How to Make a Veterans Day Banner: A Printable & Easy Craft for Kids
✨ There’s something so special about the crisp air of early November, a feeling of gratitude that settles in as we approach Veterans Day. It reminds me of watching my grandfather carefully hang the American flag on our porch each year. 😅 But I know the feeling of wanting to create a meaningful tribute with your kids, only to get stuck staring at a blank piece of paper, worried you can’t draw perfect letters. As a longtime community workshop host, I’ve seen that hesitation stop so many wonderful projects before they even start.
⭐ That’s why I’m so excited to walk you through this tutorial! This isn’t just a craft; it’s a conversation starter. It’s a hands-on way to teach your children about service and gratitude while creating a beautiful piece of decor to honor our nation’s heroes. With my free printable template, we take all the stress out of it, leaving only the fun and the meaning. 🇺🇸
Time Commitment: Approx. 45 Minutes
Cost Estimate: Low-Cost (Under $10)
Skill Level: Beginner / Kid-Friendly
What You’ll Need to Create Your Banner ✅
This easy patriotic banner craft for kids uses simple supplies you might already have in your craft bin. Here’s everything you’ll need to get started.
Essential Items:
- ✅ Free Printable “THANK YOU VETERANS” Letter & Star Template (PDF Download)
- ✅ Cardstock (Red, White, and Blue)
- Nancy’s Pick: I recommend using at least 65 lb cardstock. It’s sturdy enough to hang without curling but still easy enough for little hands to cut. The multi-color packs you can find in craft stores are perfect for this!
- ✅ Scissors
- ✅ Single Hole Punch
- ✅ Twine, String, or Ribbon
- ✅ Printer & standard printer paper (for the templates)
image-2: All the materials—colored cardstock, printed templates, scissors, hole punch, and twine—arranged neatly on a clean table.
Optional Items for Extra Flair:
- ✅ Glue Stick (for layering colors or adding decorations)
- ✅ Crayons, Markers, or Glitter Glue
- ✅ Ruler (for precise hole punching)
Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Heartfelt Banner 🇺🇸
Our community of crafters loves this project because it’s broken down into simple, manageable phases. Let’s make some handmade patriotic decorations together!
Phase 1: Print & Prep
First things first, let’s get our workspace ready. Cover your table with newspaper or a craft mat to keep it clean.
- 1. Download the Template: Click the link above to download your free printable Veterans Day banner template.
- 2. Print It Out: Print the PDF file onto standard 8.5″ x 11″ printer paper. You’ll have a full set of letters spelling “THANK YOU VETERANS” and some patriotic stars.
image-4: A shot of the printable PDF on a screen or printed out, so the user knows what to look for.
Phase 2: Trace & Cut
This is where your banner starts to take shape! This is a great step for older kids who are confident with scissors.
- 1. Cut the Templates: Carefully cut out each letter and star from the printed paper. These will be your stencils.
- 2. Trace onto Cardstock: Place a letter template onto a sheet of colored cardstock and trace around it with a pencil. I love alternating red, white, and blue for a classic look. Repeat for all letters and a few stars.
- 3. Cut Out the Banner Pieces: Carefully cut out each cardstock letter and star.
image-1: A close-up of a child’s hands tracing a letter template onto blue cardstock.
💡 Pro-Tip: To save time, you can stack two sheets of cardstock and cut them at the same time. Just make sure your scissors are sharp enough for a clean cut through both layers!
✅ Safety Note: Adult supervision is required when children are using scissors. For younger kids, it’s best if a grown-up handles this step.
Phase 3: Decorate & Punch
Now for the best part! This is the perfect moment to talk with your children about why we say “thank you” to our veterans. Let their creativity and gratitude shine.
- 1. Decorate! Let the kids go to town decorating the letters and stars with crayons, markers, or even some glitter glue. They can draw stripes, polka dots, or anything that feels patriotic to them.
- 2. Let it Dry: If you used glue or paint, give everything plenty of time to dry completely.
- 3. Punch the Holes: Once dry, use your single hole punch to make two small holes at the top of each letter and star. Using a ruler can help you make sure they are evenly spaced.
Phase 4: String & Hang
You’re in the home stretch! Assembling your banner is the final, rewarding step. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect the physical act of putting the words “THANK YOU” in order with the feeling of gratitude itself.
- 1. Arrange the Letters: Lay out all your decorated pieces on the floor in the correct order: “THANK YOU VETERANS”. This is a great way to double-check spelling before you start stringing.
- 2. Thread the Twine: Cut a long piece of twine or ribbon. Starting with the “T,” thread the twine through the holes. I like to go in through the front of the left hole and out through the back of the right hole for each letter. This helps the letters face forward nicely.
image-3: A tight shot demonstrating how to thread the twine through the punched holes on a single letter.
- 3. Space and Secure: Space the letters out evenly on the twine, leaving a tail at each end for hanging.
I’ll never forget the first banner I made for a Veterans Day school project. I was so proud, but when I hung it up, all the letters slid into a jumbled mess in the middle! It was so frustrating. The solution I discovered is simple but a total game-changer.
💡 Pro-Tip: To prevent the letters from sliding around, place a small piece of clear tape over the twine on the back of each letter once you have it perfectly spaced. It’s an invisible trick that makes a huge difference!
- 4. Hang with Pride: Find the perfect spot to display your beautiful DIY thank you veterans banner for kids. Hang it in a window, across a fireplace mantel, or on a classroom bulletin board.
Make It Your Own: 3 Creative Variations 🎨
Kid-Friendly Version
For toddlers, print the letter outlines directly onto white cardstock. Let them decorate inside the lines with dot markers or finger paints. An adult can then do all the cutting and assembly.
Advanced Version
Create a 3D “shadow” effect by cutting each letter from white cardstock, then tracing a slightly larger version on red or blue cardstock. Glue the white letter on top of the colored background before punching and stringing for a professional look.
Patriotic Twist
Instead of solid colors, use patriotic-themed scrapbook paper with star or stripe patterns for the banner pieces. Alternate red and blue star cutouts between each word for extra flair and amazing November 11 display ideas.
⭐ A Heartfelt Reminder: The most beautiful part of this craft isn’t the perfect spacing or the crisp cuts—it’s the time spent together creating something from the heart. It’s a tangible symbol of gratitude that you and your family can look at with pride.
This handmade banner is more than just a decoration; it’s a memory in the making and a beautiful way to honor those who have served.
Where will you be hanging your beautiful banner to show your gratitude this Veterans Day? Let me know in the comments below
