Decorating My Mantle

If you saw my last post, here, you know I took the plunge and altered my builder's spec mantle into one more my taste.  Now I have an empty mantle so it's time to PLAY. 

 

Before Christmas, this is what my mantle looked like.

I wanted something that complimented my distressed mantle more than the picture above so I started shopping around the house.  Do you do that?  Shop around the house?  It's a lot cheaper than shopping elsewhere and Cigar Man is much more pleased with the former.  I throw very little away.  When I stop decorating with something, I store it away instead of throwing it away.  Chances are I'll use it again. 

 

This is what I found.

Now what to put next?  I started exploring ideas.  Where's the best place to search for ideas, but the source of all information, yes, the INTERNET. 

Here's one idea that popped out from Country Living.  I like the pottery.  So I find myself shopping again...in the house, of course.

I pulled this pot from another room and added the grass.  I love the way the curly branch climbs up the wall.

Then I balanced off the other side with two pots.  A little something else was needed so I added the greenery.

 

Remembering a flower arrangement I had stored away, I pulled some greenery out of it that I could use in my mantle arrangement.

 

 

Cut some florist foam that I already had to fit my pot and ...

filled my pot with greenery.  Actually, this photo is my first try.  After placing it on the mantle, I thought it was a little too much to suit me so I pulled it out and started over.

So this is my final product.  I love the simplicity after all the "foo-foo" from Christmas.  I'll spruce it up for Spring, but for now I'll enjoy. 

 

What I spent on this project?  NOTHING BUT TIME!