Valentine Mantle

I have a small box of Valentine Decorations. They used to share the same box as the Easter Decorations, but when my Easter Decor expanded last year, the Valentine goodies got moved to another box:

A Plain Brown Box
A Box that is quite small compared to all the other boxes in my garage
An Unmarked Box
A Box that was nowhere to be found in the very large pile of mostly Christmas boxes

Just when I thought we were going to have to celebrate Valentines Day without any decorations - I spied that Little Brown Box. Sitting in the corner, carefully tucked out of harms way by my sweet hubby as he was putting away the Christmas stuff - just waiting for me.
Sweet Man of Mine.

And so - we decorated for Valentines Day. Pretty much everything went up on the Mantle in the Family Room.



This is how the fireplace usually looks.



The brick goes from floor to ceiling with a shallow mantle also made of brick.



It's very shallow. Just barely deep enough to hold a few votives. It makes decorating a bit of a challenge because basic things like candle holders and books won't fit.



The hearth is decorated with a basket of firewood some Rustic Green bottles.



I've collected and made the Valentine decorations over a period of several years, and this is the first time they have been displayed all in one place. Without even realizing it - I've got a bit of a bird theme going on.



Cute little Love Birds found on clearance a few years ago.



I made this banner from pre-cut shapes found at Michaels (I don't think they have them anymore). They already had the holes drilled in them. All I had to do was embellish with scrapbook papers and string them together.



The edges were painted and distressed. Buttons, ribbons and flowers were used to embellish the letters. I used a white paint pen to add stitching details.



I also made a paper heart wreath at the same time, using the same scrapbook papers.



A simple heart shaped frame made from cardboard was embellished with a variety of punched flower shapes. Buttons, ribbons and brads form the flower centers.



Once the mantle display was all put together, it still seemed a little off balance. There was something else needed on the other side by the ceramic birdie plate (found at Safeway/Dominick's just this year).

So I rummaged through all my things and found a cute pink painted flower pot (previously used as a pudding cup at a birthday party). I thought about putting some red flowers in it, but I had none on hand, and really wanted to finish this project without having to purchase something new.

How about a red tissue covered ball sitting atop the flower pot?

Sounds good, but I have no styrafoam ball to use as a base - and also no red tissue paper.



But I do have some extra round light bulbs (from several houses ago that I will never use so please don't ask why I'm still keeping them).



And I have red (and pink) napkins. Those will work.



So I made a bunch of red napkin paper flowers. Using the twist and fold method that I'm sure you have seen done before. I cut the napkins into 1" - 1 1/2" strips and just twisted them around in a snail shape, starting with the center and working my way out.



A little glue on the light bulb holds them in place.



Because they are made of paper - and easily manipulated, you don't have to worry about filling in the gaps between the flowers.



You can just squish them together until the gap is covered.



The finished paper flower ball (or in this case - light bulb).



I added a few layered buttons to the flower ball for some additional interest.



And that completes our Valentine Decorated Mantle.



Although I am thinking about making another larger napkin flower ball to sit on the hearth next to the green bottles.

But first I have to go buy a styrafoam base, because I don't think I have a light bulb that big.

Looking for some Valentine Decorating Inspiration? Check out all these fantastic ideas at Beth's Valentine Mantle Linky Party.