March 29, 2012

My Mantel is Finally in Full Spring

Spring mantels have been popping up all over the place in the last month.  So bright.  So cheery.  So fresh.

I love them.

Despite seeing all of the creative displays I wasn't feeling motivated to transform my drab mantel.

And then it happened.  

Sunshine.

It is amazing what a little peek at the big, bright guy can do to a person.  I was suddenly inspired and moving full spring ahead!

I got rid of the deep, chocolatey brown wall above my mantel, painting it a less "light sucking" color, Simply Beige by Sherwin Williams {same color as the rest of the living room walls}.


Oh the things a girl can accomplish when the little one is napping...


I haven't gotten around to painting the brick and mantel, they are still the yucky, dated brown color.  Thanks to the magic of photo editing I was able to take a peek at what a little white paint might do... I am in love.  I can hear the fireplace whispering "paint me" from every corner of the house.

I love my refreshingly simple Spring mantel.


The gorgeous bouquet was inspired by Little Birdie Secrets.  The flowers are made using coffee filters!  Beautiful.  Want to make some yourself?  Check out the quick, easy tutorial {HERE}.  I did not have floral wire or tape.  I used some wire out of the closet.  You can't see the sticks in this vase anyway, so no biggie.

I made the "Spring." bunting from paper doilies I found at Dollar Tree and letters cut from scrapbook paper on my Silhouette.

I ran a piece of twine through the doilies and tied them to two dowels I found in the closet.  To pretty up the dowels I gave them a quick coat of white paint and then wrapped them in yellow and white twine from The Twinery.

To keep with my yellow, white and blue theme I snatched up two baby blue buttons and attached the bunting to the dowels with those to cover up the knot.

To hold the dowels I dug out two small terra cotta pots and painted them white, yellow and blue.  I wasn't worried about terra cotta showing through so I just did one coat.  To keep the dowels in place I stuck a little square of floral foam in the bottom, jabbed the dowel in it and then filled the pot with river rocks to keep them from shifting.





The frame was a Goodwill find from long ago that I spray painted white.  The simple, elegant vase was a fellow Goodwill pickup.  I love Goodwill!

Lastly, the bunny was cut from scrapbook paper on the ol' Silhouette that I hung on the frame's wire using a mini clothespin.

Ta-da!


How pumped was I that I didn't have to run out to buy a single thing to do this??


Linking up to these fabulous parties:
Visit thecsiproject.com
Sunday: Homemaker on a DimeDIY Show Off

**My entry into Strut Your Stuff sponsored by Appliances Online and the Bosch Washing Machines

14 comments:

  1. That looks amazing! I wish we had a mantel so I can create that exact some thing!

    Will have to use your idea for a smaller center piece for our table for easter though!

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  2. So wonderful! When the mood hits, it hits strong, eh?! Looks like something I would see in a magazine.

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  3. How sweet! Love the banner thingy (I can never remember what they are called!)! Thanks for linking at The STinky Linky Party!

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  4. Love it! So light and I love the use of empty frames!

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  5. You did a great job...love it!I'm so glad I found your blog via Addicts Anonymous. I am now a new follower so we can stay connected. I would love if you would stop by and follow too. Lori

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  6. This is so cute and simple! Great job!

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  7. Your mantle looks so adorable! I love the yellow twine :)

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  8. Love your mantel now!!! I would love for you to share it at my party at Jillify It on Tuesday!

    I'm a new follower!

    Jill
    www.jillifyit.com

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  9. Your mantel is so pretty!

    Thanks for linking up - please link up this week as well :o)

    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  10. So bright & fresh! I love it! Thanks for linking up to Cutesy Monday!

    Kathryn
    destinationcraft.blogspot.com

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  11. What a beautiful mantel! This only makes me wish I had one even more.

    Hope you'll link this up to my link party!

    http://www.vintagemauve.com/2012/04/02/mauvin-monday-6-link-party/

    Cheers,
    Jessica

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  12. I love Spring...its my favorite season!!

    So happy to stop by your blog, please stop by and say hello at my blog as well and if you are not already a follower, please take the time to become one as well at http://jessicaslilcorner.blogspot.com

    Have a blessed day!! :)

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  13. I love Spring...its my favorite season!!

    So happy to stop by your blog, please stop by and say hello at my blog as well and if you are not already a follower, please take the time to become one as well at http://jessicaslilcorner.blogspot.com

    Have a blessed day!! :)

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  14. I got rid of the deep, chocolatey brown wall above my mantel, painting it a less "light sucking" color, Simply Beige by Sherwin Williams {same ... mantelbeige.blogspot.de

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