DIY Trick-or-Treat Banner
"There’s something about the crisp, clear days and cold nights of fall that turns us inside and puts DIY on the mind. The lazy distraction of summer is gone and suddenly our hands and minds need something to fill the time. And with Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time to start decorating!"
Materials
We came up with a versatile project that fits the season and takes a spin off the ever-popular pennant sign. What makes this even better is that we made it double-sided so that with this project you’re set for Halloween and Thanksgiving!
Step 1
With a chop saw or hacksaw cut your 1x6 board into 12 individual 7" pieces. Measure 3/4" in from top corners of the blocks and mark with a pencil.
Step 2
Using the pencil marks as a guide, drill two holes in each piece with a 3/8" drill bit. For a cleaner hole on the back side of the pennant, drill into a scrap piece.
Step 3
Grab some 150-grit sandpaper or a medium-fine sanding sponge and clean up the sharp edges around the holes, and the top and bottom of each piece.
Step 4
The next step is the photo transfer. This is a fun and really simple technique to decorate your wooden pennants, but other options include stenciling, freehand painting, and vinyl letters.
Peel off the stickers from your sheet of shipping labels. We won't be using the labels themselves, so it doesn't really matter what kind they are. For each side of the sign, you will need six sheets of sticker backs. Insert the paper into an inkjet printer so that the waxy side will be printed on. It seems a little counterintuitive, but it totally works—trust us!
Step 5
Feel free to get creative with your own design and saying for your sign, or download our "thankfulness" banner template here, and our "trick-or-treat" banner template here.
Lay out the pennants for the photo transfer. Begin printing out the letters in sets of two (one page at a time). Carefully move the paper from the printer without letting the ink touch anything. Align the paper over the wood and press down firmly; with the palm of your hand, or with a credit card, rub the paper to ensure the ink successfully transfers. You can use rulers to get the measurements just right, and tape to make sure the paper stays in place during the transfer—or you can just do it freehand like we did. Allow the ink to dry before transferring the second sign onto the back side of the pennants.
Step 8
Wrap tape around the end of the jute twine and begin to thread it through the holes, stringing the pennants together. We liked the look of the jute, but any sturdy rope, twine, or ribbon will do the job. Pick what best fits your taste and project!
Step 9
Finally, take your sign outside on a piece of plastic. Following the directions on the can, spray with a protective clear coat to lock in the ink and prevent smearing. We picked a finish that's interior and exterior, so feel free to hang this sign up in your backyard!
Step 10
And just like that, you're ready to celebrate Halloween!
Step 11
Or Thanksgiving!
