Easy, Everyday Mantel

Thrifted chalkboards.

Thrifted jars.

Simple string lights.

Super easy, everyday mantel.

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Christmas Mantel

Well, I already confessed my Christmas decor has remained mostly the same this year (due to the nursery overhaul), so you may be dissapointed to have already seen this. But, I'll be honest, it would have been hard to part with it anyway...I only see it one month a year...and I was thrilled to get it out again.

(Check out the tutorial links at the bottom.)

Want to make...

Record Art

Stockings Made from Vintage Rugs

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NOT-SO Ordinary Christmas Mantels

I love the usual bushy strand of garland, but how FUN to have something out of the ordinary! No doubt, these guys made it happen.

{Pickles}

{House of Belonging}

{Hula Seventy}

{Thistlewood Farms}

{HGTV}

{BHG}

{The Lilypad Cottage}

{Uncommon Designs}

{Songbird }

{Southern Living}

And also, thank you, thank you for all your repins on the AT House Tour. Believe me, it was dumbfounding to see it there in the first place, but it's been your overwhelming support that has truly left me astonished!

You are wonderful.

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Cheap & Easy Wall Art

I'm always looking for something fun for the mantel. So, I decided to try out the engineer print idea floating around Pinterest these days...only add a little something extra!

Here's what I did:

Step 1: Print out the engineer print from a local office supply store. 

Mine cost $2.99 for a 24x36 print. (I found this image here.)

Step 2: Glue it to a surface.
I chose plywood (because, you already know I always have plywood lying around). I'll save you the tutorial on that. There's several good ones out there...like this one or this one.

Step 3: Add some color.
I wasn't opposed to the black and white, but I wanted to highlight it somehow...make it stand out more. I knew it wouldn't do if I painted everything...so instead I merely added a few touches here and there. And, in fact, I found it was best done using my own fingertips.

Step 4: Mod Podge it.
I added a final layer of Mod Podge, just to finish it off.

I'd do it again...especially for $2.99.

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(happy) BIRTHDAY.

Well. It's happening. 

And, there's no stopping it now...because believe me, I've tried.

I thought for a second, if I closed my eyes...I might just be 25 again...yeah, 25.
Now, that was a good year...

Wrong. It's definitely happening.

Gosh, can't you remember the days when you WISHED to be older?
(No doubt, those days are definitely gone.)

*sigh* I'll get over it, I assume...
Besides, I have to stay strong for Grady. He'll be agonizing over the very same thing in just a few more days. :)
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Up on the Mantel

Not sure if you remember the poster I Mod Podged...and the party where it was used or not...

but I thought I'd pull it out...

in anticipation of summer.

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A Petit Collage Tutorial

A while ago on vacation, I remember distinctly this giant painting of a cut orange. It was bright and bold . . . and fabulous. I instantly fell in love with it, and the image never left my mind. But, I'll remind you, it was a painting . . . and well . . . I'm no painter . . . at least not of detailed images anyway. So, in order to recreate it, I needed to come up with a better solution.

That is when I decided to experiment with petit collage.

Step 1: Decide on your colors and cut out a bazillion scrap pieces from all your old magazines.

Step 2: Outline your image on your canvas. (Try not to worry too much about making it so "perfect." I honestly think petit collage is meant to NOT be perfect...)

Step 3: Paint your background.

Step 4: Begin gluing (or Mod Podging) your scrap pieces on the canvas, using your freehand drawing as a guide. (I chose to use scraps of text as my outline.)

Step 5: Place it on your mantel, stand back and smile.

Linked up to: (Sunday) Nifty Thrifty Things, C.R.A.F.T., The Girl Creative, Homemaker on a Dime, Everything Under the Moon, Craftomaniac, Lines Across my Face, The Delectable Home, It's Overflowing, Making the World Cuter (Monday) Burlap & Denim, Making the World Cuter (Tuesday) Chef-in-Training, Sugarbee Crafts, Sassy Sites, Not Just a Housewife, Natural Nesters, Clean & Scentisible,  Uncommon, Fox Hollow Cottage (Wednesday) Blue Cricket Design, 733, Southern Lovely, Someday Crafts, Chatty Chics, Crafty Scappy Happy, Beyond the Picket Fence (Thursday) 52 Mantels, Simply Designing, Design Dazzle, See Vanessa Craft, (Friday) Bacon Time, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk (Saturday) Six Sister's Stuff, A Little Inspiration, Too Much Time on My Hands, The Lettered Cottage Pin It Now!

Up on the Mantel

Okay. So we swoon over Ross . . .
I'm not ashamed.

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A Christmas Mantel

If you've been following along for a while, then you recognize the record artwork from last year . . . only I've added a new flashing wreath.  I'm in love with those old school big bulbs and was most pleased to find a few strands at the thrift store for $1 a piece.  Two small strands fit perfectly on the wire wreath I found at Carolina Pottery for only 5 bucks.

Even better . . . every morning that Ross and I come downstairs, her eyes light up and she screams, "Lights! Lights!"  It's nice to know that a one year old can appreciate decorating just as much as I do . . . *smile*

Linked up to: Nifty Thrifty Things, C.R.A.F.T. , Homemaker on a Dime, Making the World Cuter, Everything Under the Moon, The Girl Creative, Lines Across my Face, Centsational Girl, Sassy Sites, A La Mode, Chef in Training, Not Just a Housewife, Sugarbee Crafts, The Thrifty Home, JAQS Studio, Blue Cricket Design, Uncommon, Clean & Scentsible, Organize & Decorate Everything, Someday Crafts, Bacon Time, Southern Lovely, 733, The Artsy Girl Connection, House of Hepworths, Mess for Less, Saved By Love Creations, Between U and Me, The Shabby Creek Cottage, The Crafty Nest, Sassy Sites, Finding Fabulous, Nifty Thrifty Things, Everything Under the Moon, Design Dazzle, Ninth & Bird, Funky Junk Interiors, Too Much Time On My Hands, Tatertots & Jello Pin It Now!

A Fall Mantel

If you've been reading along, then you remember those plantation shutters I thrifted a few weeks ago.  I'm way too excited about how they fit so well on our tiny mantel!  Even better, the oval wreath I found at Carolina Pottery ended up fitting too! I'm using the Uncommon burlap banner again, as you can see . . . but, my favorite addition; however, has to be Nefotlak's jar idea I stole.  I can't ever resist a few pictures of Ross . . .

*sigh* 

Don't you just love fall?

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Copycat Art Project

Source: taniawillis.tumblr.com via Holly on Pinterest

I saw this TO DIE FOR project a few months ago,

and I have been itching to copy it ever since!

Here's how I did it . . .

After cutting out pages from an old book with an X-acto knife, I laid them out to make sure they'd fit on my piece of plywood.

Once I was happy, I started gluing them down with decoupage glue.

After that, I simply painted my words.

My handwriting isn't near as cute,

and I probably should have made the words bigger . . .

but, there's always next time . . .

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