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All is Merry and Bright…especially in the dining room! We are putting some finishing touches in the room and then we will be ready to entertain guests!
Welcome to the 2nd annual Home for the Holidays Blog Tour hosted by Sondra Lyn at Home. Wow, do we ever have a great week of holiday celebration ideas lined up for you!
Join us each day for inspiration from nearly 30 of the today’s finest blogs!
What do you do when you decide to decorate your Christmas mantel with non- traditional colors – and the colors that you want to use don’t exist? Well..we decided to make a banner for the mantel that would match the decor perfectly!
To create our DIY Christmas banner we started with a color theme. This banner is for the dining room fireplace mantel and the room colors are gray and pale yellow. Secondly we chose the phrase “Be Merry”. This sets the mood for our party and dinner guests.
Here’s the materials we used:
- Cotton Balls
- Scrapbook Paper in color theme choice. Ours were purchased at Hobby Lobby for 50% off.
- Cardboard Pennant – 12 forms to a package – also 50% off at Hobby Lobby – aprrox. $2.25
- Yarn or Needlepoint Thread
- Vinyl Letters
- Needle
- Mod Podge
- Vintage Book Pages – our book was .25 cents at a yard sale and was falling apart – perfect for crafting!
- Glitter – Optional
Trace the cardboard pennant shape on the scrapbook paper and cut. Mod Podge the scrapbook pieces to the cardboard. Let dry.
Cut vintage book pages in the size and shape you prefer. We also added a bit of glitter for some shimmer.
Measure out the yarn to fit your mantel. Lightly roll the cotton balls for a more rounded shape. Thread the cotton balls onto the yarn – knotting off the yarn ends when complete.
We used black clothes pins we got for $1 at Target to hang the letters on the banner. We love how the entire craft turned out!
We used several pieces of mercury glass, as well as silver accents, which we thought would look great with our DIY Christmas banner…
Such an easy idea to add jingle bells and a candle to this glass jar, which instantly made it a festive candle holder.
The different mixes of silvers really goes along well with the banner.
We hope we’ve inspired you to create your own DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry (one of our favorite holiday sayings). Not only was it easy to do, it was also a very inexpensive craft to make. We were able to use non-traditional colors, but still make the mantel festival and fun!
Be sure to click on the links below for more great inspiration! You’ll see everything from gorgeous decor to yummy holiday recipes… and everything in between! Here’s a look at what’s already been shared this week, along with what’s coming up!
There’s no place like…
Home for the Holidays!
XO – Jenn & Vicki
Monday – Holiday Decor
featuring…
Just a Girl and Her Blog | Lilacs & Longhorns | What Meegan Makes
Windgate Lane | Worthing Court
Tuesday – Holiday Recipes
featuring…
Duke Manor Farm | Graceful Order | Rhubarb and Honey
Snappy Gourmet | The Happier Homemaker | Two Thirty-Five Designs
Wednesday – Mantles and Tablescapes
featuring…
Dandelion Patina | {Home-ology} modern vintage | Organize and Decorate Everything
Sondra Lyn at Home | StoneGable | The Everyday Home
Thursday – Holiday Crafts
featuring…
An Extraordinary Day | Cottage at the Crossroads | Making it in the Mountains
Our Southern Home | 2 Bees in a Pod | Two Purple Couches
Friday – Gifts and Wrapping
featuring…
Addison Meadows Lane | DIY180 | Domestically Speaking
My Creative Days | Southern State of Mind | unOriginal Mom
Be sure to check back every day this week to enjoy all the goodies we’ll be sharing with you! Each day’s links will be posted that day and will go live at 7am EST/6am CST, so don’t miss a single day!
Cause we all know…
there’s no place like…
Home for the Holidays!
Monday – Holiday Decor
Tuesday – Holiday Recipes
Wednesday – Holiday Mantels and Tablescapes
Thursday – Holiday Crafts
Friday – Holiday Gifts and Wrapping

This is so creative Jenn! I love how your mantel is festive even though it’s not traditional. That is crazy cool. Don’t even get me started on the Mercury glass pinecones and the pom poms on the bunting! Hello love! Hugs, CoCo
coco recently posted…White Christmas Inspired Patio
Thank you CoCo – It is looking pretty festive in the dining room 🙂 We seriously heart mercury glass too!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
Your entire mantel is stunning and the banner was the perfect finishing touch!!! I love it! It has been fun touring with you this week! Merry Christmas!
