Summer-Inspired Paper Mantel

Not only is today Mantel Monday, it's also the day we kick off The Great Paper Mantel Challenge! If you're just now joining us, let me catch you up. In April, readers voted on mantel themes for me to tackle. 100% paper was the winning theme...and The Great Paper Mantel Challenge was born! 

I'm joined in this challenge by 5 other creative bloggers. Tomorrow and Wednesday we'll get to see their 100% paper mantels. I am terribly excited to see what they've come up with! 

My paper mantel is a nod to Summer colors: sunny yellows, happy aquas, fresh corals...and every shade in between! I balanced the bright colors with natural textures from faux reclaimed wood (a lucky find in the scrapbook paper aisle) and the pages of an old book. 

Besides old book pages and scrapbook paper, my mantel utilizes cupcake wrappers (turned into "planted" flowers), cardboard and poster board. 

Okay, okay. I also used glue and tape. How else was I to keep all the paper together?? 

When I found the "reclaimed wood" paper at Hobby Lobby, I knew it would end up on my all paper mantel! 

I filled my cardboard box "planters" with paper flowers, strips of book pages and a paper sign that reads: Everything you can imagine is real~ Pablo Picasso 

My summery paper banner reads: Shall I compare thee to a Summer's night?~ W. Shakespeare. Incidentally, I spotted that familiar quote on one of the book paper flowers. I decided it was meant to be on my Summer mantel. Don't you agree? 

I think that just about covers the details!! Come back tomorrow and Wednesday to see more paper mantel ideas from the 5 other fun bloggers. 

UPDATE: The tutorial for the paper flowers can be found here! 

(Like what you see? Follow 52 Mantels!)

Follow 52 Mantels by Email

I link up here and here!