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Book Page Banner & Free Cut File

Happy, happy Friday, friends!

As you may recall, one of the highlights of my sister’s surprise visit last month was a crafternoon shared together working on a banner to hang above her books in her bedroom.  It only seemed fitting to use book pages as our primary material and to incorporate a quote by one of our favorite authors, C.S. Lewis: “We read to know we are not alone.”  How true, Mr. Lewis.  How true.

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

This tutorial was originally shared on Or So She Says, but I’m delighted to offer the full tutorial here with you lovelies.  And for those of you with Silhouette machines, I have a gift for you at the end of this post: I’m going to offer up the free cut file for this project to make your lives even easier.  Sound like a plan, Stan?  Grrrrrreat!  Let’s dive in.

Book Page Banner Tutorial

Step 1.  Cut your bunting.  I whipped up a 5″ x 7″ shape for the bunting in Silhouette Studio using the line tool and “snap to grid” setting to keep everything symmetrical.  Then, I cut 9 of our bunting shapes on 65 lb. white cardstock to help give our thin book pages some firm support.  If you don’t have a Silhouette, a good old-fashioned ruler and x-acto knife will do the trick!

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Step 2.  Gather your pages.  Books are sacred to me; so, when it comes to tearing them apart for craft projects, I have resolved to only using damaged books.  I recently picked up a copy of Webster’s Dictionary from 1991 for $1.99 at a thrift store.  It boasted a broken binding and water stains.  Sounds like a cry for repurposing in a craft project if you ask me!

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Lisbeth sifted through the dictionary to find pages with words or images that caught her eye.  Some of her picks included “sister,” “book,” and “euphonium” (her band instrument of choice).  We found that ripping out the pages sometimes crumpled the edge, so instead, we placed a piece of cardstock behind the page and used an x-acto knife to cut it out of the book with ease.

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Step 3.  Glue the pages to the bunting.  I recently heard about the Zig Stick from some of my Silhouette buddies and picked one up at my local Hobby Lobby.  The neat thing about the Zig Stick is that it is a permanent adhesive when used wet and is removable when used dry.  How nifty!

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

We applied the Zig Stick glue to the cardstock and adhered the book page before the glue dried.  Here’s where it was very important to press out those air bubbles and make sure the book page dried flat.  We even pressed them in the dictionary for good measure.

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Step 4.  Trim the excess book page.  After letting our book page dry for a few minutes, we then used our trusty dusty x-acto knife to trim the excess, so that the page fit the bunting shape to perfection!  TIP: to avoid damaging your table, cut your material atop an old magazine.

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Step 5.  Cut your quote!  Once we settled on one of our favorite C.S. Lewis quotes from the film, Shadowlands, I hopped onto Silhouette Studio to create the design.  After toying with a million different ideas, we settled on the font, Rockwell, and decided on an oval shape around the words, so that the book page would show through the negative space of the letters.  We cut the quote on taupe cardstock, which will be the perfect accent color for Lisbeth’s pale sea green walls.  (The full quote is included along with the bunting shape in the cut file that you can download fo’ free at the end of this tute!)  No craft-cutter?  No problem!  Use letter stencils, stamps, or an x-acto knife and a printout of your text to create a similar effect.

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Step 6.  Glue the words to the banner.  Reaching for the Zig Stick yet again, we applied the words to the banner approximately 5/8″ from the top, using a seam gauge to help with measurements.

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Step 7.  Outline the text in pencil.  We decided to outline the text in pencil to help the words really stand out.

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Step 8.  Secure the bunting to some string.  I had some off-white yarn on hand, so I used my Elmer’s Craft Bond fabric & paper glue to secure the cardstock to the string, spacing the bunting approximately 2.5″ apart.

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Step 9.  Add some pom poms for extra whimsy!  If you’ve never made pom poms before, now’s your chance!  They’re super easy and are a great embellishment to add to almost any banner, wreath or gift wrap.  Here’s the how-to in four simple steps:

D.I.Y. Pom Poms - Visual Tutorial | The Thinking Closet

And after making two pom poms and tying them onto the ends of our banner, our project was complete!  Here we are, channeling our inner Vanna White.  Whad’ya think?

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Book Page Banner Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Lisbeth and I were really pleased with how the book page banner turned out; but even moreso, we were just tickled pink that we got to work on this project together.  So, I highly recommend calling up a friend or family member to plan a crafternoon together.  Crafting is always more fun when done with a buddy.  Don’t you agree?

