Happy May! I’m back with another gift idea for Mom. I wanted to create a special bouquet and also design a statement piece to make Mother’s Day extra memorable. Moms deserve big gestures, so I made a large, festive “Happy Mother’s Day” banner covered in fresh flowers. Picture it: Mom arriving downstairs to breakfast and a bright, floral greeting—she deserves that, right? Let’s make it!
Tools & Materials
- Fresh flowers (choose sturdy blooms like ranunculus, roses, or similar)
- Sturdy base: cardboard, poster board, or matboard
- Banner template sized to your project (about 50 inches wide if you want a large banner)
- Optional wording template or hand-letter your message; if printing, use borderless settings for best results
- White paint pen
- Pencil
- Scissors or a craft knife
- Hot glue and glue gun
Directions
Begin by cutting out your banner template and arranging the letters as a guide. Lay the assembled template onto your cardboard and trace the outline. You can scale the width up if you want a grander banner—use the template as your starting point.
Carefully cut the cardboard for smooth edges. If you plan to leave the edges exposed, take your time so they look neat; otherwise you can cover or trim them later.
If you use a printed wording template, flip the paper and shade the back of each letter with pencil. Turn the paper face up, align it on the banner, and trace the letters to transfer a faint outline onto the cardboard.
Trace over the transferred outlines with your pencil or pen until the letters are clearly visible on the cardboard.
Fill in the letters using a white paint pen or another color of your choice. Make sure the paint is evenly applied for a clean, bold look.
Allow the paint to dry completely before adding flowers or moving the banner.
You can do all the preparation ahead of time, but add the fresh flowers the morning you plan to display the banner for maximum freshness. Trim stems just below the bloom and use hot glue to attach them to the cardboard. Minimize touching the petals—hold blooms from underneath when possible to keep them looking their best.
Continue adding flowers until you’re happy with the arrangement. Overlap blooms and vary sizes for depth and visual interest.
And just like that—you have a fresh flower Mother’s Day banner! To hang it, Command poster strips work well because they remove cleanly from walls. You can also lean the banner on a mantle or table if you prefer not to secure it to the wall. Support the middle of the board when transporting, especially if your base is thin. Flower longevity varies: ranunculus may look fresh for 24 hours or more, while roses may wilt sooner depending on their freshness.
To complement the banner, I made a bouquet of ranunculus and garden roses for a longer-lasting gift. It adds a personal, floral touch to go along with the banner.
On a side note, I love the bright green wall I used as a backdrop for these photos—no editing, just a spot in the neighborhood that felt perfect for the shoot. It’s one of my favorite locations lately.
All photos by Studio DIY.