Chic holiday mantel DIYs

'Tis the season for bringing a little extra joy into your home—and we can't think of a better way to do that than with festive DIYs! 

PLASTIC SPOON CHRISTMAS TREES 

Materials

• 12” x 12” cardstock/construction paper
• scissors
• ruler
• pencil
• hot glue gun
• plastic spoons
• paint (arts and crafts paint or spray paint)
• art and craft brushes
• glitter (optional)

Directions

1.  Fold your cardstock paper into a perfect cone.  Cut off the excess paper on the bottom to allow your cone to sit flat on a surface. 
2. Take your plastic spoons and using a pair of scissors cut off the handle, leaving behind the spoon part only.  Cut enough spoons to allow to fully cover the cone.
3. Once you have enough spoons you can spray paint them now or wait until you have attached them to the cardstock cone (this is optional).
4. Attach the spoon ends to the cone using hot glue.  Add a dab of hot glue to the back of the spoon and stock it to the cardstock cone with the narrower side of the spoon facing down.  Work from the bottom up, gluing the spoons facing out and facing down.  Work in a circular pattern until you reach the top of the cardstock cone.
5. Your cone should now look like a 3D tree. 
6. Add some glitter by brushing on glue to the ends of the spoon and sprinkling glitter on top.  Work with colours that compliment your holiday décor.  Create different sizes of trees and group them together to create a beautiful vignette.

WOODEN BEAD GARLAND

Materials

• jute Roping
• wooden beads (any size)
• scissors
• art and craft paint (optional)

Directions

1. Start off your wooden bead garland by making your tassel first.  Take some jute rope and wrap it around your palm approx. 15 times.  If you want your tassel slimmer then wrap it fewer times and if you want it thicker wrap it around your palm more.
2. Once you are happy with the thickness of your tassel take another piece of jute rope and tie off the tassel approx. ¼” from the top of the tassel.  This will knot it off on one side.
3. You can now cut the bottom loops to create your fringe on your tassel.  Take your scissors and simply cut the loops into single strands.
4. Take another piece of jute and weave it through the top portion of your tassel (the section that is tied off.  Have this length a bit longer than your desired garland length.)
5. Start stringing on the wooden beads (if you want to keep it natural, there is no need to paint the wooden beads, if you want to add some colour I would suggest painting your wooden beads before stringing them on).
6. Once you are happy with the length of your garland and all the wooden beads are on, repeat the first step and create another tassel to finish off the garland.
7. Once you secured your second tassel to the opposite end, your wooden bead garland is finished.  Enjoy it all year round!

DECONSTRUCTED GREEN GARLAND

Materials

• greenery Faux
• greenery Real
• command Strips
• jute roping

Directions

1. The key is to create an architectural garland that has movement going across your mantel, sideboard, console, half-wall etc.
2. Mix faux greenery with real greenery for a full garland with variety and plenty of textur.
3. Start of with your faux garland and secure it into place using some clear adhesive hooks.  Using roping to hold it down in place.  Think outside the box here, run your faux garland in an a-symmetrical style.  Starting at the bottom of the fireplace and coming up the fireplace to just about ½’ across the mantel.
4. Once your faux garland is secure, add real stems of Eucalyptus, cedar, boxwood, pine – attach the branches to the faux garland, mixing the two together.
5. Keep adding branches to fill up the space.
6. Add berries, faux florals to create more texture and movement.
7. Once you are happy with the mix of faux and real place your décor/candles and enjoy!