Free Cut File

For those of you with own digital craft-cutter, I’m happy to share the cut file I created with y’all for FREE. It includes both the bunting shape and C.S. Lewis quote. You can sign up to download your free cut file using the nifty form below or by clicking HERE. {Fine print: this design is for personal use only and is not to be used for commercial purposes. Thanks!}

Book Page Banner - Free Cut File by The Thinking Closet

Interested in more banners?  Or more Silhouette projects?  Check out my Burlap Love Banner &  Free Cut File and catalog of Silhouette projects.

Burlap Love Banner & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

Thanks for reading along, friends, and happy spring!

This is Lauren, signing off.

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96 Comments

  1. hi! im a silhouette newbie and i just discovered you. thanks for the freebies in your fab site. i tried filling a pattern on the pennants, but it wouldnt color at all. i tried filling a pattern for the quote, no problem. what did i miss?

    1. Hey Maia! You are so welcome – – I’m delighted to know you’re trying out the banner. And I hopped into my file in Silhouette Studio, and I know what the trouble is. When I made this file, I was a Silhouette newbie myself, and I created the pennant shape using lines…so the reason it’s not filling in is that even when you “group” the lines and select “make compound path,” the program still seeings it as separate shapes, instead of one shape that can be filled in. There are probably multiple ways to fix that, but here’s another quick work-around.

      Select the “draw a rectangle” tool on the let sidebar. Then, draw a rectangle over top of one of the pennant shapes. Then, select the rectangle and click “edit points,” also on the left sidebar. You’ll see four dots at each corner of the rectangle (leave them be) and you need to add a fifth dot by clicking the dead center on the bottom horizontal line of the rectangle (a dot will appear) and while holding down your mouse, drag that dot up until it reaches the trace line of my original shape. And let go when it’s where you want it. Then, you should be able to fill that shape no problem.

      Hope that helps, and let me know if you have any more questions! Oh, and I’d LOVE to see a pic of your finished banner if you do create it or a create your own variation. Featuring my reader’s projects in my quarterly Reader Showcase is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world. So, if you shoot me an email with a pic, I’ll be sure to feature you in my next showcase! Thanks, Maia!

    1. Maybe it steals the show when you’re out and about, but not when Lisbeth is on the premises. Oh no…no inanimate object steals the show from my sister! 🙂 (I had fun on it, too. We shall have to have another Sister Summer Camp soon…maybe in July when I see you if you’re not too busy!)

    1. Jenna, thanks for the feature AND for taking the time to stop by and let me know! Honored to be one of your two picks! Button = grabbed.

    1. Thanks, Jennifer! And thanks for all of your help today with html and what not. That stuff can make my head spin, but it felt great to actually master it in a small way today. Best of luck with your project gallery!

  2. I absolutely love this! We are avid readers at my house and this is such a cute banner and the quote is fabulous 🙂 Thanks for sharing this great post! Krista @ A Handful of Everything

    1. That’s wonderful to hear that you and your household are such voracious readers. Looking forward to reading the rest of the Hunger Games series this spring! What’s on your reading list?

  3. I just found you via Sew Darn Crafty! I love this banner and I peeked at the burlap heart banner as well. Just love that one too! I will be back for sure! Have a graduation party and a wedding to plan and I love the idea of banners, quotes, book pages! So clever!
    Linda
    mysewwhatblog.blogspot.com

    1. So glad you stopped by, Linda, and that I’ve found a fellow banner and book page lover in you! Are you an event planner by trade or are you planning these events for your friends/family? Best of luck!

    1. Oh yes, you totally can, Shannah! I believe in you and your book page banner prowess! 😉

    1. Aren’t the book pages fun? I’m actively seeking out more opportunities to use them in other projects…after all, I have a big, fat dictionary to work with. Glad you enjoyed the quote, too! It’s a powerful one. Thanks for stopping by, friend. Enjoy your Monday!

  4. What a great tutorial!! I love the book pages. I just wanted to stop by and let you know that you are being featured tonight! Thank you for linking up at our Simply Create Link Party. 🙂

    Melissa
    redflycreations.com

    1. Wow! Thanks so much for the feature, Melissa. That’s uber exciting. Will be sure to stop by later tonight and check it out. Have a fantastic week.

