If you have a birthday coming up and need some quick easy decoration then this free printable birthday banner is perfect!

I love to design with purpose and my purpose when I created this banner was for my daughter’s birthday. We didn’t have a theme. It was a little family gathering. My husband made her dinner and I made her a 4-layer cake with homemade buttercream frosting and it was all delish!

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Supplies used:

Cardstock – I like this kind

Paper Cutter

Scissors – my favorite

Exacto knife

Cutting Mat (or a piece of cardboard)

Hole Punch – (this set is really cute and would be fun with the shapes!)

Twine like this or this

Thumb tacks

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Here is how to make this banner in a matter of minutes with some really helpful supplies.

I print on card stock like this. It is thicker than plain paper but will still run through the printer {I normally use bright white but my pictures have gray for this banner because…well, my children helped themselves to my white card stock without me knowing….ugh!}

Important note for printables, always use card stock! It is a waste of ink and paper to print on a thinner material. Once you cut the banner letters, the edges will roll up because the weight of the ink is to heavy and it’s not going to look cute.

This paper cutter makes it so much easier. I use it to cut down the straight edges on the outside of the letters.

Then use the exacto knife like this to trim the insides of the letters. (put a cutting mat or piece of cardboard under the paper while you cut – please don’t slice up your table top!) Use a ruler (or straight edge of something) on the inside edges if you don’t trust your free hand!

Then cut along the curved edges of the letters with scissors – these are my favorite scissors. They are spring loaded and I find them much easier to use.

Then hole punch the tops of the letters and use a cute twine, ribbon, or jute to thread through the holes. Then hang it up!

I used plain white thumb tacks, nothing fancy – but I like these colored ones!

DOWNLOAD YOUR BANNER HERE

Do you love this banner?

Make sure you pin it so you don’t forget it!

Here is another style of a free printable birthday banner I designed if you want to check that one out too.