Fall Mantel | Vintage, Paint and more...

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Fall Mantel



The fall decorating bug finally hit me this week...
I must say it has taken long enough.  But the temps finally dipped down to 58 the other night and the next day it was gorgeous -  Open the windows, let the breezes in kind of gorgeous. And I got the fall decorating urge almost immediately.

I had already been painting pumpkins, lots of pumpkins and I had my ideas of how I wanted to do the mantel this year.  I had in my head that I wanted whites and neutrals with little pops of metallic color. But alas - best laid plans of mice and men. When I began to do the mantel - things just sort of started popping up there that were unplanned. And... the weird thing was I really liked it and so did the rest of the family. So my mantel looks a bit far from whites and neutrals...


Vintage, Paint and more... fall mantel done with metallic colored pumpkins and touches of blue

There are a few whites but there is also a lot more color than I had planned to have. But I really like it this year. Simple, colorful and looks like fall without the whole season falling on my mantel...


Vintage, Paint and more... copper metallic and blue pumpkins with chalkpainted wooden frames for a fall mante.


Starting on the left side I placed some empty wooden frames picked up at a thrift store for $.50 and $1.00 that I painted with my DIY white chalk paint. I was leery of placing empty frames on the mantel because I have a very critical group living here and I could just hear them saying
"What's with the empty frames - aren't you going to put something in them?"

However they totally surprised me and actually liked them empty. You just never can figure these guys out some days. The little bronze pumpkin is a Dollar Tree pumpkin I painted with craft paint then glued some twine I twisted on to it for a vine and two drop cloth fabric leaves. The little blue pumpkin is one from years ago that I painted with blue craft paint then dry brushed with white craft paint.


Vintage, Paint and more... metallic painted glass jars with sunflowers

The center of the mantle needed something low so as not to compete with the resident book page wreath. I simply painted some old spaghetti sauce jars in antique gold, bronze, blue and white craft paints using the same method I did for these vases.



Vintage, Paint and more... glass painted vases done ombre effect for sea inspired decor

You can read that tutorial here
These are fun to make and I am saving jars and checking out thrift store glass like crazy now.


Vintage, Paint and more... gold frame with blue painted pumpkin for fall mantel

The right side of the mantel is a stack of old books sans their covers and tied with raffia, an old gold frame we had, and a tall candle stick I've had for  awhile with a deep orange candle tied with raffia. The blue pumpkin is another Dollar Tree pumpkin (what would we do without Dollar Tree?) painted with blue craft paint then dry brushed with white. The little pumpkin is another we had that I painted with antique gold craft paint.


Vintage, Paint and more... fall mantel done with metallic colors mixed with blue and sunflowers

And there you have this years fall mantel. I love it and the family really likes it...

So, have you gotten your mojo on yet and started your fall decorating?
A lot of mine is still sitting in several tubs scattered throughout the living room and dining room/I am going very slowly this year and changing my direction as I go. Ah, well hopefully I will finish soon...

You all have a great day
and
go out there and create something you love...

Click here to see the parties I am linking to this week.
Please visit them and see all the great projects and inspiration found there.... 


23 comments:

  1. Love your color combos and great vignettes! Thanks for inspiring us at TTF!

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  2. Love the finished look!! So nice to have fall....love it! love, Theresa

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  3. Love your style, it turned out beautifully. I found you at the Get Schooled Saturday link party!

    www.vintagecreationsbycw.blogspot.com

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  4. Love how you've decorated your mantel -- simple but lovely!

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  5. I love the idea of using white frames with pops of autumnal color against them - very nice!

    Bailey
    http://akabailey.blogspot.com

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  6. I love the simplicity of the mantel with muted colors and the contrast between the shapes. The wreath is spectacular.

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  7. My fall mojo has arrived, but I have had company and been playing instead of decorating. I take my daughter to the airport today so maybe I can get some things done.

    Everything looks wonderful at your house.

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  8. Cathy, this looks fantastic and I definitely know what you mean about planning something and having it go in the other direction!! In this case it works! And you still have a lot of sparkle. I just don't know what fall would be without color. I have to see how you paint those jars, I really love those. And I never thought to paint pumpkins! I love the empty frames. I painted some a few years ago and hesitated putting them up, too! lol! No one said anything, that worried me a bit. Maybe they have just accepted how weird I am!! lol!

    XO,
    Jane

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  9. So simple and so perfect. Love the bottles and your wreath is fabulous. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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  10. Stopping by to let you know I am featuring your pretty mantel tomorrow on Made in a Day! Thanks for linking up!
    Kim

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  11. Love your mantel - your wreath is perfect! Your photos are fantastic - wonderful vignettes!
    I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  12. Enjoyed your mantel. Great buy on the frames. I never pass one up.

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  13. Very cute! Thanks for sharing at Redoux!

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  14. I loved this so much I featured it at DIY Weekend today. Don't forget to link up this week's projects.

    http://mrandmrswinslett.blogspot.com/2013/09/diy-weekend-926.html

    Thanks for the crafty inspiration!
    Miranda

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  15. Beautiful! Love your style, girl. Have a great week. Linda

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  16. Simply Gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing with us : ) hugs...

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  17. What a beautiful mantel! I love how simple it is! Just gorgeous :o) Thank you so much for linking up to The PINcentive Blog Hop! Happy Friday and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

    croppedstories@gmail.com
    http://www.croppedstories.blogspot.com

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  18. Such a pretty mantel. I love all the muted colors. Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays! x

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  19. Your mantel looks gorgeous! I love everything about it! You had one of the top view features at A Bouquet of Talent last week. :)

    Thank you so much for sharing with us! Hope you are having a fabulous weekend.
    HUGS
    Kathy

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  20. Wow, the wreath is just stunning and so original! I love it! It really makes a statement! :) Kim

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  21. Hi, Stopping by to thank you for sharing at One More Time Events and let you know you have been featured http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/2013/09/one-more-time-share-it-one-more-time_29.html
    Hope to see you again at this weeks party Xo Tammy

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  22. Thanks for sharing the beautiful fall mantel at the Krafty Inspiration Thursday Link Party, you have been chosen as one of the top 5 featured posts at tomorrows party.
    Have a lovely evening!
    Maria @ Krafty Cards etc.
    http://kraftycardsetc.blogspot.com/

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