Valentine mantel

I don't usually decorate up for "holidays" that happen between Christmas and Easter - mostly because after I get done putting up all things holiday I just want our home to stay "basic" through the rest of the winter.  But I had seen several cute Valentine ideas on Pinterest and I knew I had all of the supplies for a cute banner!

It took me about an hour to make and it brightens up the den - I am really pleased with how the vision in my head turned out just right!

I started with the rest of the wide burlap ribbon I had purchased from Michael's a couple of years ago.  I cut six equal lengths of it and ironed it flat.

Then I made a template of a heart from cardstock and cut out 6 hearts in assorted fabric scraps.  Some of the fabrics were flimsy, so I ironed some interfacing on those first.

I gave the top raw edges a zig zag, then folded down a casing and stitched it with a straight seam  - just wide enough for a small safety pin to fit through.

 Then I pinned and top stitched with zig-zag the hearts on the fronts. So easy. 

 

I also zig zag stitched along the bottoms of the burlap pieces to keep them from unraveling.  I threaded the jute string I had through the casings (with that small safety pin), then starched and ironed each burlap flag flat.

I still have command hooks on either end of the mantel, so it was easy to tie a small loop in the ends of the jute to hang the banner.  A small piece of extra burlap ribbon, tied with florist wire, hides the hooks.

And wah-la I was finished.  Six is our lucky number!  I love that the hearts aren't all pink or red - I will leave them up until the end of February.

I added a few red touches up top - the glitter heart picks are from the Dollar Spot at Target from years ago.

So sweet!