Lindsay Eidahl recently posted…Desktop Christmas Countdown :: Thrift Store Swap
Lindsay – you’re just too sweet! This was a fun and easy project! We’ve enjoyed the week too! Cheers to a happy week and Merry Christmas!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
So pretty! I really love crafts using book pages. Your entire mantel is gorgeous.
Amy | Canary Street Crafts recently posted…State Silhouette Wall Art
Hey Amy – we miss you! You are always so sweet and kind…thank you!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
This is so lovely! Everything looks fabulous! Great job❤️
You’re too sweet Liz…thank you sweet friend!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
Beautiful! Perfect project for the kids to do too, love that!
Lisa Huff recently posted…Gingerbread Cookie Cups Recipe
Hi Lisa – yes it would be! Thanks so much for stopping by!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
Your holiday mantle is beautiful! And I love how you used non-traditional colors in your banner!
Thank you for sharing your creativity on the HFTH blog tour!
Sondra recently posted…Holiday Buffet with Mercury Glass
Sondra – we can’t thank you enough for your invitation to your fabulous tour! We appreciate you so much…thank you!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
Oh how I love mercury glass for Christmas decorating! Linda
Linda recently posted…Because It’s Not Just About The Tree
Hi Linda! We really love mercury glass too. Thanks so much for stopping by!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
So many great ideas! I love how you used cotton balls on your garland (so ingenious) and adore the collection of silver bells in the glass jar. I went with non-traditional holiday colors this year as well and just love the fun twist. Happy holidays you two!
sarah @ {Home-ology} modern vintage recently posted…A Modern Traditional Holiday Fireplace
I love banners and especially yours with the print paper. Your whole mantel is just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing all the details.
Leanne recently posted…Hershey’s Kisses Christmas Countdown
Hi Sarah – You are too kind 🙂 We love to use what we have on hand and try to create from there. Thank goodness it worked LOL. We are firm believers in using the colors that make us happy and we loved your beautiful tablescape! Thanks so much and happy holidays!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
Hey Leanne – You’re so sweet! Thanks so very much – we truly appreciate it!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
Love it ladies! Love the cotton balls on the garland and the jingle bells in the jar!
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking recently posted…Easy Snowball Wreath with Cotton Balls
Hi Maryann – Those are our favorite elements too! Thanks so very much…it’s been a fun week!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
This definitely sets a festive tone in your dining room.
Love you!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
Such a lovely touch to your mantle. I am a sucker for a book page banner, especially with glitter! So pretty!
Meredith @ unOriginalMom recently posted…Rustic Stained Wood Gift Tags
Hey Meredith – We love book pages and glitter too. It’s kind of like mixing old and new. Thanks so much for stopping by!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
Jenn and vicki- i love how you layered your banner. I looks amazing on the mantel and i am sure equally as beautiful in your room. Happy Holidays!
laura@duke manor farm recently posted…Magical White Christmas Tree
Hi Laura – Thank you so much. We really are happy with our end result…it does look pretty good in the dining room! Merry Christmas!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
I’m in love with your Be Merry banner and your whole mantel! Pinning and sharing!
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads recently posted…Handmade Gingerbread Boys and Girls
Jane – you are the best! We can’t thank you enough…Merry Christmas!
2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…DIY Christmas Banner – Be Merry
I adore your banner and it looks like an easy project that could be used for any occasion. The book pages are a nice touch. Thanks for sharing at our Inspired by You party!
Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge recently posted…Home for the Holidays Tour ~ Kitchen and Breakfast Room Hutch
Such a fun Christmas banner! It looks simple and i am pretty sure I have all the supplies already:). It looks great on your fireplace mantel. Pinning to our group board. I hope you girls are having a great week and take care, Tara
Tara @ Lehman Lane recently posted…12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop – Simple Peanut Ornament for the Birds