Create Banner Tutorial

So I am avoiding grading papers, once again.  It's the week after spring break and it has been much more difficult to get back into the swing of things after spending an amazing week in the Bahamas.  I feel guilty crafting, so instead I'm only blogging about crafting, which should take much less time away from actual work.  However, the process is going more slowly than I anticipated thanks to my cute little cat Brother who thinks it's helpful to sit on my hands while I type. 

Basically, here's the banner that I made.  I purchased some banner templates at the Silhouette store online and resized them to about 12 inches tall.  Then I cut out the different layers of cardstock with my machine and glued them together. 

 

I ran a piece of twine through the holes at the top.

 

I cut strips of scrap fabric about 1 inch by 4 inches long.

 I tied the fabric strips onto the twine--this held the paper in place so it didn't slide down the twine and overlap when it was hanging.

Finally, I hung up my banner in my craft studio.  (I just decided last week to start referring to this repurposed second bedroom as a "studio."  I think it sounds much more sophisticated.)

The most difficult part of this whole process was trying to figure out what word to write on my banner without sounding too cheesy.  I mean honestly, what would you put on the banner?  After deciding against expressions like "Inspire" and, my husband's personal favorite, "Dare to Dream," I went with the more simple verb, "Create."  

What I wouldn't give to be in that room right now, swooning over Damon while watching past seasons of The Vampire Diaries, sewing, and eating Jello instead of grading a million boring algebra papers.  Sigh.  Back to work.