New Link Party in Town! & It's a Cinch Mantel Makeover

I'm on a Mission!


MISSION: POSSIBLE 
a year's worth of 6 fun themed link parties!

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We're kicking off the party on March 27 with "It's a Cinch"!

Anything simple, easy, a piece of cake, a snap, straightforward, no problem, uncomplicated ... 

well you get the idea!

Like this quick mantel makeover I created for a house 
I'm staging for a sale.

Here's the before (stifling a yawn)!

Before Mantel

Depth and interest are easily added by simply layering 

a few mirrors over the big black mirror.

Two chunky stone finials replace the spindly candlesticks for more interest and texture.

That's it - adding a few bolder pieces and layering them brings the mantel from snore to score!

After Mantel

So get your It's a Cinch ideas brewing and come share on the last Tuesday of March (3/27)!


Do you have any projects lying around that won’t take long?  


Have a cute little craft idea that you can whip up?  


I'll be sharing some more fun It's a Cinch projects every 
Monday before the Link Party.


Be sure to stop by my co-hosts for their It's a Cinch ideas!


Kari at Thistlewood Farm
Andrea at The Cottage Market
Linda at it all started with paint
Karah at the space between


Here's the down low on the year of link parties!


May will be all about The Great Outdoors
July we're going Crazy for Color
September brings Door Decor
November we'll show off our No $ Makeovers
January - our 2nd annual Impossibilities party!

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Feel free to grab a button!  Spread the word - the more the merrier!


PS - I'm in the process of transferring my blog 
and it's gotten a little screwed up!  


So, my normal .com address is MIA but will be back soon.  
And pics are missing in past posts - 
hope to have this all resolved soon - thanks!

In Her Shoes - Valentine Mantel

What better way to decorate for Valentine's Day than by remembering our kids when they were sweet (aka, never talked back and listened to whatever we said)!

My still sweet twins are 12 now but I saved some of their cutest shoes - from booties to ballet shoes.  They look adorable on the mantel!

An old window and scrapbook paper hearts could not be simpler to make.

The girls all gussied up - now it's difficult to get them into a dress!  Love these jester booties.

They are long over the pink princess phase so it's nice to be able to be pink once again!

The checkered slat tabletop was missing the legs when I bought it - it used to hang as art in the girls nursery.  

Crusty old backplates found during the renovation combine with the girls tarnished baby cups and spoons.

It's hard to believe these tiny red chairs used to seat the girls at their art table!  More shoes - this time their ladybug rain boots - sit by the hearth (I've always wanted to use the word hearth)!

The key to our hearts (ugh, I'm getting all Valentine's Day corny)!!

Planning a big love fest party for the girls and their fave peeps.  Can't wait to share the fun and frivolity with you soon.

Have you seen my super duper adorable Valentine Wreath?  If not, click here.

Don't forget to join us on January 31 for our big blog hop link party - Imagine the Impossibilities Challenge.

Linking Here:
Decor Chick - Valentine Link Party
DIY Showoff - DIY Project Parade
No Minimalist Here  - Open House Party
Home Stories A to Z - Valentine's Mantel Link Party
The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home Party
Addicted 2 Decorating - Not So Anonymous Link Party
Tatertots and Jello - Weekend Wrap Up Party
Funky Junk Interiors - Sat Night Special
Homemaker In Heels - Weeked Craft Soiree
Nifty Thrifty Things - Nifty Thrity Sunday
Debbiedoo's - Newbie Party
Homemaker on a Dime - Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop
Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase
Get Outta My Head Please - Show It Off Party
Mod Vintage Life - Mod Mix Monday
A Stroll Thru Life - Tabletop Tuesdays
Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Knick of Time Tuesday - Vintage Style Link Party
The 36th Avenue - Party Time
Evolution of Style Link Party
A Bowl Full of Lemons - One Project at at Time
Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays
Chatty Chics - Wild Wednesdays
The Shady Porch - Rock n Share
The Delectable Home - Show and Tell Monday
Faded Charm Cottage - White Wednesday
Shabby Creek Cottage - Transformation Thursday
Junk in Their Trunk - Link it Up Wednesday
From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday
52 Mantels - Thursdays are Your Days
Fireflies and Jellybeans - Show off Your Stuff Party
Passionately Perfect - Coffee and Conversation
Between You and Me - Crazy Cute Link Party
At the Picket Fence - Inspiration Friday
2805 - Potpourri Friday
French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday
Stuff and Nonsense - Fridays Unfolded
Mrs. Hines Class - Show & Tell 
Design, Dining and Diapers - 14 Days  of Love Link Party
I Gotta Create- Kiss and Tell

Four Little Owls All in a Row Mantel

Whew - the Christmas decorations are back in their bins but my mantel was bare as a baby's bottom!  See the Christmas mantel here).  I didn't feel like digging in my basement for my Italian glass decanters so I had to think of something.  Around the house I went on a little shopping expedition to find the perfect things to dress up a naked mantel.

