Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Time Flies When You're Having Fun Mantel

Welcome to my submission to The Great Paper Mantel Challenge!  Emily at 52 Mantels threw out a challenge to create a mantel using 100% paper.  I took her up on the Challenge and this is where it lead me!  I chose to do a whimsical summer theme of "Time flies when you are having Fun!"



Speaking of Fun - this was a lot of fun to put together.  These are all easy projects made mostly from things around the house.This is all made of paper products such as ribbon spools, paper straws and boxes,  with an exception - I can't lie - the three little brads in the middle of the pinwheels, and the tape and glue holding everything else together.  (I tried gluing them and every morning I came down at lease one of the Pinwheels had popped- so I finally gave in and used the brads)




I started with my favorite thing, the Kites!  These were made from Scrapbook paper and backed with some poster board. 

The tails are just newspaper strips I wet down slightly and twisted until it looked like a string tail. .

 See that piece of white paper that looks like a bikini top?! That is the template I used for the bows I attached to the tail.

I used that same wet paper twisting on the vines for the flower garland.  But this time I used strips of craft wrapping paper.  The flowers were stamped out on newspaper and a variety of yellow scrapbook paper and cut out by hand.  That took a while but was a good project while watching So You Think You Can Dance!

The clocks and picture frame are just from boxes that I spray painted with flat black paint.  I cut out a gold mat with  a border punch and used my black and white copier to copy a favorite photo of my kids when they were little.  I also copied some clock faces I found in various places and decoupaged them onto the boxes - easy peasy. 
The pedestals are made from the ribbon spools and just stacked up - I added a band of yellow to add some color.  The paper straws came into play again, this time painted black to make my clock fly. The newspaper spheres probably took me the longest to make.


I took one page of the newspaper and
cut it in thirds for long strips,
then cut those long strips in half. 
Then each side of the strip into the center
so that all of the raw
edges would be in the middle.   
Fold that piece in half long ways
and start rolling the strip up. 
Keep it nice and tight. 
 I used my glue gun to glue the end down
and then on the back side to glue it to a paper mache ball. 






I hope you are enjoying your summer because mine seems to be flying by!!

Here are the links to the other Great Paper Matels in the Challenge!
I hope you have had fun with all of these ideas.


52 Mantels

Ann @ Corner of Plaid and Paisley
Ann @ Corner of Plaid and Paisley

In the past few years my interests have grown from fabric to paper and now to dishes too! I just love prints, polkadots, plaids and paisleys- hence the blog name.

11 comments:

  1. Wow!! SO creative! I'm blown away, Ann! You did an awesome job on your paper mantel. Honestly, before I read, I thought you'd cheated and used non-paper items. Ha!!

    Beautiful!!

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  2. I really love every element of this! Terrific job and props for embracing the challenge to it's fullest.

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  3. Fantastic! Thanks for sharing how you made each item. You obviously have a wonderful, creative mind, to think of all these great pieces and group them together so nicely. Love it!

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  4. This is a great mantle. I love how you used both kites and pin wheels..both fun outdoor toys. You are one creative lady..I love your office shelves re-do and your cinco de mayo spread...what a party! I'm following you on GFC so I don't miss any of your amazing creativity....you are very inspirational. I'd love for you to come visit my blog sometime. Looking forward to your next post! Happy Wednesday!

    Marilyn
    4you-withlove.blogspot.com

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  5. Visiting from 52 Mantels...I have to say your mantel is just gorgeous. I adore yellow with gray right now. So fun!

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  6. So, so impressed by all your paper crafting, seriously, I'm kind of speechless, or wordless, or blog-comment-less:) Love it. So happy to have done this challenge with you!

    Jessica
    stayathomeista.com

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  7. Hi there Ann, Really enjoyed trying to spot all the wonderful paper projects you added to your mantel. That is such a great theme, so many ways to take it. (in future you can find great clock faces at Graphics Fairy). I just had to save your projects so I can print them out when I get new ink cartridges again.
    (Have to wait for SS payday which isn't til next Wed. We have 5 weeks between again, aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!)
    I love paper projects anyway so I'll be making some of these at least. Great ideas and again, a fun theme. I'm going to subscribe to your blog.

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  8. Ann you are one creative cookie!!! I love the color scheme gray and yellow it is so hot now. Each element is just so cute!! I wish I had a mantel I would hire you to decorate it every month.( I would pay you in craft supplies :)

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  9. Aren't you the clever one! I don't have the patience for intricate things like some of this, but I certainly admire those who do.

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  10. Great projects you have created to share with us on your mantel. All is perfectly matched and so pleasing to look at.

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  11. wow! you got SO CREATIVE with the paper! i love that we both did pinwheels, i'm just really loving them right now! your mantel turned out so cute. was great participating with you on this fun challenge!!

    xo,
    Kimberly

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