Inexpensive Halloween Mantel

It's been beautiful here in Virginia the last few days, so I'm already getting excited for Halloween. I know, I know... it's only early September, but I can't help it since the stores have had out their Halloween merchandise since August! I came across these photos of my mantel from last year and wanted to share my inexpensive hand-made Halloween banner in case you would like to make one yourself! It was pretty easy, actually, and a lot of fun.

I used my Cricut machine to make the letters (Mini Monograms and George & Basic Shapes cartridges), but you could always use stencils or hand-draw them. Use containers from your pantry to find exactly the right size circles you'd like!

Here's what you need:

• cardboard (from a box)
• box cutter
• black cardstock (1 sheet for each letter)
• 12x12 scrapbook paper in coordinating colors/designs (I saved time and energy by picking up a Halloween paper pack from K&Company at Michaels with my 40% off coupon. It had the glittery cardstock and all the others to coordinate)
• matching die-cuts or stickers (also from K&Company to all coordinate)
• coordinating Halloween, check/gingham, striped ribbons (on sale at Michael's)
• pom-pom fringe or trim (I had the pom poms left over and found the pumpkin trim for 99 cents at Michaels)
• scissors
• strong glue or double sided tape
• Cricut machine with Mini Monograms and George & Basic Shapes cartridges
• hole puncher

Total cost: $15

Steps:

1. Cut out triangle shapes from the cardboard using box cutter. I simply made them using a 8.5x11" sheets of cardboard and made them all the same size.
2. Cover each triangle with scrapbook paper and attach to back with double sided tape or strong glue.
3. Cut out the letters enclosed in circles (I think they ended up being 5 1/2" on the Cricut) using the Cricut and Mini Monograms cartridge.
4. Use George and Basic Shapes cartridge (or another circular stencil/container) to cut out 5 1/2" circles from the black cardstock.
5. Glue your circular letters on top of the black cardstock circles.
6. Glue down the circle letters on the triangles.
7. Embellish triangles with stickers, die-cuts, etc. You could also use a stamp pad to distress edges here.
8. Punch a hole in top left and top right corners of each triangle.
9. Apply your pom-pom fringe or trim leaving a little space for the punched hole to be accessible.
10. Cut small strips of various ribbon colors and tie these to each hole.
11. Tie the ribbons together so they all hang in a garland.
12. Space evenly and hang on your mantel with nails, tacks, or tape

*Note: I was SO lucky that my letters all fit just barely on my mantel. I would advise you to measure your mantel width first to be sure you have enough room for all of your letters.

I love the "vintage" Halloween decorations that are popular at stores now. I had bought the cat bucket all the way on the right of the mantel from Restoration Hardware years ago. But I found the skeleton and Frankenstein candle holders at Michaels last year. The jack-o-lanterns were a splurge from Ballard Designs after Halloween one year, and the spider candle holders were from Lillian Vernon. I added some battery-operated flickering orange votive candles to the spiders. I also added some fun orange lights, making it so cute at night. 

Have fun! ;)

BTW... I posted this idea on The Shabby Nest, so check it out!