I have a short, sweet, and colorful DIY project to share. With May and my niece Quinn’s ninth birthday arriving, I volunteered to make the cake—or as her younger sister cheerfully called it, a “giant donut.” Since her birthday falls on May Day, I wanted to include her name and a subtle nod to a maypole theme. With watercolor paper and a stash of dimensional letter stickers, I quickly put together this rainbow watercolor name bunting. It’s simple, looks charming on a cake, and can easily be scaled up into a banner for other celebrations.
Supply list:
Watercolor paper (cardstock works, but you may need to iron it flat after it dries)
Watercolors
A cup of water
A paintbrush
Thick, dimensional letter stickers (so they peel off easily)
Baker’s twine
Wooden skewers
How to make it:
Start by spacing your letter stickers a few inches apart across the paper. Paint a block of watercolor over each sticker in the colors you like. Allow the paint to dry completely.
Carefully peel away the stickers to reveal the white letter shapes. Cut a rectangle around each letter, then trim a triangle from the bottom to create a flag shape. If the paper has rippled or curled from the paint, gently iron it on a low setting with a protective sheet between the paper and iron to flatten it.
Attach each flag to a length of baker’s twine using small pieces of clear tape on the back. Tie the twine ends around wooden skewers and secure with a dab of glue or a knot. Add ribbon or other embellishments if you like. Position the skewers on the cake so the bunting arches neatly above it, then enjoy the finished look—and the cake.
If you want more DIY ideas and inspiration, explore project galleries and printable resources to stock up on materials and find other craft projects to try.