Easy LOVE Banner

Are you ready for the day of Love?  Valentines?  It will be here in 10 days!  There is still time to whip up a little love for your home.

For my farm house mantel, I kept many of my Christmas items (candles and glass jars with red balls).  I pulled other things from around the house: a couple of red books I purchased from Goodwill and the little red pitcher that I believe I picked up at Dollar General a few years ago.  Plus my clearance find heart ornament from Target that I picked up for 10 cents!  I wanted a little bit more.

Then I whipped out my old scrapbook supplies and paper lunch bags to make my little love banner.

 I cut the bottom off each bag.  The cut them in half length wise.  The little red hearts were hand cut from a nice piece of thick cardstock.

I inked the edges of the hearts and stamped the other letters on with foam stamps.  A bit of twine, a little hot glue and it's complete.  I might have made more than one.

I LOVE it!  Seriously.  Plus it was so very simple.  Like I have always said, it doesn't have to cost a pretty penny to be beautiful.

Do you decorate for Valentines? 

I don't go all out, in fact, the above is it.  Besides, I think I can leave this up somewhere in the house after I take it off the mantel.

Sharing here:

Christmas down on the Farm

Merry Christmas from the farm! 

On the front porch an old sleigh found in the barn, dusted off and holds my fresh cut wreath with a simple bow.

Our Christmas tree is decked again this year with my $20 worth of decorations made four years ago, plus 2 new special ornaments Bear made at PreK, hand-print Rudolphs.  The rustic nature theme fits for the farm house.

Our mantel keeps the nature theme with more large pine cones.  The only new items purchased this year are the 2 tiny wreaths (from the Dollar Tree) and the adorable snowflake garland (Target, $4).   The stockings are not hung here because it's been cold in Georgia and we are using the fireplace.  Nice and cozy.

I've been enjoying my time off from the University.  We finished up our shopping early last week and I've had time to soak in the spirit.  We've had fun here too.  Last week with Bear's little PreK party where we made tiny gingerbread houses (the base is a milk carton! Love that idea.)

Then kicked off our holiday weekend on Saturday morning with a North Pole Breakfast, compliments of Sam, our Elf on the Shelf.

I have spent time in the barn with our little jersey calf, AnnaBelle.

As I sat rubbing her head the other night, I thought of the song, Away in the Manger.  What it must have been like for Mary to give birth to Jesus in a stable.  

 My wish for each of you is to enjoy the next few days surrounded by those that love you.  May your days be Merry and Bright!

Farm Valentine's Mantel

Read with a Southern accent

Hi Ladies!  (and maybe even a few Gents)  Lemme pour you up a tall glass of sweet iced tea.  We can rest a bit in the 'Sitting' room.  Why YES I did re-do my mantel!  It's kinda like that show on the TV; Extreme Makeover.  I just pulled everything down, dusted it off like my Momma taught me, gathered up all the old country farm items I could put my hands on and stuck 'em up there.  Honey, all that loveliness didn't cost me a dime!  I kid you not!

I'm just pea green with envy over all those ladies crisp white mantels that you see all over blogland.  So I decided I had to do something about it.  Now painting that rock just isn't an option.  I'd find myself sleeping in the hen house.  Then I remembered I'd stolen some white shutters a few years ago from this junk store at a little over two bucks each.  That would give me the white brightness I desired.

Since Valentine's is coming up, there had to be a few touches of red.  

To hide the fact that the roses are fake as them nails those gals get put on down at the 'Toe-n-Go', I stuffed that mason jar with paper shreds.  If you promise not to tell my secret I'll share where I got them.  Lean in real close now.  I bought them last year at the Dollar Tree; 2 bunches of 'em.  I did!  I swear.  And those books, well I snagged them at the Goodwill for nearly nothing.  Uh huh, I shop religiously at the Goodwill.  Don't you dare tell the Jr. Women's League.  Cause they think I paid megga bucks for those fancy name brand duds I wear to the meetings.  The heart shaped rug beater is a bone-afide antique that I found in a small store several years ago.  My little chubby bird was on clearance after Christmas a couple of seasons ago.

On the other side, I did that fancy technique of layering with that saying board.  It used to hang on the wall.  Might have to put it back up there one day.  The butter mold?  It's another for real antique.  My grandmother actually made butter in it.  Sure enough!  I bet that takes a long time.  

Don't tell the Farmer, but I pulled that lantern off the back porch.  Sure did!  Had to spit shine her though.  It was mighty dirty.  For some reason, my mantel isn't complete without my old bottles.  They seem to sneak in every time I redo the thing.

