July 4th Mantel

Ok, I know this is a little late, but today is the 4th and I was off, so I finally got around to decorating the mantel.  I really wanted to make a banner like Clarissa from A Little Stone House did, but since procrastination is my middle name, I just didn't get around to it.

Here's my mantel -

It all started with a package of cocktail napkins from Hobby Lobby.  I bought them intending to Mod Podge them onto glass jars and was starting on that when I had an Epiphany! (that's one of Leigh's favorite words so I try to use it as often as I can!)

 The napkins would make a great banner for the mantel too!  So I simply opened them up and laid the twine in the middle and secured them with tape.  I also used red tulle and blue satin ribbon tied on to the twine.  I glued the napkins together too so that the ceiling fan wouldn't make them flutter.  This was super easy and turned out great - of course, you couldn't put it outside, but it works great on the mantel.

Cheap and Easy - two of my favorite things!

I made the flag holder out of an oatmeal container.  I covered the container with scrapbook paper, then used a hole punch to punch 6 holes in the top.  I covered the top with scrapbook paper too and then turned it over and cut slits in the paper inside each hole for the flags.  The flags came from Target's dollar spot and were 3 for a $1 - score!

I love how my fan folded center piece turned out.  I almost bought a wooden one at Kohls a couple of weeks ago and am so glad now, that I didn't.  It is just 3 sheets of 12x12 scrapbook paper that I fan folded and then glued on to a strip of black foam board.

Then of course, the thing that started it all - Mod Podged candle holders using napkins and tissue paper.  I also used a printable from The Scrap Shoppe Blog that I found on Pinterest.  It was the final touch to my Frugal Fourth Mantel Scape.

All in all, I think it turned out great and I'm definitely going to start looking for more napkins to use to make banners with.  Occasionally I do come up with an original idea!

Happy July 4th to everyone and thank you to all the men and women through the years that have made this -

The Land of the Free, because of the BRAVE!