Bon Bon Atelier co-owner Betsy Blodgett shares with us how to make your own cupcake toppers, cards and banners.

Cupcake toppers

You’ll need:

20-gauge craft wire

Wilton 6-inch cookie sticks

Yarn (scraps are fine)

Pliers

Wire cutter

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Pom-pom maker (for the pom toppers version)

Cupcakes

To make the heart toppers: Snap one cookie stick in half to make two 3-inch sticks. Wrap the wire around the snapped-off end of one of the 3-inch sticks, tucking in the end of the wire. Use pliers to wrap the wire firmly around the stick. Shape the free wire into a heart, then twist the excess around the cookie stick. Tuck the end of the wire into the end of the stick. Dab hot glue on the base of the stick, then wrap the yarn around the glue-covered stick and around the heart-shaped wire. Secure the free end of the yarn with hot glue. Let dry, then stick into a cupcake.

To make the pom-pom toppers: Use yarn and a pom-pom maker to make a pom-pom. Snap the cookie stick in half, hot glue one end and plunge the glued end into the middle of a pom-pom. Let dry, then stick into a cupcake.

Banner

Blodgett used a pattern from Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio in Liberty to make this colorful banner. The pattern comes with the flag shape and a traceable alphabet. She says you can make the banner without a pattern by cutting fabric into flags that are 10 1/2 inches long and 8 inches wide at the top.

You’ll need:

Empty Bobbin Banner Day pattern ($14 at Bon Bon Atelier)

1 yard of fabric for flags

1/8 yard of fabric for letters

1/2 yard of Wonder Under fusible web

Bias tape

Sewing machine

Pick a word or phrase (Blodgett chose “love”). Count the letters and spaces, then double that number to figure out how many flags to cut out. For example, you’d need eight flags to make the word “love.” Match the flags right side together, pin and stitch. Turn right side out and press. Cut letters out of the other fabric. Trace the fabric letters onto the sticky side of the Wonder Under, then iron the Wonder Under onto each fabric letter. Peel the backing paper from the fabric letters and iron them onto the flags. Arrange the flags in order and pin bias tape along the top edge, leaving some room at each end for tying the banner. Stitch the tape to the top of the banner. Ta da!

Handmade card

You’ll need:

Metallic cardstock

Embroidery thread

Tapestry needle

Cut the cardstock into a 7x10-inch shape (or your preferred size) and fold width-wise. Use a pencil to lightly trace the words or design you want on the card. Using the tapestry needle, poke a hole every quarter-inch along the pencil lines. Thread the needle and connect the dots.