How to Make a Origami Fireplace

If you don't have a real fireplace, this cardboard faux fireplace is an easy solution for hanging stockings when you don't have one of your own.

Now that you have your new cardboard fireplace, it's time to make some new cookies for Santa this Christmas Eve. Our favorites are these Melted Snowman, Christmas Blossom or Christmas Tree cookies.

Faux Fireplace To The Rescue

For the past 9 years, I haven't been able to hang my stockings with care. They've been on the wall or on a couch or chair! I was on the phone with my sister the other day, and she was telling me about a faux fireplace she had just made out of cardboard for a church Christmas party. It sounded like such a fun idea!

I was so excited and couldn't wait to make my own. Plus, I knew my kids would have so much fun finally having a fireplace to hang their stockings from! I now know it's possible to just buy one but it just wouldn't be the same. This fake fireplace seriously couldn't get any easier. Did I forget to mention I also roped my husband into helping me build it. It only took us a couple of hours to make, including the time it took for the paint to dry!

DIY Fake Cardboard Fireplace Supplies

• 4-18x18x16 cardboard boxes (home depot .96¢ each)
• 2-28x20x5 cardboard boxes (I just snagged similar size boxes from the stoker man at WalMart)
• 1 -2 rolls of brown craft paper (walmart for $3 and change)
• brown craft paper
• Acrylic paint (brick red or mix of red, brown and cream)
• Sponge
• Red, yellow and black card stock (dollar store, .50¢ each)

How To Make A Fake Cardboard Fireplace

Step 1: Tape all 4 18×18 boxes up, leaving one flap open, like this:

Step 2: Flip the boxes on their sides and stack them to make the base of the fake fireplace and tape the sides and back seams together like this:

Step 3: Roll out 130″ of the craft paper and start sponge painting your faux bricks. We found if your sponge isn't too saturated, it gave it a more realistic look! The craft paper wasn't quite tall enough to cover my boxes, so I cut 4 or 5 strips that were 7″ tall. Then I taped them to the larger 130″ strip before painting. The tape goes on the back side so I'm not sure how well the paint would stick to it. Hope that makes sense!

Step 4: Once the paint has dried, lay your paper over the boxes and secure them with packaging tape. The base of your fake fireplace is now done.

Step 5: (I totally spaced taking pictures of this part, but it's similar to the first part.) Assemble your two 28x20x5 boxes and tape them together so the dimensions are 56x20x5. Cover the top and sides with craft paper. I chose not to paint my faux mantle, but you can paint it with mixed black and white paint, using a rag to get a marble look, see Family Fun for the technique. Then just set your faux mantle on top of your bricks.

Step 6: Put the black card stock down for the "fireplace floor" and cut out red and yellow flames if you want a fire! My sweet, sweet husband helped me with the flames. He cut them out and then made a crown shape with them so we could put flameless candles in the middle! I love the way they look!

More Easy DIY Christmas Ideas

• DIY Christmas Tree Luminaries
• Easy Christmas Crafts For Kids
• Toilet Paper Roll DIY Nativity Set
• Ribbon Christmas Tree Craft
• Christmas Stocking Countdown Printable

If you already have a fireplace, you could easily do this on a smaller scale for a child's room, or a play house! My kids just love their fake fireplace! Don't forget to leave us a comment below after you finish your cardboard fireplace and let us know how it turned out.

Cardboard Firelace

Step by step instructions to make your own fake DIY cardboard fireplace

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Paint Drying Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Servings 1 Fireplace

Cost 25

• Sponge

• 4 boxes 18x18x16
• 2 boxes 28x20x5
• 2 Rolls Brown craft paper
• 1 Can Red brick acrylic paint
• Sheets Red, black & yellow card stock

• Tape all four of the 18×18 boxes up, be sure to leaving one flap open

• Turn the boxes on their sides and stack them up to make the fireplace base. Then tape the sides and back seams together.

• Roll out 130 inches of the brown craft paper. Then start painting on your faux bricks using the sponge.  If your craft paper isn't tall enough to cover the boxes, cut out a few strips of paper to make sure everything is covered when you're done.  Tape them to the larger 130″ strip before painting.

• Once the paint has dried, lay your paper over the boxes and secure them with packaging tape.

• Assemble your two 28 x 20 x 5 boxes and tape them together so the dimensions are 56 x 20 x 5. Cover the top and sides with craft paper. If you want to pain your mantle, you should do that now. Then just set your mantle on top of your bricks.

• Place the black card stock down for the fireplace floor and then cut out red and yellow flames if you want to have a fire inside!

We found if your sponge isn't too saturated, it gave it a more realistic look!

Originally posted on Crazy Domestic 2011 by Megan

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How to Make a Origami Fireplace

Source: https://www.somewhatsimple.com/faux-fireplace/

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