Remember when I took this picture?
I wouldn’t expect you to. I took it yesterday. Yes, the Valentine’s decorations were still on it. Don’t hate. It needed a drastic makeover that began with a $29.00 print I bought at Wal-Mart. I wasn’t planning on showing any “transition” photos, but I found this one that my daughter must have taken while it was in the works. That girl is sneaky.
Birdhouses mean spring to me, and I had found this one at Goodwill for $4.00 a couple of weeks ago. I liked the color, but I just couldn’t leave well enough alone.
I tweaked and tweaked until I came up with a final product.
I wanted to use the print sooo badly, but it was simply not to scale for the fireplace. I went to Home Depot and looked for the thinnest and cheapest piece of wood I could find. I think this is some kind of under floor liner or something. It was $5.00. I had them cut it a few inches bigger than my print all the way around.
I painted the wood with some leftover paint, stuck the print on there with some velcro strips, and leaned it against the wall. I thought about buying some trim to go around it, but why? My mantel vignettes don’t stay the same long enough for the pain it would take to miter, glue, etc. It’s done…and none of my guests will notice the missing trim anyway. Don’t tell them!
I painted the birdhouse a softer color to match the print. I just mixed up some craft paint. I didn’t even finish it, really. It blends enough.
I’m not a big fan of faux foliage, but I was inspired by Layla and Kimba’s recent posts. I cut some stems from a Russian Sage in the yard and put some pics from Hobby Lobby as filler. They were 1/2 off!
I bought the print with a giftcard, and technically speaking I already had the birdhouse. Grand total for a fresh mantel? $9.00. Not bad, Chris. Not bad at all.
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Your spring mantel is beautiful. You did a great job adding texture. My mantel always looks the same, there is a big TV on it. I need to spruce it up for spring.
I love it! So pretty! Now, I just need to do something with my mantel!
That birdhouse is a great find. Great work on the mantle!
ohhhhhhhh. i like that a lot.
Very pretty, indeed.
Everything looks beautiful!! Great job. Love & blessings from NC!
Love the new look on the mantel! Great job.
It looks fabulous! I think I need that print from Wally-World…
i need to put a mantel!! thanks for the reminder by showing me such a pretty spring mantel. also, love the birdcage!!
Not bad indeed! Brilliant putting the print on the piece of wood! Who'd a thunk it??
I like this mantle because it looks fresh and not at all fussy, which it could have done with another item or three.
I look forward to seeing the next one! Happy Spring!
Looks awesome!
Your mantel looks wonderful. I like that birdcage and your artwork looks devine.
hugs
Sissie
It looks beautiful – I'm loving it!
Ooooh I LOVE both mantels… but I'm really lovin that bird cage for spring!
Oh and that's okay that you still have Valentine's day stuff out… I have *gasp* a few Christmas things still sitting in a glass door cabinet in the kitchen LOL I ran out of bubble wrap to get them packed up when I was putting christmas away this year and well I never got back to it… LOL!
please come over and do mine!
Great Job! Love the bird cage.
Very Spring, Chris! Love the flowers and the bird cage is great ~ I love the color!
Not bad? I'd say it's wonderful!
I love the way you made the art work. That was a brilliant stroke!
So pretty I love it! DOn't feel bad I still have my valentine heart wreath up on my pantry door 🙂
this looks so fresh and airy, perfect for spring. that was a stroke of brilliance with the artwork! wish i had a mantel to decorate!
Oh so pretty! I love the changes.
It's looking Springy to me! Love the white vases with the print!! Great find with birdhouse!
Love it! Ok I want a basket for my mantel now. I've been searching hi and low for some empty frames of various sizes to use. No such luck. I want a mantel makeover! Yesterday. LOL
And I lurrrrve your birdhouse!
Score on the bird house. I love it.
Looks gorgeous! Love the way you enhanced the print,so creative!
So jealous of the birdhouse find! Love the mantle! Very clean and spring-like.
Love the look. Very spring. And who would guess the print was from Wal-Mart? That's my favorite . . . awesome and for cheap!
IT's FABULOUS!!!! GREAT bargain too! LOVE love love that print!
Nice I'm in the process of changing up my mantel too! And I totally passed on a birdhouse the other day at GW I just didn't know what to do with it and now I do.. it's probably gone now.. 🙁
Very classy indeed.
