This article will provide the instructions for making a Halloween banner. The Halloween free printables are provided by Mom's Break at: http://halloween.momsbreak.com/printable-blank-certificates.html.

You'll need:

• Halloween printables
• Heavy string or cord

Print the illustrated instructions at:

http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/HalloweenBanner.doc. These instructions contain several pictures, so it might take several (long) seconds for the page to open. Once the page does open, then allow a few extra second for all the pictures to appear.

You now need to print the Halloween free printable (from the free printables that you downloaded from Mom's Break). In order to print the pictures that you'll want for your Halloween Banner, you will need to use Word to print the JPG file. For illustrated instructions on how to insert JPG files into Word, go to:

http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/InsertJPGWord.doc.

These instructions contain quite a few pictures (of a sample project, not this one), so it might take several (long) seconds or even a few minutes for the page to open. Once the page does open, then allow a few extra second for all the pictures to appear. The illustrations are pictures of computer screens, with helpful arrows, to show you exactly what to do.

If you want to decorate the Halloween Banner pictures you can do so by writing on them with a marker, coloring them with crayons or markers, put Halloween stickers on them, or you can print various Halloween sayings and glue onto the pictures. To do that you will need to open a Word Document, and type in whatever words or sayings you want. The example shown uses Chiller (font), 72pt (font size), printed in BOLD.

Cut out the words or sayings. Trim as closely as you can to the top and bottom of the letters. Using a glue stick (or white glue), glue in place as shown in the illustrated instructions.

If you have a printer that will also print color copies, you can just make one page, and then make as many copies as you wish. If you have a scanner, you can scan in the page with a word glued on it, and then print as many pages as you desire for your banner.

For those of you who use Microsoft Paint, you can types words, sayings, or names right onto the pages. If you have never used Microsoft Paint and you would like to try to personalize the banner pages, then here are some helpful instructions:

http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/PersonlizePaint.doc. These instructions contain quite a few pictures( of a sample project, not this one), so it might take several (long) seconds or even a few minutes for the page to open. Once the page does open, then allow a few extra second for all the pictures to appear. The illustrations are pictures of computer screens, with helpful arrows, to show you exactly what to do.

Once you have all the banner pages you want for your banner, you are ready to put the banner together.

Before you cut the banner line, be sure to allow for about 3 inches between each banner page. Cut the heavy string or cord so that it is long enough for each banner page, plus 3 inches between each banner page, and then about 6 inches at each end (so that you have enough line to use to hang the banner).

Fold over about 3/4 to 1 inch of the top of the banner pages, as shown in the illustrations. Run the glue stick over the folder edge, lay the banner string on the banner page, right at the fold, and then glue down the flap. Measure about 3 inches, and put on another banner page. Continue until all your banner pages have been connected to the banner line.

Hang the banner (I used push pins).

For other Halloween-related crafts, party, and costume ideas, please visit Jan's Holidays_and_Seasonal.

Jan K., The Proofer is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. Visit http://www.jansportal.com for more information about Jan’s business services and Jan's other free information and resource sites. Be sure to visit Mom's Break (http://www.momsbreak.com/) for free printable crafts and projects. © Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.