I know that spring is just around the corner. Actually I don't know if winter has even managed to settle in at all this year. Nonetheless, I did manage to do a winter mantle. Here are some quick shots. I got the sign at a store in a nearby town. I saw that Antique Market House was selling one just like it for a little more money than I paid. I just loved it and I may end up leaving it on my mantle all year long.

Pretty simple, but I like how it turned out. I got that big smowflake last year for like, $8 I think.

Don't forget I'll be posting one of the projects from my last post. Make sure you check back later this week! I think it is definately "pin worthy!"

The 2011 Mantles

For those of you who were bored with me only showing previous mantles(Elise :) ). I'm finally showing off the 2011 mantles. And my new white brick...

There are lots of people having mantle parties. Check down at the bottom and go visit them. If you haven't done your mantles yet, you are sure to find some inspiration or some more pins for pinterest if nothing else!



I'll start with the upstairs mantles.

My "Fa la la" has made it's 3rd appearance, the window is back for it's second year. This year I decided to use my red, silver, and blue ornaments that were on top of my kitchen cabinets last year.

I just stuck them on white and or glass candlesticks that were nestled among the garland.


This vignette sits on the hearth. The presents are just empty boxes, but I love that blue and white polka dot paper too much to let ALL of it get ripped to shreds!



Alright, let's move downstairs.

This mantle is very similar to the upstairs one. I used some favorite ornaments that I found at Kirkland's about 5 years ago. I'm using more black accents downstairs so I used black candlesticks and black polka dot ribbon in my garland.



On the hearth I stuck some miniature trees into red buckets and added some light green filler.

Here's a full fireplace shot. What do you think of the new white brick? That one oddball brick had some interesting writing on it and I didn't want to paint over it.

The new paint job definitely lightens up the downstairs. I've done some rearranging down there, but I may wait until after Christmas to share the new views.

I'm linking up at:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
From My Front Porch to Yours

Southern Hospitality

Stories of A to Z
Thanks for stopping in, drop me a hello so I can return the friendliness!

Fall Mantle

I was so happy when it was finally September so I could have the excuse to pull out my fall stuff. Are you as done with hot weather as I am?

We've gotten a small dose of fall this week and it has been glorious!

I have made some other changes to the living room, like paint (total shock I know) and I'll share that with you all next week.

For now, let's take a look at the mantle.

If you remember, my both my fireplaces have ginormous hearths that I have to include in the decorations. (I say have to, I guess I don't have to. But, well I just have to!)

For some reason I am wanted more simplicity in some of my accessories. I have been drawn to white but with the white fireplace (remember that whole decision making process?) I needed them to pop just a little more so I picked some ribbon to add to some of them.


On the other side I added some pillows for additional seating. The crown pillow I made by creating a stencil with my cricut onto freezer paper and painting it on a drop cloth.



These boxes I think are old sewing machine drawers. I thought about painting them (another shocker) but then I kind of liked them wood. And they have a worn gold detail on the front that is kind of nice. So, for now they are staying sans paint.
The sign that my decorating is a trial and error process is the white ribbon that is tied to the drawers. The price tags hung from them and I just hadn't taken them off because I hadn't settled on a home for the drawers yet.

And now I guess I'm just too lazy to cut it off. Seriously, every time I look at the boxes I think "I really should go get the scissors and cut that ribbon off."

But then I see a squirrel.

(You know like on "UP" where the dog is talking then says "SQUIRREL!!" and gets all distracted? That's me.)

By the way is anyone like me, in that, I can't have people watching me when I am styling a room. Many times I move things several times and switch things in and out, around and around until I am satisfied. I don't like people watching me through this process because it makes me self-conscious that they are making judgements about what I am doing while I am still unsure myself. Anyone? Maybe it's just me.

Anyway, moving on...

Just the mantle (that I am still thinking about painting black)

And finally the whole fireplace:

I have another post scheduled later this week featuring the bookshelves surrounding the fireplace. Big and small changes around here.

