Christmas Mantel + Paper Medallion Tutorial

This post is sponsored by Michaels and Recollections, all ideas are 100% mine and I can’t wait to share them with you!

We’re starting to get out the Christmas bins and decorate for the holidays a little earlier this year! One of my favorite spaces to change up for every holiday is my mantel. I have a pretty tall fireplace mantel with lots of stone, and I’m always trying to think of new ways to fill up the space. Inspiration hit this weekend when I was shopping at Michaels and came across the new Recollections paper collection:

The first thing I grabbed was this Wall Rosette kit. I love that they have these ready-to-go kits for an easy finishing touch on your holiday decor, or a statement wall like I created. I knew I would use all of the red and white rosettes included in the kit, and it was on sale for 40% off so it was totally worth it. (In fact, all of the Recollections holiday collection was on sale, and it’s in the paper crafting section on the end caps of the aisles so it’s easy to find!)

I am crushing on red and black plaid this year, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on these darling plaid paper rolls. They even have washi tape to match! The package of die-cut shapes I picked up matched the color scheme perfectly with kraft, red. black and white shapes. Deer, snowflakes, trees, gift tags, and so much more are included in this pack. (I’ll be using the extras for gift tags under the tree!)

My plan was to use all of the paper medallions included in the kit, and then make some of my own with the plaid paper. Have you ever made paper medallions? They are so simple!

It’s just like folding a paper fan! When you are done creating your accordian folds, you simply fold each end in half to meet the other side of the paper. Where the ends meet up, you secure them together with tape or hot glue. And that’s it! You have a custom paper medallion!

When all of the medallions were assembled, I embellished the centers with die-cuts and paper doilies from Recollections. I love the red and white color combination, with just a touch of black. It’s not really a traditional Christmas color scheme, but the plaid patterns make it feel so warm and cozy!

I laid the medallions out on the floor first to figure out how I wanted to hang them. Then I just attached them to my mantel one at a time, layering them as I went. It is really hard to hang things from this stonework, and I’ve found what works best is hot glue! It sticks really securely and comes off cleanly when it is time to take the decorations down.

I love the focal point that these beautiful paper medallions have created in the room!