9/13/09

An Autumn Mantle Face-lift........Met. Monday, Blue Monday, DIY Fall Showoff, oh my!





The challenge:  How to add some fall color and texture to my mostly blue and yellow living room.  I have been trying to figure the best way to add some autumn texture and color to my mantle without it looking garish and off next to all my blue and yellow.  It's also Met. Monday, Blue Monday, and DIY Show off  Fall Festival week!.
Please join our lovely hostesses, Susan, Sally and Roechelle by clicking on the links above.  I have had this old crock for as long as I can remember.  On a  recent  drive through an area with Cranberry Bogs,my hubby and I stopped to pick some cattails.  Now it sounds easy enough, but cattails are really buried in! We had only our muscles and since hubbies muscles are way better that mine, he did most of the yanking  picking!  The soft yellow flowers I added were purchased at a local gift shop for 75%  off.   Before Pic.....


Lot's of blue and yellow!





I found a candle holder for a buck at a garage sale on Saturday.



I gave it two coats of Hammered Bronze spray paint, bought an inexpensive candle from Wally World and added a little Autumn ribbon.  The candle is butternut and the ribbon has a soft yellow tone. For my B-Day my MIL bought me this lovely pine cone swag.




I think the swag add's some nice Autumn texture.  I added my acorn ribbon to the wreath and spool for a little more interest.   There is still plenty of blue, but now I have some soft Autumn textures and color.

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A little closer view of my pinecone swag and cute little autumn sheep.  The piece of pottery was purchase at an auction for $4.00. 


Our trees are really starting to change!  This little maple in our back yard bordering our woods is quite colorful already.   We are having beautiful weather with lots of sun and highs in the upper 70's to about 80 degrees.  I am really appreciating it because I know what lies ahead.  Thanks for stopping by , I love hearing from you.  How is your Autumn progessing or are you still in the throes of summer?  Cindy




38 comments:

  1. Hi Cindy!
    Oh I just love what you have done with the mantel. Love the pinecone swag, and I so love the crock with the yellow splash of color. The ribbon looks beautiful on the candle. Just the right little touch. I love it. You did a fabulous job. Love it. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week at work. Country hugs, Sherry

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  2. Your candle holder looks so pretty. I am amazed that you did it with spray paint. The ribbon on the candle gives it such a nice finishing touch too.

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  3. Hi Cindy! Oh, I love how your mantle looks! You've done a beautiful job. I love that stone fire place wall! Lovely!
    Be a sweetie,

    shelia ;)

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  4. Your mantel is so pretty! I really like what you did to the candle holder and candle.
    Trees have not started turning here yet. Like Fall, but not what follows.

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  5. Forgot to add - Really like your new header!!!!

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  6. Wow! What a punch you gave to everything! Lovely ...

    Have a great week ... TTFN ~ Marydon

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  7. I just love that pinecone swag - that marvelous! You fireplace looks lovely - I really like those pops of yellow!

    Manuela

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  8. Beautiful mantel, Cindy! You inspired me to decorate our mantel, when we get home!

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  9. Cindy - What a beautifully gentle change to fall you have accomplished in your home. I love the mantle. Thanks for sharing and have a great week.

    Charla

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  10. Cindy, I love your touch of autumn. You did a perfect job. I really think the vignette you created is just perfect for the mantle. We are still very hot. 105 yesterday. I can't wait for cooler weather. Hugs, Marty

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  11. You definitely captured the autumn look perfectly, Cindy! Your pots and candle holder are beautiful! Happy Fall!...Christine

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  12. Wow, your whole fireplace is beautiful. I especially love the crock with flowers and cat tails. And that fireplace screen is incredible. Is it a different paint color in the two photos or just different lighting? Either way it's great!
    Dawn

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  13. Your mantel looks wonderful. What a beautiful fireplace too. I wish the leaves changed color here. I live in Florida.

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  14. You're fireplace and mantel are gorgeous. I love your fall decor. Even adding ribbon to the candle - so pretty and such a great idea! I love the topiary, the garland and that Longaberger basket! ;)

    Thanks for participating in the Fall Festival too! It's nice to "meet" you!

    Roeshel

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  15. Hi Cindy,
    Happy Blue Monday! You have a wonderful fireplace! What caught my eye was your beautiful lacey look fireplace screen. The colours that you have put together are lovely. Have a wonderful day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  16. Ummm....welcome Fall!! You did a great job on your mantel. I MUST get busy on mine! Good job.

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  17. Hi Cindy, I love your mantel changes. So warm and cozy. What a lovely gift from your MIL. The flowers in the metal basket are all "faux" sunflowers. We sold them in the other shop where I work. I've had my eye on them for quite sometime and then realized the basket and flowers were a perfect fit.lol. I hope you liked them. Happy Monday.. hugs ~lynne~

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  18. Hi Cindy,
    You did a great job of working in some fall color on your mantel! I love the pip berries, the pine cone swag, and that little sheep is just precious.
    The maple trees around here are just starting to show some color, but many of our cherry trees have already lost most of their leaves. They never even turned color. I'm starting to see lots of beautiful mums in peoples yards. We bought ours yesterday and they will be planted today!
    Have a great day. Hugs, Loretta

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  19. What a pretty spin you put on everything. You must have been born with the creative gene because it is shinning. Have a lovely day enjoying your masterpiece!!!

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  20. Mornin' Girlfriend...

