Irish with a Pennant Banner across a doorway!

Erin Go Bragh!

Look for our upcoming post, Free Printable Chevron Pattern. We used it to decorate our Burlap Pennant Banner in a whole new way!

Celebrate Mardi Gras Today with a Free Printable Pennant Banner

Happy Mardi Gras! Today around the world, people are celebrating- one last day of revelry before lent begins. This printable Mardi Gras pennant banners is an inexpensive way to decorate for your celebration.  With this free printable, you can make as many as you want!

DOWNLOAD PENNANT BANNER

STEP 1: Download and Print

Click above to download the free printable Mardi Gras Pennant Banner. You will need a PDF reader to open this file.(Click HERE for a free PDF reader from Adobe) 

Print out all 4 pages of the banners, using your desktop home printer or bring the file to a copy or print center. You can print them using regular copy paper or card-stock paper.

STEP 2: Cut-out Pennants

Once you have printed out all four pages, use scissors or an X-acto knife and ruler to cut out each individual flag.

STEP 3: Fold

With each flag cut out from the pages, start folding the top section. Fold it back behind the front of the flag across the top at the white line, as shown above. Use the sides of the pennant as a guide for straight edges.

STEP 4: 

Place the fold around a long piece of string, and then tape or glue the flap down to secure. Continue attaching all of the flags. We used two different strings, but use one long string if you need to. You could also use ribbon or Mardi Gras Beads to create a pennant banner that is more like a garland.

Our finished banner took under 10 minutes to cut out and string together.

The finished banner-garland across a doorway.

We love the pennant banner on a garland or staircase!  A step-by-step tutorial on how to make this Deco Mesh garland is available HERE.

We hope you have a happy Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras Table Decorations-3 Simple Napkin Ring Ideas

Let the good times roll at your next seated dinner with a festive Mardi Gras carnival theme. Creating a Mardi Gras tablescape is easy. Start with the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold. Add in inexpensive Mardi Gras beads and masks. Here are a few ideas for easy Mardi Gras inspired napkin rings and table decorations for fun Mardi Gras ambiance. 

Comedy and Tragedy Mask Napkin Ring

Over sized metallic comedy and tragedy mask confetti and feathers transforms into simple Mardi Gras napkin rings.

Supplies:

Comedy/Tragedy Mask confetti
Purple Mylar sheets
Craft feathers

Fold the napkin in half. Roll the napkin into a cylinder. You can roll the cutlery up in the napkin as well. This works very well for a buffet style dinner so guests have less to carry.

The purple mylar comes in large (tissue paper sized) sheets. Cut the purple mylar sheet into small strips and wrap around the napkin. Use glue or tape to secure. Add three craft feathers in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.

Lastly glue on each piece of comedy and a tragedy mask confetti. Your fun Mardi Gras mask napkin ring is complete.

Metallic Wire Crown Napkin Ring

Metallic gold craft wire transforms into dainty crown napkin rings.

Click HERE to see our tutorial blog on creating these tiny whimsical wire crowns out of aluminum craft wire. 

Simple green paper plates and green paper napkins rolled up look refined with the regal crown napkin ring.

Mardi Gras Beads Napkin Ring

The simplest way to add Mardi Gras bling to your table and create an easy napkin ring is to use Mardi Gras beads. Shown here with our custom Mardi Gras bead charger. Click here for the charger tutorial.

Paper purple napkins are rolled and wrapped in metallic purple, green and gold Mardi Gras beads for a simple, but festive place setting. The gold mask not only looks nice on the plate, but also is a great party favor.

DECORATING THE TABLE

Repeat the same details (Mardi Gras beads, confetti and mask) along the center of the table.

DIRECTIONS for the Table Decorations

• Cover the table with purple, green or gold table cloth. Here we used a purple faux dupioni tablecloth. 
• Lay a contrasting color runner down the center.
• Place something tall along the center. Pictured are a few Standing Glitter Grass Bundles  for height and drama.
• Scatter the extra large comedy and tragedy confetti, Mardi Gras Beads and feather masks around the table. The beads and masks are great party favors for guests to wear and take home.

Supply list for table decorations (Click on the product name to see the product supply source)

Standing Glitter Grass Bundle: 27"

3" Comedy and Tragedy Confetti

Gold Satin Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis Table Runner

Purple Faux Dupioni Tablecloth

Purple, Green and Gold Mardi Gras Beads

Mardi Gras Feather Masks

DIY: Beaded Mardi Gras Charger Plate

Every perfect Mardi Gras Tablescape comes down to its finishing touches.  Make yours personal by recycling last years Mardi Gras Beads and creating charger plates for tableware!  Create a charger with patterns, initials, or designs with beads from your favorite krewe, for your favorite crew!  Your friends and family will notice these place settings at your next gathering.

Typical chargers are 10"-14" in diameter.  Our finished charger is 14" in diameter which will accommodate most sizes of table ware.

SUPPLIES

To purchase  products from www.mardigrasoutlet.com, click on the individual product link below

• Mardi Gras Beads, 10MM Beads 60" Metallic Purple, Green, & Gold
• Foam Core or Card Board
• Glue Gun
• Scissors or Utility Knife
• Spray Paint or Poly Urethane*

The charger plate can be created in any color combination, and its a great opportunity to upcycle your last years Mardi Gras Beads. If you aren't re-using beads, there are many different color and size options available, (click HERE).

Cost/Time

The cost of making a single charger is under $5 including the cost of hot glue sticks and new beads.  If you are upcycling your old Mardi Gras Beads, that brings the total cost even lower.  We used about 5 four inch glue sticks and 10 strands of beads.  One charger took under 1 hour to make, and a set of 4 would take about 3 hours.

Step 1- Create a Base

Cut three round disks of cardboard or foam core.  The smallest should be approximately 8" across, the 2 larger should both be 13" across.  Cut the center out of the third disk, so that you have a 1.5" wide ring, (the outside diameter will measure 13", and the inside diameter will measure 10).  Use proper safety when using a utility knife, cutting away from your body and hands.  Next, glue the three pieces together.

Step 2- Glue the Base
Glue the base to one side. On the opposite side hot glue the rim to the top of the charger's surface, pressing firmly.Use caution with the glue gun and avoid its metal surfaces.

Step 3- Painting the Surface
This step is optional.   We chose gold to continue with our Mardi Gras theme!

If you are creating any type of pattern, it may help to trace it on before gluing.  Then cut your beads so that they are a long string.

Step 4- Glue the Beads
There are many variations to choose from when attaching your beads.  You can choose circular patterns, a solid color, or make it monogrammed!  If you choosing a patterned type of design, the bigger you make your charger, the easier gluing the beads will be.  

Cut your beads whenever necessary.  

Once you've filled in the inner area with beads, move outwards to the rim.

Step 5- Glue from the center outwards

Consider adding medallions or doubloons as a way to display parade mementos.

Step 6- Add beads to the rim

Continue working from the center outwards, and cover the rim of the charger.

Step 7- Cover the edges

Glue a final strand around the outside edge and top surface in order to hide the edges of the cardboard.

Happy Mardi Gras. Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler!