It is just that time of year : Always movin’, shakin’, and makin’! I am so excited that this year I live in a home with a mantel! I have always dreamt of hanging stockings and decorating the mantel as the seasons and holidays pass through the year. Now that it is a reality – so is the idea of PAYING for shiny pieces, candles, and fillers. I am a girl on a constant budget (and especially around the holidays)- so I have come to know the world of DIY and the Dollar Tree very well. Here is my new holiday mantel for $25.00 !
Please don’t mind the disheveled stockings and tree topper resting to the right, awaiting his home on the throne!
Everything I bought was purchased from the Dollar Tree and Michael’s Crafts. The letters, the adhesive, and the glitter flakes were purchased on sale at Michael’s for about $18 bucks (don’t forget Michael’s ALWAYS has coupons). The rest (three sets of color balls, a faux pine garland, a short strand of white lights, and glass cylinders of varying heights) were all from the Dollar Tree! (If you do not have stockings or stocking hooks – the Dollar Tree DOES!). In the end I only needed one can of adhesive, with much to spare!
I could not manage to get a picture with out my little ‘helper’.
Tips:
- Spray the adhesive close to the letter’s to make a wet base. Dump on the glitter flakes! Allow to dry for 5 minutes. Knock loose the gold flake that does not stay. Spray a “further away”/lighter coat and reapply the glitter. This should make for maximum coverage.
- Next time I will first spray the wooden letters with gold spray paint so that when glitter falls it will be less noticeable.
- I really enjoy the three dimensional texture on the letters, but to reserve them for next year I will add a few layers of Mod-Podge before packing them away!
Here are a few mod-podge finishes. I like a heavy shine for this project!
Happy Crafting !
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