A THRIFTY mum made her own fireplace so her kids would have somewhere to hang their stockings – and she did it all for just a tenner.
Mum-of-three Charlie Forde, 31, used some leftover cardboard boxes, glittery wrapping paper, an old shelf, fablon and tape to create a stunning fireplace in just a few hours.
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Charlie and her partner, Tim, moved into their new home in Blackpool earlier this year – but the only thing it was lacking was a fireplace.
With December 25 around the corner, Charlie suddenly realised she had nowhere to hang her kids’ stockings, with Tyler-Ann, 15, Mercedes, 10, and Bradley, 3, adamant Christmas would be ruined if they couldn’t put up their decorations.
Charlie, a healthcare assistant, said: “We moved in back in April and my partner and I work full-time.
“We’ve both been flat out over the last few months so we haven’t really decorated.
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“With Christmas coming up I went out and bought some stockings and brought them home.
“When I got in I looked around the living room and suddenly thought ‘where am I going to put them?’ because I don’t have a fireplace.
“The kids were going nuts and said Christmas would be ruined!”
The resourceful mum set about making her own fireplace, and gathered boxes left over from their move.
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She covered an old shelf in fablon, and stacked the boxes into the shape of a fireplace before covering it all in glittery wrapping paper.
Charlie said: “We had loads of boxes left over from the move so I thought I should have a go and even if it looks mediocre I thought I’d give it a crack.
“I used the boxes and covered them in wrapping paper.
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“I then put the boxes on top of an old shelf and covered it in the fablon marble material.
“All in all it took me about three hours in total.”
She added some finishing touches by popping some driftwood and fairy lights down to look like a fire, and covered the shelf with fake snow.
In total the fireplace cost her around £10, and Charlie says her kids are thrilled – even though they were sceptical at first.
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Charlie said: “The kids thought I was absolutely crazy to start with.
“But once they saw it they were blown away. They love it, they can’t believe how well it’s turned out. It’ll make Christmas extra special for them this year.
“People have come round and asked how long we’ve had a fireplace for.
“They keep cracking jokes and ask me to put the fire on.”
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