I started with just the Christmas trees, you know the kind that you get at the Dollar Store to put around a village.
Supplies needed: Christmas trees, wood plaques, several different types of tinsel ribbons, holiday pipe cleaners, Christmas foam shapes, wire thread, glittery foam holiday shapes, a roll of papers, Mod Podge glue, red felt, red and yellow acrylic paint, and wobblers.
1) Cut paper to cover the top of the wood plaques (round, square, oval, etc.)
2) Using the Mod Podge, deco podge the paper onto the wood plaque (I start with this cause it has to dry of at least 2 days or the base will be ruined)
3) Creating the shape of the fireplace. Take old manila folder or heavy card board and cut to the size needed. I cut mine to 4” wide by 2 ½” high by ½” deep for final size leaving ½” for folding to be able to glue it together.
4) Using the wire thread string the foam ornaments I used 6 to 7 of them for the smaller trees and 8 to 9 for the larger trees. Leave enough wire thread on the start and end of the garland to tie it to the top and bottom of the trees.
5) Using a shape cutting machine cut the shape of the mantel and fire logs. To make the fire look realistic use the yellow and red acrylic paints to create the fire look.
6) Take the paper that you picked for covering the fireplace and being the process of transforming the card board shapes into a fireplace.
a. Take the mantel cut out and trace the shape of the opening for the logs. Now cut it open so you can fold the flaps to create a 3D effect.
b. Now using heavy paper or card stock in black cover the opening to make the look of a fire box.
c. Take the logs, flames, and grate and glue them together.
d. Using the wobbler stick the logs to it, cut the excess adhesive base around the shape for the flames. Set them aside these will be the last thing you will glue down.
e. Take the paper that you pick for the wall color and cover the shape on all sides (I cut the paper to the size I needed and wrapped it around, gluing it as I go around). Let it dry for a few minutes and then cut open the firebox area out.
f. Glue the mantel and surround onto the shape. You should be able to start seeing what looks like a fireplace.
g. I hot glued the foam stockings (bling out the stockings) to the top part of the mantel.
7) Now you can start assembling the center pieces.
8) Cut the felt into circles, using a hot glue gun the garland ribbon to the edge of the skirt. Make sure you leave an area with no glue so you can open the circle. This will allow you to wrap the skirt around the trees.
9) Hot Glue the trees, skirt, mantel and presents to the wood plaque.
Sit back and enjoy your creation.
