Homefront: Colorful Spring Easter Mantel

There are few times a year when pastels can be made front and center, so I embrace it when I can. The mantle/ikea expedit shelf was done a few weeks ago, (shocker), but it didn't ever feel *just right*. When I brought this sweet smelling hyacinth home last night, I knew just what to do. I wrapped the flower pot in a scrap of burlap and tied it off with a pretty pink, polka -dot bow, just like how I did my mason jar craft (tutorial here).

I received this Velveteen Rabbit book as a gift when I was 7 years old. The Jesus picture came from this visit at a lovely antique shop. It appears that I like bunny rabbits. One day, I will add lambs and chicks to my Easter line up. But really, a beak mask just wouldn't be as cute as a bunny ear headband.

I used my white frame once again as a wreath holder. Makes a cute impact on an otherwise lonely wall.

 Do you need a quick and easy Spring Easter wreath idea? Visit my diy tutorial here!

Homefront: Simple Valentine's Day Craft Decorating



This is a Christmas hurricane glass candle holder that came with faux pine needle/cone wreath to display around the base. My husband won it from his work White Elephant Christmas Party, (and yet he brought something "funny" a Schticky Lint remover, but his the year before, a fancy toilet scrubber was a hit... I digress).

I wanted to hussy it up for Valentine's Day... so I got out my glue gun and silvery craft jewels (that you can order from me here) for this craft. If you want less permanent jewels, than you can use glue dots instead of hot glue.

 

Then, I tied a ribbon around it, added some romantical doodads like craft pearls, ginormous diamond rings, plastic crystals, a paper doily and a wood letter... and there you go. Remember the bedazzled red room I posted earlier? Well this would fit in there for sure! But I like to keep the bling to a minimum.

  

 

 I love keeping white taper candles in an assortment of jars and vessels.

 





Even for a person who doesn't go all out on holiday decorating, like how I went *teensy weensy* overboard with my "mantel"... doing a fun and simple staging area like this for holiday related items can bring just a bit of that fun and sparkle into your home. My kids always love it! 

Homefront: Halloween Decoratng

Our kid corner is getting a little bit of  a spooky glam makeover this month! I added blackout curtains in a pretty magenta color (clearance for $7 a panel at Wal-Mart)... that perfectly matches my Garden Ridge floral lampshade that graces my Goodwill crystal lamp. A pretty black and white geometric area rug from Garden Ridge grounds the area and provides a soft place for our new little, 5 1/2 month old speed crawler baby. Our dresser that has served as a changing table, kitchen storage, and now a toy storage and staging area, fits this space perfectly. An IKEA poang chair for $20 from a garage sale, and cheap and sparkly goodies make this space ready for Halloween.

  

 We love our fuzzy spider, I think we should name her Harriet.

Our large, ornate frame (from a garage sale we used for our family portraits) is a perfect backdrop for a small little vignette on our Expedit bookshelf.

I am going to be mega busy this weekend, doing tons of face painting and balloons for lots of Halloween parties! Here's a fast little pretty eye design I whipped up last weekend :) I hope to get a chance to breathe and update the blog soon, but if not, I hope you all have a very safe and very happy Halloween!!

Homefront: Valentine's Mantel Decorating

 My mantel post is late this month! I kept it low key with only one obvious Valentine decoration, my large glittery red love bird heart. I couldn't find my Valentine decor box, but that's fine. After seeing the photos, there are some changes I would make, but I'm trying to not be too fussy right now. One thing I miss though, was my heart doily arch from last year in our old home.

 This little tiny pic of us was when we were engaged about 8 years ago. Our first Valentine's Day, was a tad over a month after we met. We exchanged Fossil watches (total coincidence) and was the first time he officially told me the "L" word... unless you count the other time he said it on accident when we were hanging up the phone one night, so we totally pretended it didn't happen ;)

I finally found our family pictures, so while I have no frames, I thought it looked cute on the clipboard for now.

I made my paper heart garland out of a newspaper and twine, it took 15 minutes to make, and my 5 year old helped. Just cut out lots of hearts, stick some tape on the backs and hole punch over the tape. Thread it on the twine and you're done. I got lucky in that my paper had lots of valentine and marriage references in it. Justiana Blakeney has a good tutorial on this at Design*Sponge.

I am rally wanting to hang this mirror above the mantel shelf. Can you spy something that doesn't belong in this photo?
 

*More beautiful mantles here and here.*

Valentines Favorites

valentine arrows tutorial by the thompson family via design sponge

As with all holidays, I enjoy learning a bit of the history, who was the Saint, what were the pagan beliefs, how was it commercialized and spread worldwide? Go here for some excellent reading on Valentine's Day.

 But I also love the treats, the warm feelings declared by not only lovers, but friends and family as well. The decorations and of course, the treats are definately a huge plus as well! What is your favorite association or anti-reasoning of this holiday?

valentine cookies by i am mommy ... cookie and frosting recipe here

valentine fort tutorial by justina blankeney via design sponge

shakespearean paper garland by bookity

 valentine heart cake tutorial by i am mommy

vintage inspired paper heart garland by edge inspired

love swan valentine shadow by by jessica jane

 lots of free valentine printables  complied at living locurto (those shown by pepto girl)

valentine cards free pdf images and garland idea from vanessa of a fanciful twist

 valentine mice by betz white

valentines mantel by the stories of a2z linky

(her mantle here

valentine strawberry chocolate cupcakes recipe by tidy mom

*Bakerella's valentine baking round up. 

*Living Locurto's valentine baking round-up

*I am mommy valentine baking round-up

Inspired Christmas: The White Tree

purl bee

I have never had a white Christmas tree before. I am hoping to at least have a partially flocked one next year or to at least have a mini one sometime. I simply adore them. They can be eclectic or graceful, kitschy or elegant, so many ways to style them. What is your Christmas tree preference?

acotton ball christmas tree (step by step tutorial)- a fanciful twist

 mod vintage life

censational girl

white coat hanger tree by snug shop via decor8

country living

 the pleated poppy

apartment therapy

blueprint

pleated poppy

home sweet home

home sweet home

the curious sofa

 nie nie

censational girl

censational girl