Hubby is still at the school where they teach you to fold your clothes in ridiculously small ways so I am trying to pass the time until he is done. He gets to come home on weekends and there have been a few weeks where the house he left on Sunday was not the same house he came to Friday night. But he's okay with that. At least he let's me think he is :)

Linking up...

Spring Mantle

I think Beth is a mind reader (or maybe she read my blog-that would be pretty cool)

because she decided to have her seasonal mantle party this week.

Of course that was just the kick in the pants I needed to get my post done.

You all remember I have two mantles, this post is going to be the upstairs mantle.

I'll try to move the laundry and get some pictures of the downstairs mantle tomorrow. This is going to be short and sweet so don't blink!

I used these bunnies on the downstairs mantle last year.

For spring/Easter 2011 I just changed out their bows.

Remember I told you about the woman with the velvet ribbon?

Don't know that story? (it is one of my favorite "scary stories") Click here. Here they are a year ago (and no their heads didn't fall off when I changed the ribbon):

One more 2011 mantle shot:

Here are a few more touches of Easter I have around:

I got the fabu-lo-so idea to twinify some eggs from Domestically Speaking and boy did I do some twining!

The lighter colored egg is from last year. I bought that twine at Dollar Tree. This year I found jute at Hobby Lobby and twined eggs of all sizes.

Beside my little twined lovelies is my other obsession-buttons. That is an egg made out of buttons, by the way.

(Just when you thought I'd run out-bwah hahahaha!)

If you are lost on the joke click here then here then know that I also did Christmas trees but I spared you from that one. Finally, another twiny vignette:

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm going to get another spring post up, I have some before and after things to post and then I have a fun, frivilous post about my spring break using my new favorite toy!

Another Mantle

I showed you the downstairs mantle, today let's go upstairs.

This post is going to be pretty much all photos. I will; however, give you the links to some of the other things I might refer to.

Here are a few close ups (cause I like keeping you in suspense as to how it all comes together).

I showed you all about these button snowflakes here.

>

All the snowflakes and snowballs are actually Christmas ornaments I got on sale at 50-75% off after Christmas and BEFORE the new year and the "resolution."

Which is actually going pretty good. I may even cut my spending budget next month (not follow the "no shopping" rule, just cutting back-or rather giving most of my budgeted spending money to a friend's son who is going on a mission trip over spring break.) But I digress and I promised more pictures than words. Total rule breaker...

You all know of my painting the fireplace dilemma. Now I have a "paint the mantle dilemma." The fireplace seems awfully, well, white. Do you think I should paint the mantle black? Or does someone know how to photoshop so I could see what a black one would look like?

Thanks for stopping by. Thanks to Debbie and her post on comments, I'm going to do a better job on the type of comments I leave as well as responding to the comments I receive. Come back soon-I want to show you something-the clue is "Parson me?"

Wintery Mantle

I got all my Christmas stuff down in about 3 days.

It was completely gone by about the 28th of December.

Impressive huh?

Well, truth be told, I had an idea for my winter mantle(s) and I couldn't wait to get them going.

Disclosure: I am an external motivation kind of girl and whenever I need an extra kick in the pants to do something-like clean or redo something-I'll buy something new to encourage me to hurry along the process. Actually that is probably why I am making my 2011 resolution to "be content." I never said I wasn't a work in progress.

Anyway, I found an awesome snowflake for $8 at my fav flea market and an

idea was born.

If you remember, I have two fireplaces in my house.

Today's post is about the downstairs mantle.

I'm just going to give you a parade of pictures with little talking in between.

(I'm getting a little better at shorter posts!)

I got two of these snowflake buckets for 75% off and the little snowflake was 1/2 off.

(Yes, these were bought prior to 2011, prior to my "no shopping" vow of January 2011.)

I used touches of white with my "big-o" finials. You can read about my love of finials here.

Full mantle shots!

I'm linking at The CSI Project.

Come by with some hot chocolate...let it snow!