Valentine's Day Mantle

I am so excited about my Valentine's Day mantle. My husband just rolls his eyes when I start preparing for a new holiday, but this one is always a favorite of mine. I think it stresses him out because he not only has to prepare for Valentine's Day but also my birthday. I just get to enjoy the week of celebrations!

After making the big move in July it was fun to pull together things that were no longer being used. I started by pinning a few mantles on Pinterest that I liked. I then searched high and low for anything around the house or that was boxed up that might work for my final product. Then it was off to a few of my favorite stores to find some cheap accessories.

At the dollar store I found these, as well as, the heart wreath and heart sticks:

I purchased two packages of the garland and the heart shaped scatter. I used the heart shaped scatter inside the glass block. I bought the glass block at Christmas time at Lowe's and did not have time to use it. The block also was filled with other scatter shapes that I already had as well as some little LED lights.

The garland was long enough to put around the mantle and I was able to use part of the second one to decorate the tree branches that I bought at Michael's.  Instead of decorating with rose petals that are a little cliché, I scattered some balloons that I had left from Camden's balloon wreath last year.

Probably my favorite thing is the frame that I created using a 12 x 12 white frame,  a piece of scrapbook paper, and the metal word "love" that was hanging in my old kitchen. Live and Laugh might make their way into my St. Patrick's Day or Easter mantle.

 

I am also happy that I was able to unearth the "10 things I Love about Us" gift that I had made for Ryan before we were married. It was funny to look at the things that I had written on each page of the little books and to see the ones that had yet to been written. 

 



 

 

So maybe I lied about my favorite thing on the mantle. This little creation was given to my on my first Mother's Day three years ago. It will always have a special place in my heart, not only because of the photo, but because my husband glued each letter on all by himself.  

 

 

Here is the final product...well at least until I hit Hobby Lobby or JoAnn Fabric. :)

 

 



Holiday Decor

Well....it has been some time since I have had a moment to sit down and document all of the great things going on in my life and my house. But, I am here to tell you that I have a problem....a decorating addiction. I knew it was bad when I pulled out some red stocking from the back of my closet to create a valentine mantle display. Oh, just wait! I don't have any photos yet as that one is still in progress, but, trust me it will blow your socks off....no pun intended. ;)

While you are waiting, I want to share with you what I created this year to display my Christmas cards. I think it turned out great and it was so easy.

I used some red yarn that I already had and wrapped it around the door in my kitchen that leads to my basement. I then created several reindeer clothespins using glue dots, red pom poms, google eyes, and brown pipe cleaners. I think the most difficult thing was each time I would go to the mailbox and realize I had to come in and make more reindeer in order to hang all of my cards. I guess that isn't a bad thing. What do you think?