    1. Isn’t he the best? I have an unending list of favorite Lewis quotes. And I’m glad you’re keen on the use of book pages in this banner, Nancy. I’m definitely eager to take on more book page projects after this one!

  5. I love this! What a great idea. I have some teacher friends that would love something like this in there classroom. Thank you for sharing.

    I’d love for you to check out our Pattern Party! Those with free patterns and templates to share are invited to link up!

    1. When I taught in a public high school, I had my own classroom (2 of them in fact!) that I covered in favorite quotes. This was one of them…though I didn’t have a Silhouette machine at the time, so mine was just printed on paper and accompanied by one of my husband’s photos. But I figured that if and when my students daydreamed and their eyes traveled to my classroom walls, I wanted them to find inspiration. Hope your teacher friends can use this idea in some way! Thanks for your sweet comment, Chelsea.

  6. Love this and your blog! I would love to have you come and share this at my link party that is just up and going! Come join us! We would love to have you at greatastestuesdays.blogspot.com

    1. Thanks, Krista! I’ve grown to appreciate having a sister more and more as I get older. It really was treasured time together as we’re living many miles apart right now. Hope you’re having a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment.

    1. Thanks, Patti! I’m glad this tutorial made the project feel do-able. It totally is! 🙂

  7. I love the way the dictionary pages look and I think I might actually need to buy an Xacto knife because your cuts look so crisp.

    1. An x-acto knife is definitely a worthwhile investment (and they’re really not too pricey at all). I use mine all the time and love that clean crisp cut that it pulls off with such ease. Thanks for stopping by!

    1. Thanks, Kirsten! The quote has and always will be a favorite of mine. I even had it hanging up in my English classroom to spread the inspiration to my students! Have a wonderful weekend.

  8. THIS IS DARLING! I can’t wait to make one this summer! Saw you on ThePatrioticPam weekend Wowza! Newest follower over here! Please feel free to drop by cookandcraftmecrazy any time! I can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeve! xo-Brook

    1. Thanks, Brooklyn, for both the kind words and follow. I’ve met so many wonderful bloggers through Pam’s party (she draws good people, what can I say?), so it’s wonderful to connect with you and visit your blog. Seeing your photo, I realized I had been there before! Will definitely be visiting again, too.

    1. Thanks for the kind words and invitation, Jenna! I’ll definitely stop by your partay. Happy Friday to you!

  9. I didn’t know you two had created such a cool project together. C.S. Lewis’ words came have never been so joyously re-created, Now just move that PIN bubble so I can see the rest of your sister!

    1. Ha ha. That pesky PIN bubble should disappear when you move your cursor off of the photo. Still…it should know better than to cover my sweet sister’s face. The nerve! 😉

  10. I am looking for ideas for baby shower banner, and I think I know how I can adapt your idea to my project. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Hooray! Have fun with your baby shower banner…and do let me know if you share pictures of the final product. I’d love to see how you adapt this idea and make it your own. Best of luck, KC!

    1. My pleasure! I love how you used book pages from Robin Hood as an embellishment on your “scrappy, manly tags.” Really clever work!

  11. Really beautiful idea and blog! lovely! Thanks for sharing 🙂
    I’m an enthusiastic DIYer from Barcelona, would you like to follow each other?
    Big kisses
    Marta
    2ndfunniestthing.blogspot.com

    1. Just came back from visiting your gorgeous blog and I can indeed affirm that you are an “enthusiastic DIYer,” Marta. I love your creations! Especially all of your jewelry. Following you on FB, Twitter, and Pinterest, so I can stay in the loop on all of your projects! Sending a big hug across to you in Barcelona! (It has been my dream to visit Spain…one day….)

      1. Thanks for your sweet comment Lauren!!! I’m followinf you back too cause I don’t want to miss any of your brilliant ideas. I’m happy to discover amazing handy people like you thanks to blogs 🙂 Big kisses again and remeber now you have a “DIY mate” to meet over a drink whenever you’ll visit Barcelona

        1. So looking forward to swapping stories from across a table with you, Marta…my DIY mate!

    1. Aw, I know exactly what you mean. I have a hard time throwing out magazines because I see so much crafty potential in them. And what a great idea to make a newspaper banner…I’d love to see that!

    1. ME, TOO! In fact, when my sister and I were playing that game, “If you could invite any two people, dead or alive, to tea right now, who would it be?” my responses were C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. What a tea time that would be! #greatmindsthinkalike

    1. Thanks, girl! Just came back from visiting your beautiful blog. You take stunning images (and work magic in Photoshop).

