Winter Mantle and Bunting Banner Tutorial

Although we put all of our Christmas decorations away on New Year's Day, it's taken me a few weeks to finalize my winter mantle.  Here is what I came up with:

The only thing that makes it a winter mantle is that...well... it's winter outside.  Lol

I wanted to go with a brown, cream and gold color scheme.  

I started with two wire baskets I had.  They had originally come with mixed nuts in them which we had for Christmas.  I then took brass candlesticks and placed them inside of the baskets.  

I tied three books together with fabric ribbon and added a key embellishment (which was from a Pottery Barn gift tag).   Wicker baskets on either end add texture to the mantle.

Four giraffes and a family photo are in the center.

For the bunting, I made a template for a triangle 6" across the top and 10" high.

I cut six triangles using two coordinating pieces of scrapbook paper (I was able to get three triangles out of each 12" square scrapbook paper - cardstock quality).

Using my Silhouette machine, I cut the letters FAMILY out of a third piece of coordinating scrapbook paper.  Using the left over paper from the triangles, I cut out squares to help highlight the letters.  

I used mini clothes pins and twine to hang the bunting.  

Can't wait to hear what you think of my mantle makeover.

-Judy