    Just read your sweet note and came right over...wanted to see what all you had done this weekend! Girl, you were busy and it looks like you had so much fun decorating your beautiful mantle!!! You gotta love "seasonal decor"...it's really so easy...just adding in a few seasonal items here and there can really make a difference!!! I have always just loved your beautiful stone fireplace...it's really perfect for autumn decor (Oooh...and it'll be so pretty for Christmas too)! Love the crock with your new additions...cattails! I have been seeing them around here too and haven't stopped to get any yet but would love some! I can just see Dan out there getting them for you...so sweet! We have a field not far from us where they're growing the big...really BIG sunflowers. Russell told me he would stop and get me some of those...thougth they would be pretty to do some fall decorating with!

    Anyway...I love your newly decorated autumn mantle!!! That pinecone garland is gorgeous...your MIL did good! Hehe! It really just makes your autumn vignette!!! Love your new urn that you painted bronze with the pretty candle too...great touch adding the autumn ribbon around the candle...I love that! I may have to steal that idea...hehe! Your little sheep and bird are just darling...love, love, LOVE THEM!!! You did a great job with your mantle, Girlfriend...it turned out beautifully!!!

    What a pretty photo of your autumn trees!!! Yes...we have had cool enough weather that our trees are just beginning to turn! Like yours...I don't think it'll be long! I hope that we can enjoy that beautiful colors for awhile! Last year...it seemed that the leaves just turned and we had a wild wind storm that just blew all the leaves off of the trees...I was so disappointed!

    Well Darlin'...so happy to hear from you this morning! What are your plans for the week? I'm still plugging away at a few projects! Went to Hobby Lobby Saturday when we went to the big city..hehe! Ohhh...I love Hobby Lobby! I know that I own stock in that store! wink!

    Love ya, Sweetie!
    Chari

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  21. Hey Girl...

    Just lil' ol' me again! Just wanted to let you know that I left you a note on your cloche post! Girl, I don't know how I missed it...I thought I visited all the cloche party participants...I'm so ashamed that I missed yours! Anyway...better late than never, right? You did a fabulous job with your cloches!!! Ohhh by the way...meant to say something on that post about your photos...I think they were really good...you did a great job with the photography!!! Nice and clear...beautiful up close photos!!! Such a treat, Sweetie!

    Love ya,
    Chari

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  22. Everything looks so wonderful Cindy. You did a grea job. I love this time of year and with all the decorating.

    Willow

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  23. What a good job you did. I love cattails. Happy Blue Monday.

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  24. Cindy, what a lovely transformation. Your home must be a very special place. You speak of it so lovingly elsewhere in your blog. This is really a pleasant place to visit. I hope you are having a wonderful day.

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  25. Very warm Fall decoration.
    Thanks for sharing. Happy Blue Monday,
    Val

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  26. Wow, very cosy cottage. I love it. Really love that fireplace grate.

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  27. That looks like an antique candle holder and you got it for a buck? woooow great price. nice pictures thanks for sharing.

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  28. Cindy, you did a lovely job adding Fall touches to your mantel. Very pretty!

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  29. I've just been peeking along through your most recent posts. Love the apple header and your "invented" cloches. I've been vacationing in Amsterdam and missed this cloche party so yours is the first entry I've seen. I'll catch up when I get back! The pine cone swag is perfect for fall!

    Robin

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  30. Love your mantle make-over! That pinecone swag is so cute!!!! I can't believe how much your trees have changed. Enjoy the nice weather, :D Jewel

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  31. Cindy, that pinecone swag is the perfect Fall touch for your mantle. I love the way you used theyellows to pick up on your pretty blue and yellow color scheme. That candle holder painted gold makes great Fall decor. I would not have thought of painting that candle holder, or of adding the pretty ribbon to the candle, you clever lady! laurie

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  32. Hi Cindy...the mantle looks lovely with the pretty fall colors and textures. I think it all works well with the other colors of your home. We have another week of warm weather, but I'm thinking about making the transition, so I'll be ready when we finally see the leaves fall.

    Happy almost Autumn!

    Mary

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  33. Hi Cindy, Love how you warmed up your mantle for Fall. That pinecone garland is so pretty and the vase you painted is just perfect. Enjoyed your cloch post as well. Great ideas there too! Love your music too. Good taste!

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  34. Looks great! I love your fireplace!!! Did you spray your cattails with something? I remember my mom bringing some inside when I was a young girl, and they ended up bursting all over the place. LOL

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  35. Hi Girlfriend...

    Just read your note! You're just the sweetest...you always make me smile!!!

    Hmmm...I was just at Michaels and didn't see that pretty acorn ribbon...and I was looking for autumny ribbon! Shoot! I ended up buying the ribbon that I put on that wreath there. Yes, I was looking for something that was real orangy! Hehe! What are you up to today, my friend? I think have most of my autumn decorating finished...besides the usual tweaking! Hehe! I can never just leave anything alone...I love playing! Hehe! Now I need to get some photos and do some posting! Maybe I'll work on that today. Well Darlin'...have a great day and I'll talk with you later!

    Love ya,
    Chari

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  36. Beautiful pictures. My favorites are of the red leaved trees.
    Have a nice day

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  37. Cindy,

    You are more than welcome to be a show off!! You did a wonderful job in your living room. I am in the same quandry with all of my pastels. What a great idea to add those soft yellows and browns!! The pinecone swag is so cool. I'll have to look for something like that. Your homemade wreath looks lovely too!! Everything looks so lovely!! :-)

    I'll be picking cattails at the lake. Be sure to spray them with hairspray or they will open and all that cottony stuff will go everywhere. They last a long time that way too!!

    Sorry I am so late!

    xoxo
    Jane

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Welcome,
I would love to hear from you. Come back and visit anytime. Warmest Wishes, Cindy