You need that sweet tea topped off?  Sure thing Sugah!  It really is the simple things in life, ain't it? I've found I don't have to spend a fortune to fancy things up a bit here and there around this old Farm place.  Besides it sure makes me smile.   

I've enjoyed our little visit.  Hunny, I sure do hope you will drop back by the farm.  We might even bake up something deLish next time.  Cause I know you've got to run along down the road to those fun parties:

Link to Valentine's Day Mantel Party

 

Winter Mantel - A bit flakey

After taking down the Christmas decorations, our mantel looked so bleak...depressing actually.

So I started gathering items I already had, the books, chubby bird, old bottles, white pitcher and candles.

I added a few of the leftover items from my New Year's Table centerpiece;

blue and silver snowflakes along with the star garland which I simply laid on top of the pitcher.

Oh how I love snow!  Our living room has rich brown leather, cream walls and what I call country blue curtains.  So adding blue to the mantel is too easy of a choice.  Who said decor has to be difficult?

The huge snowflake came from Dollar Tree after Christmas sales (50 cents), as did the blue and white snowflake picks in the pitcher and bottle.

I guess it might be a bit strange to use a charger on the mantel, but I liked the added splash of silver; so it stays. Also left was the wooden frame that adds another layer and pulls all the surrounding wood together. 

My Goodwill books and chubby clearance find birdie are more cream than white, but I kinda think it helps balance out the look and feel.  With all the wood and dark rock I like the little bit of shine with the added touch of natural.  But hey, I just go with what I like and makes me smile.

I'm all ready IF it snows in Georgia this winter...

with a snowman blankie on my recliner near the fireplace.
I probably spent $2 out of the clearance items to put a dash of winter shine on our mantel.
Who said pretties have to be expensive?
Do you have snow? (the real stuff) Or are you waiting on that 1st flake to fall?
I stood in a chair for about half the photos, but no; this flake didn't fall. ;-)
Made ya smile.
Linked to:

Add a Pinch - Mingle Monday

New Year's Eve Table Centerpiece

Do you ever have this idea and just hope it all comes together the way you see it in your mind?

That was me yesterday.

Knowing I would be putting away all the Christmas decor, I still wanted some fun shiny snow inspired winter decorations around the house.  Usually I am standing at the door of Target the day after Christmas waiting for them to open.  Not this year.  Chasing a 4 year old and staying up late playing an elf  watching for Santa, wore this mid-forties momma out!  I did however manage to get everyone out mid-afternoon to scout what was left.   

Lucky for me, I found just what I needed for my New Year's Eve centerpiece vision!

 My assortment of Goodwill candle holders, along with the white crocheted runner (another Goodwill find last year) and stash of white candles were my base.

The blue trim on the white runner had me thinking blue, white, silver and glass.

The 1st item I found was at Hobby Lobby - the tiny silver star garland ($2).  I almost picked up silver bead garland, but snagged the last strand of stars instead.  So glad I did!  I {heart} them.

Next stop, Target.

Target gave me my hint of blue, with the blue tiny star burst tinsel garland ($1).

I also picked up blue and silver snowflakes at Target (50 cents each color for a pack of four) 

The silver tray is another Target deal marked down 50% off for $7.  I've been looking for a silver tray for a while and was tickled pink (or would it be blue?) to find this one at a steal!

Next stop was the much loved by us thrifty decor and crafty types...the Dollar Tree.

Look closely, closer...do you see the white felt snowflakes lining the silver tray?  Dollar Tree HALF off!

A whopping 50 cents.  Along with all the blue and silver bells (8 to a pack), same price.

My fellow shopper con'ed me into a Walmart stop.

At least I found another item while battling my way through the buggies and crowd - the small silver Mirror Ball ornaments in the center candle globe for $1.50.  Mirror Balls just scream New Year's right?!?

A few of the details:

A wine goblet tuned upside down for a candle holder.  To add interest, I stuffed a white snowflake wrestled that sucker under there   from my old Christmas stash under the glass; along with  bells and one of the tiny silver ornaments.

The ornaments and bells are in a wide mouth candle holder sitting atop another Goodwill candle holder (nope I didn't even glue it ...cause I'm daring like that). 

The cute tiny fingertip towels say it all...

We don't see much of the fluffy white stuff in Georgia.

I think we are ready for a little late night New Year's Eve celebrating....

by candle light.  I love it.

How are you celebrating New Year's Eve?  

There is still time to toss together something shiny and fun on a thrifty budget.

Total spent for my centerpiece ... $14
I'm playing with Blue Cricket Design for Show and Tell and Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday.

I hope to share my winter mantel this week too.  Yep, there will be more snow flakes. :-)