The Mantel, easy paper decor

Hello....as promised i am back with the candles and all for the mantel If you want to make this you will need. 1.White, Green and Gold construction paper. 2.A Stapler (lots of staples too) 3.Red, Orange and Yellow coloring pencils 4.Rainbow Glitter (for the Reef) 5.Card Board (a long piece)for the Top of the Mantel 6.Glue Stick (to glue the flames) 7.Craft Sticks (I used green and Red) for the candles (1 for each candle) 8.Red Ribbon (wide for the bow on the reef) I started with the candles. Green and White are the colors i picked.

First i cut the paper,I didnt cut the paper even on purpose (to make different size candles). Then i stapled them in a circle to form the shape of a candle.

After i finished making all my candles, i worked on making the Flames for the fire. oh, almost forgot (i doubled the paper on the candles to make them sturdy)

I decided to use craft sticks as a base to hold the flames. I gathered my color pencils for the flames. I practice making flames until i found the perfect one.

I used that one flame to copy and make the other flames then cut them out( 1 for each candle)and colored them. Then i placed the craft sticks inside of the candles and stapled them (craft sticks)to the candles.

This is what they looked like when they were all done.

I put the mantel together using card board left over from the box i cut to make the fire place.

Then i rapped it using some white construction paper and stapled the paper to secure it to the cardboard.

I then made garland to dress the fireplace. I cut strips of white, gold and green paper. I made them into circles and stapled them together (stapling one inside the other until i had a long chain.

Now for the Reef. I used the same green construction paper. I took 2 pieces and put them together (one in front of the other so it looks like 1 big sheet of paper) Then i traced a circle using a round top to a plastic bowl. I then taped the 2 half circles together (after cutting the middles out of each piece)

I first started to add a bunch of little bow's with a red ribbon (but i decided against it) You can do whatever you want with it. Maybe i'll make another one using that idea later. Anyways,i used a red glitter to decorate the Reef and made 1 big bow using a wide ribbon. The glitter looked great on it, i'm glad i picked it.

I hung it over the Mantel it turned out really nice!

And so did the Garland draped across the Mantel

Hope you enjoyed! An i would like to know if you were inspired to create your very own (if your like me)spending Christmas this year in an apartment with no real fire place. Until next time, Peace and Blessings always. MommaD

A Paper Craft 'Fire Place'

So, we're spending Christmas in the city this year. An once again i'm inspired by my 5yr old granddaughter. After making those x-mas stockings, she wondered where would we hang them....HEY!! THERE'S NO FIRE PLACE "in the apartment" here. Well, i got to thinking and things happen when i think lol. If your spending x-mas in an apartment and there's no fire place, well your in luck.... Thingz you will need: 1. White construction paper (about 12 pieces. 2. A piece of corrugated cardboard (i used a box and cut it to were i can fold the sides back. 3. Red marker, Red, yellow, orange & 2 Brown Crayons(Dark & reg). 4. A Pencil and Scissors. 5. Stapler or Glue. First we drew our bricks on each piece of paper (we used a plastic bowl that was shaped like a rectangle, the edges were round) we traced the shape of the bowl onto the paper, with a pencil.

After each paper was completed with bricks (they don't have to be even) we then positioned the paper(w/the bricks) onto the cardboard box (to have an idea where the bricks will lay.

Then we traced each brick with a red marker.

I then drew a picture of a fire (Flames) I traced each section of the fire with the color i wanted it to be. I let the little one color it in. Opps! she made a boo boo (by going out of the lines "just a lil").

Then we did the same with the Log. I drew it, traced it with a Dark Brown Crayon and let the little one color it in with a Brown crayon.

After we finished coloring the fire and the brick, I cut them out(cut around the fire to make the flames separate at the tops) We then put it together like a puzzle...we stapled the paper bricks to the cardboard (make sure to even the paper's). Best to start from the middle and work towards the edges (remember'they(edges)fold back)- toward the wall, where the fire place will be. We ended up hanging candy canes first. I hope you like.

I'll be back to share a picture of the fire place with the mantel attached and dressed with candles, garland & lights (all made with paper "except the lights") Have a Merry X-Mas!