Simple Spring Mantel

Since I loved my winter mantel so much, I haven’t wanted to change it out before now. The daffodils started blooming in our yard this last week and that prompted me to finally give the mantel a new look.

I kept the background black window, shopped the house, and did a quick and simple craft to update a pair of pillar candles I had. I actually shopped a bit too much of the house, and ended up doing quite a bit of editing (a-hem), but the end result is something I love- just like the winter vignette.

I bought the egg wreath two years ago at JoAnn’s 70%-off sale after Easter for about $4, but forgot to put it up in time for the holiday last year, so this is actually the first year I’ve used it. I originally liked the subdued colors of the eggs, but now I realize it’s hard to find colors to coordinate with it (the yellow from the daffs are much brighter), so I added some purple vintage ribbon.

I made burlap sleeves for the candles and tied them with more of the purple ribbon, adding a couple of vintage watch faces to them. This was a simple project (it took maybe 10 minutes?) that really updated the plain candles and also brought more purple to the mantel.

The birdhouse bookends were a homemade Christmas present given to us years ago and I found some vintage books to put in them. I like how the binding of the green book picks up the green and the torn-cover books pick up the browns and yellows in the burlap and wreath.

You might remember my little cement planter from my thrift store finds in February. I planted a bit of moss in it, though it doesn’t hold much dirt, so isn’t doing well. I might have to go with dried moss or (gasp!) faux moss in the end, as some of you suggested.

I added a couple of pieces of ironstone to lighten the look and my sweet terrarium/greenhouse that I’ve had for many years (I think it originally came from Michaels).

I’ve never actually grown a plant in it- this is supposed to be a tropical plant which would enjoy the moisture. We’ll see.

See that cute little bird peeking out? I picked that up at a little shop my sister-in-law took me to in Arizona when we visited a few years ago. I really like adding these types of things from our lives into my decorating – it helps make our house “ours.”

I’m including this shot to show you the wall candle holders I found at Goodwill ($1.99 each!). I’ve placed a couple of lanterns from Ikea on them for now, but what do you think of the placement? Are they too small? Do they look funny there? It’s such a big wall. Sigh.

I kinda liked that they had a small plate to hold the candle, so I could put things other than candles there- like these lanterns or small vases with seasonal flowers or even little potted plants.

But I’m not sure…what do you think?

How are you decorating for spring?