Flag Mania Mantle

HOW TO DECORATE A MANTLE

FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY
Directions:
Step 1---Place as many flags as possible.
Step 2---Stand back and ENJOY!

Four For The Fourth

Here's four simple ideas to decorate for the Fourth of July.

DISPLAY IT!

Nothing shows your patriotism more than displaying the American flag.
So hang it in a window.Drill one hole, or more, in a finial and stick in a flag.Place a bunch of flags in a vase or urn.

FRAME IT!

A simple idea---put a flag in a frame.Frame a flag in an old window.

GROUP IT!

Display your patriotic collections in a group for more visual punch.
Like these Uncle Samsor these barn stars.

DECLARE IT!

Find yourself a piece of wood, some paint and a brush (or scrapbook paper and vinyl) and paint a flagor a word.

Eggstra Special Centerpiece

This little egg basket
almost didn't make the cut this year in my Easter decorating. I was about to toss it back in the bin when I had an idea.
I decided to think inside the box.
I crammed it inside a vintage suitcase,
clipped off the painted criss-cross branches
and surrounded it with moss. I thought it would be fun to place a couple of chicks,
appearing to be newly hatched from their nest. Add in a tulip, another sure sign of spring.Of course it needed a little sparkle to prevent the whole mix
from looking like it was transported from an antique store.
Silver candlesticks and a tray would do the trick,
completed with cream colored candles.And within seconds I had
an egg-stra special centerpiece
anchored by an item that I almost chose not to use.Do you want to copy this idea
but you don't have the same ingredients?

Modify it!

*Try crumbling up newspaper or plastic bags as a filler in the bottom of the suitcase. Then add moss and plastic eggs.
*If you don't have a vintage suitcase, try a basket, lunchbox, bowl, urn, pail, or even a cake stand. Any container will do.
*Substitute a bunny. Or simply scatter a few more eggs around the base.
*You don't have silver candlesticks? Any candlestick will work.
*If you don't like using candles in your decor, try topping the candlesticks with small nests or an egg with a little moss tucked underneath.

If you can dream it,
you can create it!

Hoiliday Decor Hoarder

If you are not already aware, I will make it clear,

I am a hoarder of holiday decorations!

Each holiday I find myself with more decorations than I care to admit. Many gathered over the years, most acquired on closeout sales or at thrift stores. Admittedly I own decorations that I don't use. I try to cull a few to donate to the thrift store or give to family and friends. Or I try to find ways to re-purpose them into something new.

Such was the case with these mismatched wreaths and little blocks. I laid the two wreaths together
and thought that the pairing looked quite nice.
I would just need a way to keep them snugly attached to one another.
That's where this shutter (found by a dumpster) came in handy.A good cleaning, a fresh coat of spray paint,
and a little sanding, makes it the perfect backdrop
to tie and hot glue my forlorn holiday decorations, transforming all of these orphans into one big
holiday wow factor.Unfortunately it's a bit too heavy to hang on my front door
(believe me, I tried).
But it does make the perfect centerpiece
for my dining room mantle/shelf. Add in some eggs, chicks, bunnies,mixed amongst a few potted faux flowers, electric candles, and books.

And I present the perfect example ofHow to Decorate with
Things You Already Own.

An Edgy Easter Mantle

I loved my Easter decorated mantle last year and was very tempted to repeat it this year. But I didn't want to miss out on the challenge and joy of creating something new. To enliven things a bit I decided to decorate the mantle for this Easter in non-traditional spring colors. I thought it would be exciting to incorporate a couple of shades of turquoise, the 2010 color of the year.
I started by gathering two empty frames. The smaller frame came out of the guest bedroom and the larger one (which was once painted black) is making it's debut appearance in a new coat of spray paint.
A couple of candle sticks also got a spray paint makeover and were topped with ceramic egg candle holders nestled in spanish moss. The bunnies received a fresh coat of bright white spray paint. With the addition of a couple of chicks and a vase of faux tulips, this year's Easter mantle has just the edge I was looking for!

Sweet Sentiment

Isn't this the sweetest Valentine pillow?!?It's so charming and vintage-y.

I wish that I could say that it was made
with my own two hands.
It wasn't.
But it was my own two hands that
snatched it up at the thrift store!I thought I would share it with you,
just in case you were needing a little last minute idea
to make for someone you love.

An Explosion of Love

Love has exploded at our house. Well, at least the decorations for
Valentines day are in abundance.

Cupids, Candles, and Hearts are everywhere!

My favorites are these framed
vintage Valentines
that I inherited from my grandmother. Oh so sweet!

Let It Snow

One of the great things about living in an area with all four seasons is that when you take down the Christmas decorations you can redecorate with winter decor. I have a few plastic bins filled with snowflakes and snowmen that I pull out when Christmas is over. I love to pile snowflakes onto my mantles and shelves,

the more the better! Most of these came from the dollar store or were heavily discounted after Christmas (the best time to buy decorations!).It's lovely to have a little sparkle in my home after the big holidays are through.