Hand Lettered Canvas Banner

Bring some cheer to any space with this bright, hand lettered canvas banner! It’s perfect for decorating a craft room, a dorm room, a home office, a vacation home, or wherever your happy place might be.

Image contains a canvas banner with multicolored flowers and the hand lettered phrase, “this is my happy place.” It hangs in front of assorted washi tape and other craft supplies.

Table of Contents + show

How to Make a Hand Lettered Canvas Banner

This banner is simple to make and only requires a few basic supplies. The best part is that you can customize it in any way you like by using your own message and hand lettering. Let’s get started!

Image contains an open copy of the book “The Beginner’s Guide to Brush Lettering” with a decorated canvas banner sitting on top. A pair of black fabric markers, and assorted multi-colored iron-on flowers sit around it.

Bonus: Want to see this project demo in person? I’ll be celebrating at the Missouri Star Quilt Company Birthday Bash in Hamilton, MO and sharing this project in the demo tent on Wednesday 9/20! I’ll also be sharing it live on the MSQC YouTube channel on Friday 9/22!

Image is a promotional image for the Missouri Star Quilt Company Birthday Bash from September 20-23, 2023 in Hamilton, MO.

Materials

canvas banner
Iron-On fabric flowers
heat-erase pen or pencil
fabric markers
iron

Note: My banner, iron-ons, and markers are all from Missouri Star Quilt Company. Shop from this link and save 15%!

Image contains a natural canvas banner, two black fabric markers, and a package of multi-colored iron-on flowers.

Instructions

Lay out your flowers.

Choose how you want your flowers (or other iron-on designs) to appear on the banner. I started with the largest flower in the bottom center, then worked my way up the sides, decreasing in size. I used the same types of flowers on each side, but in different colors. You can lay out your iron-on images however you like best.

Image contains a canvas banner with iron-on flowers positioned around the border. More flowers sit around it on a white background, as do two black fabric markers.

Iron your designs onto the banner.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular iron-ons. Mine came with a paper to cover the project while ironing. I applied heat for about 20 seconds on the front side, then flipped the banner over, and applied heat to the back for another 20 seconds.

Image contains a canvas banner with iron-on flowers sitting on a grey ironing pad. It is covered with a piece of parchment paper. A pink oliso iron sits nearby.

Choose your phrase and sketch a layout for the words.

I decided on “this is my happy place,” which is one of the traceable projects in my book, The Beginner’s Guide to Brush Lettering. There are lots of other quotes in the book as well that are already laid out for you to trace and practice. You can also browse Pinterest for hand lettered quote inspiration, or try coming up with your own phrase and layout.

Image contains an open copy of the book “The Beginners Guide to Brush Lettering” with a canvas banner sitting on top of the pages. The banner has multi-colored flowers around the border.

Sketch your words with heat-erase pen or a pencil.

Once you’ve chosen your quote and layout, sketch it onto the canvas. I like to use heat-erase pen, because later, all I have to do is run an iron over the surface and all of my markings disappear.

Image is a close-up of a canvas banner with multi-colored flowers around the border and a phrase sketched in the center with black pen. A heat erase pen sits on top of the banner.

Trace your words with fabric marker.

I used the Missouri Star Quilt Company fine point black fabric marker, because it has the least bleed of any fabric marker I’ve worked with.

Thicken the downstrokes of each letter to create the faux calligraphy look.

To get that gorgeous brush script effect, we’re going to go back into our words and find each spot where our pen was moving down when we wrote the letters. Those are called the downstrokes. Use the fabric marker to make those lines thicker and darker than the rest.

New to lettering? Check out this quick how-to post on faux calligraphy!

Image contains a close-up view of the canvas banner project, with the phrase traced in black fabric marker. Some of the letters have thicker and thinner parts in the style of brush script.

Erase your sketch lines.

Once your phrase is completely traced, it’s time to get rid of any sketch marks you can still see. Either iron the lettered section (if you used a heat-erase pen), or use an eraser (if you used pencil) to remove the unwanted lines.

Image contains a canvas banner with the phrase “this is my happy place” hand lettered in the center with black fabric marker. Colorful flowers surround the words, and the fabric marker sits on top of the banner.

Display your banner where it brings you joy!

All that’s left to do is hang up your project and enjoy it every day.

Image contains a decorative canvas banner with the words, “this is my happy place” hand lettered in the center. Multi-colored flowers surround the words.

Crafting Tips

For another fun variation on this project, follow the same basic steps, but replace the banner with a canvas pouch, tote bag, or other surface.
There are lots of other fun and even seasonal iron-ons you can use. Try making a holiday themed banner using the Missouri Star gnome and tree cutouts, or another variation using your favorite iron-on designs.

Image contains a canvas banner with iron-on flowers and the hand lettered phrase, “this is my happy place.” It hangs in front of a variety of craft supplies in jars and hanging from rods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don’t like my handwriting?

Another option, besides hand lettering your message, is to use iron-on letters or phrases. You can cut your own custom words from iron-on vinyl using a Cricut or other electronic cutting machine, or purchase something that’s already prepared.

What is the best kind of fabric marker to use?

Personally, I only use Missouri Star Quilt Company fabric markers. They are my favorite because they have the least bleed of any fabric marker I’ve ever tried. They are also permanent, even when washed, and they do not need to be heat set.
You can save 15% on them on the MSQC website when you use this link.

More Hand Lettered Projects

If you like this project, make sure to check out these other totally custom crafts you can make using hand lettering!

Scrappy Stars – Word of the Year

How to Quilt As You Go

Iron-On Gift Bags

Wood Burned Dishwasher Magnet

Image contains hand drawn stickers on a folder and notebook, and three markers.

Hand Lettered Back to School Stickers (+ Free Video Class)

Image contains five pairs of painted canvas shoes.

DIY Hand Lettered Shoes

If you try making your own hand lettered canvas banner, or any other projects, I’d love to see! Make sure you’re part of the Amy Latta & Friends Facebook Group so you can share your photos in our weekly show and tell thread and we can all be inspired. See you there!