Make red, white and blue pennants with stars and stripes, then string them together to create a banner. The banner can be used to decorate inside or outside for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or anytime you have a patriotic theme party.
This project requires few materials and is great for family, classroom or group craft time. With a little advance preparation by the adult or teen leaders, this project is easy, fast and fun.
Related craft: Make a garland of red, white and blue stars! See the Patriotic Star Garland project for complete instructions.
Pre-cut paper blanks from standard-size (9" by 12") sheets of construction paper.
Tip: If you want larger or smaller pennants, cut larger or smaller blanks, maintaining similar proportions.
The pennant banners can have as many pennants as you like. For each pennant, fold a red pennant blank in half lengthwise. Cut on a diagonal from one corner toward the fold. Open the pennant and smooth the paper flat.
Cut a star for each pennant (or two if both sides of the banner will be seen.) Cut the star from a 3" by 4" white rectangle, following the instructions for cutting stars in the Patriotic Star Garland project. Open the stars and smooth them flat.
Tip: For young children or faster crafting, precut the stars or provide a traceable star template.
Glue the white 1½" by 9" strip in the center of the pennant and trim ends that extend beyond the end of the pennant. Glue the blue 4½" by 4" rectangle at the top of the pennant and glue the star in the center of the blue.
Tip: For a two-sided pennant, repeat on the other side.
Punch four holes near the top of each pennant—two on each side. Cut a length of string or twine long enough for the number of pennants and where it will be hung—usually 4 to 8 feet (1 to 2 meters). Weave the string through the punched holes on the pennants (children may need help here). A blunt yarn needle can make the job go faster.
Hang the banner using tape, tacks or whatever is appropriate for the place/surface being decorated with the banner.
That's it! Stand back and enjoy your creation.
Tip: Make more stripes by cutting 1"-wide white strips and gluing them in place to create five alternating red and white stripes.
Tip: Make smaller stars by cutting stars from rectangles that are 1½" by 2" or use a star paper punch.
