Chic on a Shoestring Decorating: Easter Mantel on the Cheap


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Easter Mantel on the Cheap

Hello, hello!  The unseasonably warm weather around here is making it feel more like summer instead of spring.  It's been in the 80's for the past week and the forecast  calls for continued warm weather.  We had to turn the air on, it's been crazy.  Normally this time of the year the average is in the mid fifties, heck, it snows sometimes in March.  I'm not complaining though.  I'd take lovely sunny spring days over cold snowy spring days anytime. The only trouble is that I'm spending time outside enjoying the weather with my family and not getting my work done.

Oh well, the work will always wait for me.I did manage to finish my Easter mantel recently which is no small feat.  I always struggle with my Easter mantel because of my black framed mirror over the fireplace.  The way it is attached to the wall makes it difficult impossible to move so it stays up there all year.  Easter is particularly difficult because black isn't exactly a color that screams "Happy Easter!" at ya.  I also wanted to put my mantel together using things I  already have.  I really don't need any more seasonal decorations.  Really, like, ever again. :)



Easter Spring Mantle Mantel


I've tried to do a mantel with lots of  white instead of pastels and it just looks washed out against my light beige wall color and next to the chunky black mirror.  After lots of tinkering, I think I finally have it.  I used black and green and yellow and think it's looks springy and Easter-ish enough.

First, I made some silhouettes of a bunny and chick on some cute scrapbook paper.  Since I don't have a fancy cutting machine like 99% of blogland I had to use archaic methods like a pencil and Xacto knife.  I actually cut these out last year and didn't use them.  (I don't know where I got the patterns, somewhere on line, just google "bunny silhouette and maybe you'll get lucky.)

To get the pattern on the scrapbook paper I held the paper up on my computer monitor and lightly traced with a pencil.  How lazy creative is that?!  I'm sure it is a big no-no for your computer monitor because I don't think you're supposed to touch them, ever.  But, as I've said before, I live on the edge, people.... I'm willing to take a risk like touching my computer monitor and tracing a rabbit on it if it means good, inexpensive decor.  Such a rebel!

Anywho, I used very little pressure while tracing, it worked perfectly because the light from the computer screen lit through the paper making for easy tracing.  My computer monitor lived to tell about it with no damage whatsoever.

Here's my Easter bunny...


Here's the chicky baby.


I already had these frames and I lucked out because the back inside of them looks a bit like burlap.  I just taped the scrapbook cut outs right on the back of the frame.  I know, I'm so fancy with my computer screen tracing, Xacto knife, scotch tape and naked frame backs.  This ain't called Chic on a Shoestring for nothin', huh?!

Moving on to my wreath(s).  I had the green leafy one on the mirror already but thought it needed a little somethin'.  I decided to take my scraggly looking forsythia wreath and put it behind the green leafy one to double them up.  It turned out surprisingly well, they fit together perfectly and I actually love how it looks!  Don't you love it when something so easy actually works?!

spring wreath


I added a little apothecary of bird eggs...


I also added some green candles and a little bird's nest...


The finished product...

spring mantle

Well, what do you think?  Does it look spring/easter-ish despite all the black?  It better because that mirror is not coming down. ;)

Linking: The Lettered Cottage, Centsational Girl, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Nap Time, Craft-o-maniac, Under the Table and Dreaming, Dear Lillie

26 comments :

  1. Kate I think it looks great! Love the eggs in the jar and those pics you made are super cute!!

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  2. Kate, everything looks wonderful! I love the colors added around the black mirror.

    Jan ♥

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  3. Oh I love your mantel. The chick and the bunny are adorable and I love the green eggs in the jar. Looks beautiful. Hugs, Marty

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  4. Love the chick in the frame. Thanks for sharing

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  5. What a lovely mantle. Everything looks great.

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  6. Love your mantel all decked out for Spring.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  7. Really pretty! It's kind of unexpected, but still really springlike. Love your style!

    xo-Christine

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  8. Love it! I really like the touch of green, and the frames. Way to think outside the box.

    Melissa
    redflycreations.blogspot.com

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  9. I love those little patterned silhouettes!

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  10. It looks fanastic... I love the mirror and pillar candle holder. do you mind if I ask where you purchased these. What a clever idea, the silhouette pictures.

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  11. I love the look of your mantle! I, too, am with you on the Xacto knife, pencil, and simple scrapbook paper. I love it! I would have never thought to use the frame backs..had to look twice. Definately going to try that!! I have a similarly "shoestring" mantle, everything is from yard sales or hand-me-downs!...check it out if you have time:

    http://sleepinginanunmadebed.blogspot.com/2012/03/nobody-will-ever-notice-it-on-galloping.html

    I added you to my list of "Neighbor Blogs I Love"...I have been a follower for some time! Take care!

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  12. So pretty!!! Love how you layered your wreaths!

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  13. I love the jar of eggs... crazy about the wreath... it's gorgeous! I love it that it's not the typical baby colors that we see around Easter. This look could stay for the summer too!

    Michelle
    NewEngland-Style.com

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  14. Looks great! I've done the same thing with the frame backs. I was redoing my basement and swapping out some pictures when I noticed the same thing. Printed up some sailboat black & whites, used the backing as the mat trim and instant art!

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  15. Looks great! I love the jar of eggs, I might try to do that here.

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  16. I think it's amazing! I like it all the more because of the way you put it together, you are my kind of gal! The bunny and the chick on the burlap - LOVE! The entire mantle decor looks very pro if you ask me (I know you really didn't) but it's still nice to hear, right? And YES, YES, YES, I love it when things work out!

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  17. What a gorgeous Easter mantle! I just love all the details! Would you be willing to link this up to my Springtime Holiday Link Party going on now? I'd love to have you! Thanks, Michelle
    http://michellepaige.blogspot.com/2012/02/springtime-holiday-link-party.html

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  18. Oh I love the bunny and the chick silhouettes!!! Love the polka dots, so cute!

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  19. Ok...I know this is a really old post, but I just had to say I think your idea of layering those wreaths is brilliant! I'm also going to try that trick of tracing things right on the computer screen. So clever!

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  20. How did you Mount the wrath to the mirror?

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  21. I wanted to know how you mounted the wreath also... It all looks so great. thank you so much for sharing. :)

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