Door No. 17 *WIP Advent Calendar 2023*

Hello hello hello! Welcome back to WIP! We've been opening the doors of our special Advent Calendar 2023 for a good while now. If you've missed any, click the Christmas tag at the bottom of this article to find them.

Today is December 17th, and the door reveals...

A fireplace mantel installation how-to!

Don't worry if you don't have a fireplace - I don't, either! All you need is a shelf with open ends (so not a bookcase shelf) and a pile of different kinds of pine and other garland (real of plastic). Here's how to do it:

If your shelf isn't there already, attach it to your wall in a central place in your living room or bedroom.
Pick the thickest garland you have and place it on top of the shelf. You can use adhesive hooks on the shelf to keep the garland steady.
Add thinner garlands on top of and around the thicker one. Attach with cable ties if necessary.
If you have smaller branches, insert them into the garland mixture.
Add a festive ribbon (red velvet would be excellent) around and about the installation.
If there are spots left open, add little candle holders. If burning actual candles would be a fire hazard, use flameless ones.
Attach small Christmas ornaments and bells around the installation as desired.

And you're done! No fireplace needed. (Although, if you want to take this to the next level, place a TV right under the shelf and play a fireplace video on it. You can even hang little stockings from the edge of the shelf!)