Build a Banner Tips and Tricks

Wasn't the Stampin' Addicts Fall Blog Hop spectacular? So many great ideas for Fall from the Holiday Catalog.  If you missed it, the sites are all deep linked together so you can still make your way through the hop.

I promised today to share some tips and tricks I have learned about using the Build-A-Banner kit.

Colors: Pumpkin Pie, Summer Starfruit, and Basic Black.  Punch: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle.  Accessories: Build A Banner Simply Created Kit, Halloween Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit, Pumpkin Pie and Summer Starfruit Ink Refills, Sponge Daubers, Black Stazon Ink Pad, Basic Black Chevron Ribbon.

For the SPOOKY banner, I used the Stampin' Spritzers to color the background on four of the pennants.  This can be a little tricky and I will admit to ruining a few pennants before I got it right. But with the suggestions offered at convention and through trial and error, I have a few tips to share.

First, add about 30 drops of reinker to the Stampin' Spritzer and then add rubbing alcohol to fill the bottle about 3/4 full.  (70% alcohol works better than 90%).  Before you spray the pennant, make sure to protect the surrounding area.  I placed mine in a cardboard box.  Place the stencil over the pennant.  Prime the spritzer onto a scrap (or into the corner of the box) just to get a feel for the direction of the spray and saturation of it).  Hold the spritzer 8-10 inches away and spray lightly.  Don't over do it!  The more you spray, the more it bleeds under the stencil, so be careful!  Carefully remove the stencil.

For the other pennants and the letters (the ones with the polka dots on them) I used a sponge dauber to apply ink directly to the pennants using the stencils. 

The other thing to share about this is coloring the Black Chevron Ribbon.  I got this idea from my friend Rhonda Griffin over at the Stampin' Bunny.  I used a sponge dauber to add color the white portion of the ribbon pumpkin pie.  You can see that ribbon here:

You can also see on this pennant how I added a few 2-3/8" scallop circle punchies to the banner too.

Colors: Tangerine Tango, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry.  Punch: 7/8" & 1-1/4" Scallop Circles.  Accessories: Build a Banner Simply Created Kit, Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper, 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon, Naturals Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Many Marvelous Markers.

For this banner, instead of using the spritzers, I colored directly on the pennants with the Stampin' Write Markers.  As you can tell, the colors turn out much more vibrant when you do this, but it does destroy the tips of your markers so you might want to used your old ones and then buy new ones to replace them.  I also dipped the tip in matching ink refills when they started to get a little dry. 

Here is a close up view of the smaller burlap pennants between the larger pennants:

I am already thinking of other banners to make for parties and Christmas, and other holidays.  Come back on Wednesday to see the mixed-media project plus a bonus mixed-media project.   See you then!