Operation Baby Bunting

I have been looking for bunting to brighten up the new bub's nursery in colours that I like and fit with my colour scheme. Unfortunately the only ones I have found have been ridiculously expensive, or U.G.L.Y!
So I decided to give it a go making some...I researched and found very average how-to guides, that involved sewing and all sorts of excessively crafty ways to make something that I will eventually get rid of. So I decided to give it a go myself. Here are the pictorial results collated as a how-to.

By the way, I already had the paper, and I had to (*read: decided to) purchase a hot glue gun. All up a 3.5m
bunting in the exact colours I was after cost me approximately: $16 and about 1.5 hours of labour (not in the baby's coming kind of way, but in the slave labour kind of way!). Wayyyyyy cheaper than buying it anywhere I have found and I actually enjoyed myself!

You will need a selection of papers that fit the theme you are after. This is a combination from a number of Fiskars paper packs bought at K-Mart. They are designed for scrapbooking, so the card weight was good. Don't use paper that is too flimsy.

You will need ribbon or cord to attach the pennants together. I did not end up using the green sequining, although you could use it to add a little jazz at the end if you wish.

I found this type of cloth ribbon perfect, as the herringbone style helped keep me on track when gluing.

You will need some tools. I used a 30cm ruler, a lead pencil (preferably pretty sharp), an erasers (for those little imperfections!), a low heat glue gun with sufficient glue for the size bunting you are making, and the all important scissors.

You will need to measure and make a template for the pennants. The paper I used was square, so I decided to cut off a 6cm strip from the bottom to get the desired shape. I measured one of the long sides and marked half way (15cm with the paper I used). On the opposite side, I made a mark at 1/4 of the way (7.5cm) and at 3/4 of the way (22.5cm). 

I then ruled a line from the corner of the long side which was marked half way down to the 1/4 mark. I drew a line from the 1/4 line back up to the half way point on the opposite side of the paper. This created a V shape. I then repeated from the 1/2 mark to the 3/4 mark, then back to the corner of the side divided in half. This created a W shape. I had three identical pennants templated on each sheet, with a 6cm strip of paper and the two triangles on the short edges to discard.

You will need to repeat this template on all of the paper you wish to use. Then take your scissors and cut the pennants out.

The pennants should be of equal size.

Arrange the pennants in a pattern that appeals to you. I did a repeating pattern with each of the types of paper.

You may wish to identify where you are going to hang the pennant at this point. You will need to leave a slight gap between penannts if you wish to create a scalloped effect when you hang it. Whilst you are deciding on your pattern, plug the low heat glue gun into heat up. Don't forget to put something under the nozzle in case there is any glue drips.

Lay the ribbon out on a flat surface. You may wsh to place an additional piece of paper under the ribbon to prevent any glue dripping on to your working surface. Leave enough ribbon on each end to use to tie on to something when hanging. On half of the ribbon, place a line of hot glue. Make sure you leave the top half of the ribbon above the pennants, as this will fold down over them later.

Lay each pennant on the hot glue and ensure good adhesion. Continue until you have all pennants glued to the ribbon in the pattern you have selected. Do not forget to leave any gaps for scalloping if necessary.

Place a line of hot glue on the top half of the ribbon, and fold over the pennant.

Your ribbon and pennants should look something like this...Allow to dry.

Hang pennants in selected spot.

Admire, and brag to your friends how cheap and easy your project was!