Spring Mantel

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Just wanted to share with you my Spring mantel! It doesn't look to different from my mantel I shared with you ago last month when I did my pallet art!

But I did add some cute chalkboard birds that I picked up from World Market!

 

 

Aren’t they cute. 5 little birds just like my little family:0) My friend Carina and I figured that one out last night! hehehe. The two boys are at the top then little miss thang in the middle and then us two love birds kissing away!

 

I’m also adding some wonderful new pillow to the mix in the living room! I’ll be showing you how to make some as well!

How does your Spring mantel look? I would love to see it! Post a photo of it on my Facebook page or send me an email!

Happy Spring…it’s COMING!!

DIY Pallet Art

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I'm getting there! This is the LAST project before I reveal my living room and dining room to you guys! It’s been a year in the making, I cant believe it:0) But now that the holidays are over I always get stuck with POST Christmas decorating. I never know whether to winter up my house with winter décor or head right into spring with wreaths and greenery. To be honest it feels like Spring here in Phoenix so its kinda hard to have cold weather décor hanging when its 65 degrees outside:0) So for my front room I decided to use some everyday décor for now.

INSERT-> DIY PALLET ART

Pinterest is the first place I saw PALLET art and basically what it is, is you take a shipping pallet and use the wood to create a piece of art or sign. We all know I LOVE to decorate with signs because it gives any room instant charm. But what I love about this particular type of art is the materials used. Something super simple can be recycled to make something beautiful.

 

 

Source: homestoriesatoz.com via Donna on Pinterest

Source: theinspiredroom.net via The on Pinterest

My friend Katie from Sweet Rose Studio ( I’m such a name dropper…ha) created her own version and gifted it to her newlywed friends. So sweet right?! Check out how she made hers here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: sweetrosestudio.com via Stacey on Pinterest

Here are some more organic examples…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: kellysimonsays.com via Sarae on Pinterest

Source: pamelajoycedesigns.blogspot.com via Donna on Pinterest

Source: loveoffamilyandhome.blogspot.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

 

Source: youngancrafty.blogspot.com via Dana on Pinterest

 

So this isn't anything new per say but I did want to show you how I made mine!

 

 

First off I didn’t have any pallets near me. Well I did, the builder around the corner has some stacked up in a dirt filled corner. But know one is ever around and I feel so bad just taking them…lol! But I think craigslist would be a great source to look for them. I just never made the time.

So I just used some wood that I had left over from my DIY Fireless Fireplace and Mantel Project.

First, I cut them down to size and glued them all together with some wood glue and let that sit for a couple of hours.

I wanted a more finished look so I added a trim using 1x2s. I also attached them using wood glue.

I put some weight on everything so that it would sit nice and tight bond together. I let that sit overnight as well. (If you need to you can sand any rough spots. But I didn’t need to:0)

The next day I painted some left over yellow from my buffet around the trim and painted the inside with left over Valspar Oatbran from some other house projects.

Then I added some vinyl that I cut with my Silhouette machine.

And there you have it sittin pretty on my mantel!

As far as the saying, it’s song by Gungor. I've had it stuck in my head now for a good two months now..hehe ( I ALWAYS have a song in my head. You too? ) I don’t know if you’ve heard it or not but it’s soooo sweet! “You make beautiful things, you make beautiful thing out of us.” Take a listen…I know you'll love it:0)

Fireless Fireplace Complete

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It’s finally done! I LOVE how it turned out!! This is not really a tutorial but I will quickly share with you how I put it all together and what materials I used to get the look!

So here is the wall before. My idea all started with a vision and painters tape..lol:0)

and now!

LOVEEEEEE:0) Just goes to show you can use simple materials to create something absolutely wonderful for your home! I’ve always wanted a mantel and a fireplace and with a little elbow grease I managed to get one up and it looks great in our space!

 

So here is the basics of what I did.

For the fireplace surround  (white planks) I used the following…

• 1x2’s cut to size
• 2 in nails
• 5.5 inch primed MDF planks cut to size
• white paint
• wood filler
• sander

First we made a frame for the wide 5.5 in planks. I would give you the measurements but it’s very specific for our space. I really just eyeballed how wide I wanted everything to be.

Then I nailed all the planks to the frame using 2 inch nails and a nail gun. I  also used the 1x2 for the sided of the fireplace.

After that I did a lot of sanding and filling holes, a little facial I call it:0). I'm SO happy the planks were already primed, otherwise I would have been at this forever! 

After that I painted the planks a nice crisp white.

The mantel was just as easy. This time instead of primed wood I used an unfinished wood.

For this mantel I used…

• (2) 5.5 planks
• (1) 1x2 cut to size
• finishing nails
• wood filler
• stain
• staining rags
• sander

First I took the two 5.5 in planks and made a shelf. One plank for the top and one for the bottom. Then I used some scrap pieces of wood and nailed them to the sides to make a L-shaped box.

On top I used 1x2 ‘s to create some depth. Then I filled the holes and sanded it down a bit.

Next I used my favorite stain, Miniwax in this yummy chocolate color…walnut! I stained it about 4-6 times to get the color a little richer and darker. In between drying I nicked a scraped the wood to give it a rustic look.

After my pretty mantel was all dry, I hung a 2x4 onto the fireplace to support the mantel.

Here it is all hung!!

It took me forever to decide what to put in the opening. That’s why I've been staling for so long:0))) But I think I found a great solution. I went to my local Lowe's and had a piece of their faux brick (I see it all the time and I’ve always wanted to use it!!) cut to size and just pushed it right in there! They best thing about it is that it has a nice tight fit but can be changed into something different whenever I feel like it!! I figured for summer I can lighten it up with beadboard or a painted gray brick:) Is that not such a stylist/stager move!..lol But it’s totally me!

I think a few wood logs, and a screen will be just right! As soon as I find some pieces I will share. OH! I can’t wait to get it all dressed up for Christmas! “Deck the halls….” lol!

Hope you love it as much as I do!!

That’s all.

Fireless Fireplace Surround Progress….

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Well, it’s just about done! We finished up the surrounding part of the fireplace last weekend end and also made a mantel to go with it!

Check out our progress…

The first thing we did is we gave the fireplace an nice foundation by framing it out on the wall studs. We just eyeballed the spot we wanted the fireplace to be and taped it off to get a visual.

We used 1x2s to make this frame….. Reggie acting real goofy. REAL GOOFY:0)

After that we used 1x5.5 MDF planks to nail on to the front end of the frame then framed out the side ends with 1x2’s.

After that I started to fill in the nail holes with wood filler and and gaps that were showing and gave it a nice sanding. We call this the builder facial:0) It makes everything smooth and pretty for the next step.

Then after that I wiped it down with a damp rag and started to paint it a crisp white.

The next thing I need to to is figure out the bottom piece!!!!!

Next time I will share how I made the mantel piece and hopefully by then it we all be finished:0)