Entirely Emily: Mantel Decor

Monday, September 3, 2012

Vintage School Room Mantel

I've just started getting into decorating my mantel after joining the world of blogging. Everyone seems to be doing it and it looks so good when there's something on it. My poor mantel has been bare minus a photo here and there for 5 years now. There's always a Christmas mantel but unfortunately it has to come down in January :(

The mantel decor that I did for 4th of July/Olympics was alot of fun and I kept it up through the Olympics from about July 10- end of August ( I'm lazy) But now it's time for school and fall. I'm not ready for pumpkins yet so I needed something "schooly".

I started looking around my house for school type stuff. And I made this...

I had a small chalkboard we found at a thrift store that was originally going to go outside on the playhouse. And I had some Ball jars left over from some pickles my godmother gave me. Add some sunflowers from Trader Joe's and there's the first part.

It seems like I have an love of primary colors (and maybe I do). I wanted some garland to drape across the mantel. I went to Hobby Lobby got some super cute blue ribbon with polka dots and some felt to make some apples. I drew an apple. Then cut out the pieces individually and then super glued them together and then to the blue ribbon.

The little white owl came from Target. I will someday put him in my newly redesigned office. So he's not old but he fit nicely with everything. My godmother had also given me a bunch of old books that were hers along time ago. I had kept them becuase they were so cool looking and were actually books I read. Look at how cool and aged they are...

I had this old brownie camera that my grandpa had given me years ago that I was using on top of a shelf. I love the worn edges and the simplicity of the old cameras. It just makes me think of first day of school pictures that my grandpa/grandma would have taken.

Something still seemed missing , so I asked my mom if she had anything vintage schooly and she said she had this lunch box that belonged to my uncle. How great is that?

Here is everything together. I have to apologize for the lighting. This room has one source of light and it is a glass door to the right of the fireplace. I had to use overhead fan light and lamps to help light the space. Not the best as far as lighting goes.

And so you all don't think everything here is perfect....this is what the rest fo the room looks like....

I love back to school time. with all of the books and supplies. What makes you think of school? What would you put on your "schooly" mantel?

Monday
What is the Gunny Sack -Making the world Cuter -Debbie Doo -DIY Show Off
DIY Shop - Lines Across My Face -I should be mopping the Floor
Great Fun 4 Kids

Tuesday
How to Nest For Less - Tip Junkie - My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia -The Kurtz Corner
Sugar Bee - Romance On A Dime - Debbie Does Creations - Funky Polka Dot Giraffe
The Winthrop Chronicles

Wednesday
Thrifty Home - Someday Crafts - Sew Much Ado
- Junk in Their Trunk - Southern Lovely -SNAP

Thursday
Beyond the Picket Fence - Somewhat Simple - Live Laugh Rowe
Loving this Crazy Life - The Shabby Cottage
The Taylor House- House of Hepworths
Two In Diapers-Mommy Brain Mixer

Friday
Naptime Crafters - Stay At Home Nation
Young and Crafty - My Turn(ForUs)
Delicate Construction
Serenity Now
Here Comes the Sun

Saturday

Six Sister's Stuff

Cheerios and Lattes
Natasha in Oz -Say G'Day

Monday, July 16, 2012

Three "Go USA!" decorations : Mode Podge USA, Star felt Garland, and USA Cut-out

(There are three projects in here so It's a little longer than my other posts . Please scroll down to see all of them)

I'm super excited to watch the Olympics. I love the swimming, gymnastics, and mostly the Equestrian events , which they put on at weird times because it doesn't make alot of sponsor money. It definitely on my bucket list of things to do someday, actually go to an Olympics.

I was all trying to get some decorations made for the fourth of July and had everything bought but I never got to it and I thought to myself, well, it would kinda work for 4th of July/Olympics. So I went ahead and made them.

I started off with these wooden "college letters" they were called from Micheals. They were about $3.99 a piece. Normally, that's kinda pricey for me but hey were exactly the size I wanted.

I also found this craft tape on clearance for $2 a piece so I bought two not knowing how much I would need.I started off spray painting the letters white outside. It was 100+ degrees that day so think the paint kinda got baked on which worked to my advantage. Then that night I took the tape and carefully wrapped it around the letters to the edge. I didn't want to waste any tape on the back. Who would see it anyway?

Then I bought this Modge Podge sampler pack also at Micheals and went about covering all of the letters with a layer of regular Modge Podge. I can't wait to use the other kinds of Modge.

I knew I need something more for my mantle so I saw this awesome post by Amber at Crazy Little Projects for a felt star garland. Lately, I'm all about the garlands and the felt so this was perfect.

I went to Hobby Lobby and got three pieces each of red, white and blue felt rectangles, They have every color you can think of and they are 25 cents a piece which sounds like a good price to me.

The next day I cut out the stars out of the felt. This took a while let me tell you. Having Amber's templates really helped me out. Then I took the star and pinned them in the order I wanted, got out the sewing machine and started to sew them in a line. Being that I am a sewing novice, the star and the line across them is far from perfect but I really liked it. Keep in mind the color of thread you use will be seen across all of the stars. I liked the way the white thread looked. I capped both ends off with a little grosgrain white ribbon I had left over.

That also didn't seem like enough. I wanted something to go along with the whole USA theme. I had an idea for a USA map that was just the shape of the country . I found some blue poster board and a piece of foam core.

My godmother had this awesomely ancient school projector that she let me have to help decorate S's room. Isn't it kinda cool and funky?

All you have to do is place anything , B&W or color in the drawer and slide it in and ta-da... there it is on the wall. I put in my map, traced it backwards ( so wouldn't draw on the front side) and i was done. It was so much easier than free handing it.

I cut out the map and then cut out the same outline on the piece of foam core. They were glued together. The clear glue didn't work as well as I hoped. Don't use that! I would say a spray adhesive.I added a felt red heart over Saint Louis for our home town, of course.

Then everything was added to the mantle. I really like it but I think I still need something else. I feel like ti's still missing something. Hmm..... what else do I need?