Simple Early Spring Mantel

Do you remember how I went on and on about much I liked this canvas-word art-from-thrifted-painting I made? I think I mentioned that it had become the centerpiece for our early spring mantel, too, and I thought I’d take a minute to share with you how it all came together. I took cues from the canvas and limited the main colors to white and green (I left the mirrored window in place to help the canvas stand out ’cause the wall is white – I’m hoping black is like a neutral, right?).

And by simple, I mean: limited colors and only a few items to enhance the star of the show: the canvas.

Here’s the simple scheme for this early spring mantel:

• Canvas word art
• White pottery: topiary and vase
• Glass: candlesticks and hurricane
• Yellow-gold accents

The whole mantel basically started with the canvas (of course) and an ivy heart topiary I made (years ago) from a wire coat hanger. Even though the topiary’s not completely filled in yet (how many ivies have grown here…I’ve lost count -ha!), I thought the heart echoed the ‘love’ part of the canvas perfectly. To balance out the other side, I covered a foam ball with moss from the dollar store (using hot glue and floral pins) and placed it in a white vase. More moss in a glass hurricane and a collection of glass candlesticks round out the main part of the mantel decorations.

However, as I stood back to look at it I noticed a few areas of yellowish-brown paint that came through the letters of the canvas, which reminded me of a couple of items we had been given that I thought would be the perfect finishing touches.

And I really love how the beeswax candle that my brother-in-law made and gave us for Christmas and the beautiful candle holder my sister brought back from a trip to Egypt add just a bit of color and interest to the mantel. And like I said about the canvas art – this mantel makes me just…happy. It’s funny how a few minutes and a few items that were here-and-there about the house can come together to make a whole new, wonderful thing to look at everyday.

In a week or two, I’ll add a few more springtime touches for Easter – I’m thinking potted daffodils or tulips and maybe a nest with some marble eggs I have – but otherwise, I’m a fan of more subtle Easter/spring decorating. Not too many bunnies, chicks, eggs, and pastels here. But I am thinking if I found a ceramic bunny at the thrift store and painted it distressed white like the turkeys I made for Thanksgiving, well, you might see a bunny at our house. I’m just sayin.’

How do you like to decorate for Spring?

 

I’m sharing at: Chic & Crafty, Fabulously Creative Friday,Weekend Wrap Up Party, Saturday Nite Special