November is the time of year that I tend to lean towards neutral colors with my home decor. I’m bringing out cozy blankets, softer pillows, any texture I can find, and of coarse, candles. This year, my Thanksgiving mantel is using decor I have as well as a few easy DIY crafts. This is my version of a Thanksgiving mantel DIY decor project. I made the doily candle holders, pampas grass arrangements, and the coffee filter flower garland.

The coffee filter flower garland fell from the ceiling so I attached it to the mantel. When one idea doesn’t work out – just modify it and make it work in a new way. We’re not using our fireplace yet, so the garland works here for now.

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Thanksgiving Mantel DIY Decor
Doily candle holder

When I made the doily candle holders, I tried two techniques and I’d recommend using both. You’ll need balloons, and you’ll blow it up to the size that fits your doily. With the first technique, you’ll need Elmer’s glue, water, and a bowl. With the second technique, you’ll just need spray starch.

Both methods will require an area for the doily to dry. I taped the balloon to a paper cup and set it on some junk mail to catch any drips.

If you mix Elmer’s glue with water, it’s not a science, so I don’t have measurements. I just poured some glue in the bowl and added water until the glue was thin, but thicker than water. The glue method works well on thicker doilies or if you need a sturdy structure to the doily. It does take longer to dry.

If you use spray starch, get a ‘heavy hold’ spray and know that you may need to apply a second coat once the first coat dries. The starch worked really well on the finer light-weight doily (the larger doily on the right-side), but it does has some flexibility to it while the glued doily does not.

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Thanksgiving Mantel DIY Decor
Pampas arrangements

I used dried pinto beans to fill my pedestal vases because it’s inexpensive, shows texture, and it helps the pampas stems stay put. I filled the rest of the vases with yarn pom poms to add more texture and whimsy. I made the pom poms using a pom pom maker, but there are a lot of ways to make them without a tool you need to purchase.

We don’t have pampas grass, but we do live in a big neighborhood where we found several wild bushes. I sent my oldest daughter out there to cut six stems and she did a great job! I had forgotten how messy pampas grass is, so my tip is to trim your stems outside so they’re ready once inside.

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Thanksgiving Mantel DIY Decor
Coffee filter flower garland

This fun DIY craft cost me $2 to make and about an hour of my time. Each flower was created using about seven coffee filters. To reshape coffee filters, just get them wet and then allow them to dry. I put 100 wet coffee filters in the dryer with a few towels on the lowest heat. Then I had to flatten each filter, but it was fine because at this point I created my stacks of seven filters. Then I stapled the stack near the center, glue gunned the middle filters together around a string I pre-measured, and then stapled on the other side of the glue.

The framed word art is from House of Belonging, and the laser carved word is from Feather and Birch on Etsy.

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This Thanksgiving mantel was so much fun to create. I hope you’re inspired to give your mantel a little makeover – maybe with some texture from nature or even a DIY craft. There is something calming and peaceful about neutral tones, texture, and bringing in nature – there’s so much to be thankful for. For brighter colors and inspiration, check out my fall home tour.