I LOVE what you did on your mantel! And all for only 9 bucks?? Can't beat that! I am going to use what you did as inspiration for my mantel. It has been begging me to redecorate it.
Love how you change things up with the season….I have always wanted to do that, but the time i have it figured out, it is already the next season.
Clever idea mounting the painting to make it larger in scale. I think the white boarder helps tie it in with the white painted mantle. Looks fresh for spring!
Susan
I passed on a blogger award to you today! Just wanted to let you know!
http://littlebignest.blogspot.com/2010/03/blogger-awards.html
Very pretty! I love the birdcage!
XOXO
Jen
that birdcage is such a fantastic find! And the wood behind your picture is perfect! Looks great Chris!
Wow, turned out really lovely! The print needed to be bigger and you solved it. The texture from the basket really brings out the warmth of the print. Hope you don't mind, but I'm thinking of putting some sort of birch print in my downstairs hallway. Bought white frames 1/2 off @ Hobby Lobby just tonight. The print I want is "Birch Landing" by Patrick St. Germain. Let me know what you think? Lovely Chris!!!!
Mom
wow, look at that, very creative and inspiring, I wish I could design something like that
I have seen that print and really love it. It doesn't fit my style but it always catches my eye. The birdcage is to die for. Looks great.
So fresh, so spring! BTW, did you know your Jan/Feb mantel was featured on Holly Mathis Interiors as mantel inspirations? Congratulations and claim your credit.
Love the print. Would look great in my husband's office. One question, which way does the print go? You have it one way in the first pic and the upside down (or right side up) in the others.
I love that spring mantel. Lovely, white, refreshing, and so cute!
Lila Ferraro
Queen Bedroom Sets
I love the look. It is so different from its previous appearance. And since it cost nearly nothing. I think you got a great deal.
I so want that birdcage! I do not find anything remotely as nice as this at my local Goodwill.
That is really lovely. I've been working on my spring mantel for a week now. I wanted to use my bird house, but it has disappeared. Maybe I gave it away, can't remember. lol I'll be glad when it pleases me. I think I'm close though. 🙂
Karen,
It's right side up now. My daughter took the first picture, and I had just stuck the print there to look at the size–not even caring if it was right side up. If you notice, it also has the plastic guards on the corners in the first pic, too! 🙂
So pretty and springy! Loving the white vases in different sizes to add some variation. Beautiful!
Absolutely freaking fabulous. I'm inspired!!!
very pretty! love your creativity with the background for your print…I would have never thought of that! thanks for the inspiration!
I think the Birch print belongs the 'way up' it is shown in the last images, the autumnal-tinged grasses are growing from the base of the trees, so belong at the bottom. Just my two cents.
(Plus, score, you can use the print again come Autumn)
Great job! I love the way the picture pops on the white wood. Everything looks just great. I am not sure why the birdhouse works on the mantel but it looks great. Love it!
This looks fabulous…way to go, girl!
it turned out gorgeous! I can't belive that birdhouse was 4 dollars. you really made that art print beautiful!
This is my first visit to your blog via Kimba's Soft Place to Land. Your mantle is stunning – clean crisp lines. Very sophisticated without being stark or cold.
Deborah
http://fairfieldhousenj.com/2010/04/03/flowerplace/
love it. the white board behind your new picture was a clever way to make it pop and add layer. funny how ONE new idem can spark a whole new makeover!
Beautiful mantlescape! I love the canvas beefed up!
I love the birdhouse. I also struggle with fake foliage…can't live with it…can't live without it. Thanks for sharing!
Your mantle looks so lovely! I especially love the wicker plate you used.
LOVE IT one of my favorites!! The flowers added that perfect touch….they are so airy!! Can you come and do mine… so I don't have to think about it??? 🙂
Beautiful composition! I especially LOVE your birdhouse! What a find! Don't you just love thrifting?!
Your mantel arrangement is great. I love how you took that print and adhered it to the piece of wood. Such a great idea.
really nice. love the color of the birdhouse!
Gorgeous stuff. You have Mantel Expertise!
Hi: My first time visiting…
I like the colors in the print with your wall color: nice combination. Mantel looks very fresh!
I'm going to include this in my post today and link back. Let me know if it's not okay. Hope you're having a great day!