Make Bunting with Maps and Ribbon

Isn’t it great when crafts for kids are also fun (and useful) for adults!  My favorite five year old crafter has been building an “angry bird house” with moving boxes, packing tape, decorative paper, paint, feathers, glitter and any other sort of found objects he can get his hands on.  We decided that his angry bird house needs some bunting.

I’ve been wanting to use the maps from my outdated road atlas and making bunting with it seemed perfect. 

The supplies:

1.  Old map book

2.  Curling ribbon (other ribbon or string will do too)

3.  Scissors (decorative edge scissors are a fun alternative to straight edge)

4.  Stapler

Cut the pages of the map into strips about 4-5” wide.

Fold in half – lengthwise

Fold the long cut edge (both thicknesses) about ½”

Cut into triangles

When you have a bunch cut out, start putting it together.  Cut a length of ribbon.  Use the ½” fold to go over the ribbon.  Staple it all together. 

This is a great craft for kids.  Lots of repetitions, practice with scissors and stapling.   These are all good ways to build strength in a child’s hands for handwriting.   If it isn’t all lined up perfectly – it still looks really cute.  Older and more sophisticated kids will enjoy it as well and can take pride in doing it a bit more perfectly.

Some alternatives….

Using magazines would be fun and colorful too.

Use double sided Christmas wrapping paper and make a bunting style garland for the tree.