Fireplace Mantle: January

This is what our fireplace looked like when we first moved into our house in 2003.

Notice the rubber bumper on the edge? Even with that on there 2 of the kids hit their heads and had to go to the ER for stitches. After dealing with it for a good 5 years I ripped the thing out. 

Needless to say the hubby wasn't too thrilled with me. We agreed that we would rebuild the wall and put in the new tile. I had the job of building the mantle. Once he got his part done it was my turn.

I finally got it done. 

I have to brag for a second. I built it myself. Not from a kit. I bought the wood, measured it, cut it, and while Sean held it together I nailed. 

There I am done patting myself on my back.

This is the first month I have gotten to decorate it.

I am still working on finding something for the wall behind. I could change it every time I decorate the shelf but I am thinking a mirror would be good. That is the skinniest part of the room and maybe a mirror would make it look wider. I am up for suggestions.

The wreath is a straw wreath wrapped with navy yarn. I wish I had primed or spray painted the wreath before I started so that the straw poking out wouldn't have shown so much. 

I then held a piece of soft white and baby blue yarn and made the x's. 

I had some leftover fuzzy felt from the ribbon tree. I made a few rolled flowers. The snowflakes I cut out on my Silhouette.

I love it!

I found this subway art here.

The frame I found at the thrift store. It is great when you find something re-usable!

This is my favorite. The trees. The bases are glass candlesticks spray painted white. There are Styrofoam cones underneath. 

The smaller tree is covered with fuzzy white felt, and a ribbon is twisted around with a bow on top. I just used satin pins so that I can re-use. The other tree is made with a larger Styrofoam cone. I cut 4 inch squares of white felt. Gathering the corners together I pinned them in a circle with satin pins. The berries are small Styrofoam balls spray painted blue. 

More detailed directions are here.

Chip letters covered with scrapbook paper and ripped on the edges finished out the picture. Leftover silver berries added a little depth to the entire picture.

I am looking forward to showing you more ideas and decorations for the mantle in the future. Keep your eyes out for
Valentine's Day design next month!!

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Portable Art Studio

Our kids really love to make things. There is paper scraps, markers, crayons, glue sticks and scissors all over our house. The solution was this...

 It is a Bucket Boss. A portable tool belt that you hook on a bucket. I found this one at Home Depot. It cost $7.00. The bucket I already had in the food storage stash. 

For Christmas we gave the kids markers, colored pencils, crayons, pens, construction paper, pipe cleaners, pencils, rulers, foam shapes, scissors and drawing pads. 

All of the big stuff is held in the middle, and all the small stuff is in the side pockets. 

 When the Christmas tree was taken down the corner of the living room was empty. Before I could move the furniture back the kiddos had taken it over. 

It worked out perfectly. They have a space to create and it is contained in one spot. 

It is great to see them creating things and using their imaginations!

A Crafty Soiree #71