From Lemonade Stands to Neighborhood Events, These Banners Will Keep You “Green”

I always joke that when you turn into our neighborhood, you've entered the 1950s. We have children playing in the streets and many neighborhood events and gatherings. What I've noticed lately is that with all the events we have going on (lemonade stands, neighborhood association meetings, Friday meet and greets, rummage sale, etc.), we have a real need for signage that can be reused throughout the year, something that looks a little more polished than the spray painted sheets or plywood that everyone uses currently.

A quick click over to the FedEx Office^® website and I found exactly what I was looking for: a 3' x 5' laminated outdoor banner. I chose a fun, retro color that I thought would work for all the events we hold in our neighborhood and, using a free online photo editing program, I added in a simple text with the name of our neighborhood. I made sure to leave a lot of space underneath the neighborhood name in order to have the flexibility to add custom wording for each event as well as space to add a few crafty elements for events that call for a little more fun.

 

Once the banner was done (which took less than 24 hours to be completed at my local FedEx Office Store), I was able to start customizing it right away for the rummage sale my neighborhood has planned for next weekend. Here are some tips for easy customization:

 

To write a custom message on the banner, I used acrylic craft paint and equal parts dishwashing soap. Adding in the soap helps with cleaning off the custom message later in order to get the banner ready for the next event.

 

 

I used a wedge-tip foam brush, holding it at a 45 degree angle to get a calligraphy effect while writing.

 

 

To ensure your letters will be evenly spaced across the banner, follow this easy tip. Count out how many letters will be in your message and divide that number by two. This way you can start your lettering in the middle of the banner and work your way back and forward to complete your message, while evenly distributing the letters.

 

If your event has a theme, you can add on decorative elements very easily with bits of brightly colored paper and tape. For my "rummage sale" banner, I add patterned paper bunting by cutting triangles out from paper and taping them directly on the banner with colored wash tape. The tape pulls off easily when the event is over. Basic scotch tape works well too.

 

 

To clean off the custom message on the banner, warm, soapy water and a dish sponge work very well. Simply wet the acrylic painted lettering let it sit for a minute to soak and then rub off and dry with a clean dish towel. Your sign will now be clean and ready for the next event. 

 

My new custom banner from FedEx Office is already a big hit with my neighbors and I have had several requests to borrow it. As long as we clean it off after each event and roll the banner carefully to store it, we should be able to use this banner for many, many events to come. I am already thinking about making similar banners for my kids' sports teams and one for their school. The money each organization will save by having a banner that can be customized is great and each event will have a more cohesive and professional look. As an added bonus, I won't be making multiple signs all year long that go into the trash at the end of each event. These banners are a little crafty AND a little green, just the way I like my crafting projects.

 

Related FedEx Office Solutions: Signs, Banners & Oversize Prints, Outdoor Banners, FedEx Office Center Locator

For more of Angela’s creativity, you can find her blog at www.angeladaniels.squarespace.com or watch her web series "The Guilty Crafter" (www.guiltycrafter.com) where Angela shares quick, inexpensive and mostly upcycled crafts. Angela was also a recent contestant on the new TLC show Craft Wars. FedEx Office is compensating Angela to share her ideas for fun, creative projects on the Out Of Office blog.

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