Printable Halloween Banners

It's that time of year... when everyone's houses get just a little spooooky.  I love it!  This year I went for a more creepy carnivalesque style, starting with these Halloween Banners.  As easy as "Trick or Treat", you can have these printed and hanging in a minutes!

There are three banners for your enjoyment:

Spooky

Happy Haunting

Happy Halloween

You can find the links to print them at the end of this post.

In the meantime, want some guidance on how to put together these awesome banners?  Here's how!

Materials

8.5" x 11" White Cardstock Paper {for printing}

8.5" x 11" Black Cardstock Paper {for banner}

Black Ribbon {used: 1/2" wide}

Glue 

Paper Cutter

Scissors

X-Acto Knife and Cutting Mat

Lighter {for sealing the ends of your ribbon}

1.  Print off the banner.  You can find the links at the end of this post.

2.  Using a paper cutter, cut out the banners along the long edges.

3.  Using scissors, carefully cut out the inside of the tails along the lines.

4.  Using a paper cutter, cut black cardstock in half so you have two 5.5" x 8.5" pieces of paper.

5.  Using glue, attach your white cardstock pieces to your black cardstock pieces leaving about 1/4" around the two sides and the top.

On one banner I used a glue stick and on the other two I used Elmers School Glue.  The School Glue takes a much longer time to dry than the glue stick but it also gives the paper really cool curves.  The curves give the effect of motion in the banner and definitely add to the creepy factor.  However, use whatever adhesive you would like.  Double-sided tape would also work well for this project.

6.  To trim out the black between the tails, you can either use scissors or an X-Acto knife and ruler to cut leaving a black border of about 1/4".  I found the latter to be easier, but use whatever you have on hand and are comfortable with.

7.  Using an X-Acto knife, cut a 1" slit into the black cardstock along the edge of the white cardstock.  Be sure it goes all the way through the black.

Ta-Da!  You're ready for your final step!

8.  Put your banner pieces in order and begin stringing onto your ribbon.  To put on ribbon, string ribbon through the left slit on the front of the banner.  Flip piece over and feed through the right slit to the front.

I prefer to melt/seal the ends of my ribbon when working with them this way.  To do, very, very carefully hold the lighter about 1/4" away from the end of the ribbon and gently bring close to the frayed/cut ribbon end.  You will see it melt onto itself.  You only need to graze the side of it - DO NOT BURN IT.  This will seal the side so it feels plastic-y.

Hang and enjoy!  Look at how creepy and spooky these turned out!!!

Happy Halloween Banner

Happy Haunting Banner

Spooky Banner

Happy Halloween!