The huge old slate chalkboard was a $2 score at the thrift shop!  The back is green with Raggedy Ann & Andy and the alphabet - so cool!  It welcomed Santa (see here) on Christmas eve and now the big owl reigns supreme.

The two owls print is a $3 thrift store find.  Little Hootie the mercury glass owl came from Home Goods around Halloween but I like to keep him out all year.  My dad gave me the old leather books (in Spanish).

I just couldn't put away the snowy mason jar candles yet - still waiting for snow (not counting the freak October snow storm that left me without power for a week - yes, I am still bitter)!

The vintage silver trophy filled with dried hydrangeas that topped my Ladder Christmas Tree looks great on the mantel next to one of my girls' tarnished silver baby cups.

Don't make me beg - but I would love for you to follow me!  Either through Facebook (where we party like it's 1999) or Google Friend Connect, a reader or email (check the right sidebar).  I promise it won't hurt!  

Linking here:
Addicted 2 Decorating - Not So Anonymous Link Party
Remodelaholic - Remodelaholics Anonymous Link Party
Tatertots & Jello - Weekend Wrap Up Party
Too Much Time on My Hands - Get Schooled Saturday
Funky Junk Interiors - Saturday Night Special
Homemaker in Heels - Weekend Craft Soiree Blog Hop
Between Naps on the Porch - Metamorphosis Monday
A Stroll Thru Life - Tabletop Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia - Tuesdays Treasures
Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays
The Shady Porch - Rock 'n Share
Cozy Home Scenes - Your Cozy Home Party
Junk in Their Trunk - Link it Up Wednesday
From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday
No Minimalist Here - Open House Party
Fireflies and Jellybeans - Show Off Your Stuff Party
Uncommonly Yours - Link Party
Blue Cricket Design - Show & Tell Time
Very Merry Vintage Style - Share the Love Party
The 36th Avenue
52 Mantels - Thursdays are Your Days
House of Hepworths - Hookin Up with HoH
Between Naps on the Porch - Tablescape Thursday
Momnivore's Dilemma - Creative Juice Party
The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home Party
At the Picket Fence - Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Fridays
2805 - Potpourri Friday
Common Ground - Vintage Inspiration Friday
LaurieAnna's Vintage Home - Farmhouse Friday
The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday
The Shabby Creek Cottage - Transformation Thursday
The Grant Life - Financial Friday Link Party
My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday
The Tablescaper - Seasonal Sundays
5 Days 5 Ways - Friday Free For All
Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase Party
Get Outta My Head Please- Show it Off Link Party

Bling, Burlap, Bed Springs & a Bit of Leopard Mantel!

What's not to love about a little bling (like a fish, I'm attracted to shiny objects!), rustic burlap and rusty bed springs, and a little leopard print?  Combined with some fresh garland and snowy mason jar candles, this mantel is a major babe - check her out!

Vintage green crib bed springs found at an estate sale are a fab backdrop for all the finery.  The mantel is covered in fresh garland and fab mercury glass trees (found at Target after Christmas one year for 75% off!).  Festive snowy mason jar candles (click here to see how simple they are to make), tied with burlap and a shiny jingle bell are nestled among the greenery.  

The amazing twig wreath is covered in snowy crystals and tied with a big burlap bow.  

The stockings are hung (by the chimney with care - oops, went off on a tangent) from gold tree shaped hangers I bought years ago.  Leopard and toile combined with pom poms make adorable stockings!  How do we know who's stocking is who's you ask?  The girls engraved silver baby cups are tied to their wreaths and mom and dad get a wine glass and wine bottle - each tied on with a strip of burlap.  

A tiny silver wine glass marks my stocking (don't judge me)!

Snowy mason jar candles cast a beautiful glow.

Our little elf helps decorate and holds a flute ornament given to one of my girls this year (we give them a new ornament each year when we decorate the tree).  Check out his stylin' clogs!

Time to put on my cozy pj's and snuggle in front of the fire.  Enjoy the holidays!

This was Featured Here!

Linking here and some more on the sidebar!

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Fall Mantel Using Flea Market Finds

The change of seasons inspires me to mix things up around the house.  Here's my seasonal Fall mantel display using a huge mirror made from old tin ceiling tiles with another gold mirror layered on top (I just love the mottled look of old mirrors).  The orange berries add a colorful touch.  Then, I added a few of my 50's stretch vases and a vintage pair of bronze baby shoes to complete the look.  

After - My Fall Mantel

My fall mantel of oranges, golds and bronze

Vintage bronze baby shoes and 50's stretch vases

Before - My Everyday Mantel

My "Everyday" mantel with 60's Italian decanters

And the best part, doing this forced me to dust the mantel!!