Bunting/banner creation

Scissors, string, and something to cut flags from. That is the honest minimum. A length of cotton twine or bias tape works as the spine, and you can cut triangles from fabric scraps, old shirts, wrapping paper, or card. For a polished look you want a cardboard template so every flag matches. If you are sewing fabric flags, a machine speeds things up enormously, but hand stitching is fine for a short run.

Cut a single triangle from cardboard and trace around it for every flag. Two minutes making the template saves a wonky, mismatched result. For fabric, fold the material double and cut both layers at once, which gives you a matched front and back in one go. Space the flags about 2cm apart on the string. Too close and they bunch, too far and the run looks thin.

Not for long. Plain paper sags and tears at the first hint of damp. For anything outside, use cotton or canvas flags, or laminate card if you want the printed look. Fabric bunting cut with pinking shears (the zigzag scissors) resists fraying and lasts years if you store it loosely rolled rather than crumpled in a drawer.

Kids can do most of it. Tracing, cutting the simpler shapes, and threading flags onto string are all manageable from about age five with supervision. Hand them the no-sew version: paper or felt flags taped or glued over a folded edge of string. Save the machine sewing and the sharp pinking shears for an adult. It is one of the few decorating projects where a child genuinely contributes rather than just watching.