Heart-felt Valentine Banner

by Morgan Moore

Supplies:

• cardstock
• fabric marker or ball-point pen
• 8 sheets of red felt
• 2 sheets of bright pink felt
• 2 sheets of pale pink felt
• white embroidery floss & hand needle
• 1 yard of ribbon for ties, any color
• sewing machine with white thread OR craft glue
• Sewing pins (necessary if sewing, optional if gluing)
• scissors

Note: This project can be sewn or glued. However, the "x's" on the pale pink felt hearts should be stitched so the banner will be secure. Make a simplified version by omitting the letters. As pictured, this banner costs five dollars to make and takes approximately one hour to complete.

Directions:

1. Print the heart and LOVE templates (shown below) onto cardstock or copy them onto cardstock with a marker. Cut out the shapes.
2. Place the largest heart onto the red felt and trace it 8 times.
3. Place the medium heart onto the bright pink felt and trace it four times.
4. Place the small heart onto pale pink felt and trace it six times.
5. Trace letters spelling LOVE onto the pale pink felt once.
6. Carefully cut out the traced felt shapes.
7. On a flat work surface, arrange the four medium bright pink hearts side by side. Place one letter in the center of each heart.
8. Sew (pin first)or glue the letters to the hearts, coming as close to the edge of the letters as possible, so they are well secured.
9. Arrange the four red hearts on the work surface so they are side by side. Place one medium-sized bright pink heart into the center of each red heart, spelling out the word LOVE.
10. Sew (pin first) or glue the hearts together, coming as close to the edge of the pink hearts as possible.
11. Place the remaining four red felt hearts back to back with red hearts that spell LOVE (the letters should face out).
12. Sew (pin first) or glue, coming as close to the edge of the hearts as possible.
13. Place the 6 smallest pale pink hearts back to back and sew (pin first) or glue around the edges.
14. Position the red hearts onto a flat work surface 2" away from each other, so they spell LOVE.
15. Place the 3 small pink hearts in between the red hearts, so the pink hearts overlap the red hearts by at least ¼ inch on either side.
16. Pin the banner together.
17. Thread a needle with white embroidery floss and stitch a small "x" on either side of each pink heart, securing it well to the large red heart beneath it.
18. Make a small cut on the outside edge of hearts at both ends of the banner (as indicated in the original template). Pull ½ yard of ribbon through each end, tying a knot to secure it.
19. Display along a mantel, wall or doorframe.
20. Happy Valentine's Day!