    1. Yes, I’m obsessed with my Silhouette Cameo and all that it can do! Your paper flower prayer garland is so beautiful…pinned it, so I can glean inspiration if I have a friend in the hospital in need of some cheering up. Thanks for sharing it!

    1. I feel the hugs from across the pond! Italy is near and dear to my heart. I am 25% Italian and have visited your country two times…hoping to get back there with my husband someday soon! Thanks for your sweet comment, Cristina.

    1. Oh I do, Ila, I do. I can get lost in a project like this for hours, and when it’s with a friend or family member, then I’m in heaven! Hope you’re having a wonderful Monday.

  12. Love the banner and all the tips! I’ll have to see if I can find Zig Stick…it looks like a handy product to have around.

    btw, Your sister is just as cute as you are! You can definitely see the family resemblance.;)

    1. The Zig Stick did work well…though the dictionary pages were so thin, we did need to work hard to press out the air bubbles as it dried. And folk definitely know that my sister and I are related when we’re together; some even venture to guess that we’re twins! Ha ha.

  13. I agree about calling a friend for a “crafternoon”, my little boy is practically attached to me so I always have a little partner with me! ha!ha! 🙂 I remember this post very well and really loved it! 🙂 I forgot about those DIY pom poms; too cute! hope you are having a great weekend Lauren!

    1. Aw, I bet your lil one would be a lovely partner for a “crafternoon.” I’m sure you share a lot of crafternoons together as it is! And if you haven’t made pom poms yet, Ingrid, you should try it. They’re just so fun and easy and add so much whimsy to about any craft project or gift wrap!

      Thanks for the weekend wishes, Ingrid. We had a great visit to Ohio where we got to catch up with old friends and family…though I sure missed my Florida sun! How was your weekend?

      1. I’ve never tried making pom poms but now I will! 🙂 Glad that you had a great weekend in Ohio, we had a lot of sun this weekend and had time to do a lot of projects around the house (finally) 😉

        1. Hooray! So happy to hear that Mr. Golden Sun finally made an appearance. I know you were probably so ready for that!

  14. Oh, I love things from old book pages! I definitely have to get some old books somewhere!
    And then I have to overcome the fear of destroying a book! 😉

    Love, Midsommarflicka

    1. I understand your trepidation, Midsommarflicka. I treasure books so much, it definitely feels criminal to destroy them…. Thus, my only justification were the broken binding and water stains!

  15. I LOVE C.S. Lewis! My dad used to read The Chronicles of Narnia to my sister and I in a British accent when we were little, lol. 🙂 You and your sister look so much alike–two gorgeous girls! And a gorgeous banner, too! Thanks so much for the tut! Have a great weekend, Lauren!

    ~Abby =)

    1. Oh, I just got the chills envisioning your Dad reading about Mr. Tumnus and Lucy and the White Witch and Aslan in a British accent to you girls; how could you not fall in love with Lewis’s fantastical tales?

      And don’t make me blush with all of your “gorgeous” comments! You’re too sweet for words, Ms. Abby.

  16. So fun and pretty! I love the pic of you and Lisbeth playing Vanna! Glad to know you used a beat up dictionary from a thrift store for your crafting. Even before I read the post, I had a feeling you would struggle with cutting up a book, as I know I would too, but the finished product is totally worth the cutting of the pages. By the way, random aside (of course), but I like that you used the term “atop” instead of “on top of”. I’ll be throwing that word into a conversation this week, I do believe.

      1. Ha ha, my sister is as much of a ham as I am when it comes to taking pictures, so it was either going to be Vanna, or a pirate, or Mary Catherine Gallagher from SNL!

        And it’s true, cutting up the book was difficult, so I made sure it qualified as “damaged” before taking a knife to it. Sniff. Still, I had my sister do that step to lessen the blow!

        And thanks for picking up on “atop.” I know I can always count on you for noticing my antiquated language. We’re bringing it back, though, aren’t we?

    1. Aw, thanks Debbie! When my students first saw my sister for the first time, they definitely did a double-take, thinking she was me! Ha ha. And we’re 3 years apart. 🙂

    1. Thanks, Hannah! I so appreciate you following along in my blogging and creative exploits! And I haven’t forgotten about our plan to find an estate sale to go to together…that’d certainly be a grand time.

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