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The Frugal Homemaker

Your guide to turning your house into a home... one DIY project and yard sale find at a time

LOVE… is in the air and on the mantel {Valentine’s Mantel}

January 24, 2012

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Ok, so yesterday I sort of confessed I was having the winter blues.  Well, you know what I found the cure! Winking smile

Scrub your bathroom literally from ceiling to baseboards for 3-4 hours till it is sparkling clean (you know so clean that it makes you open the door again and look in and smile cause it looks and smells so good? Winking smile), spend the evening recuperating while gluing hearts and red ribbon on everything in site, decorate a super-cute Valentine mantel, and wake up to a gorgeous sunny day! ;)  Ok, well it worked for me at least, and for today at least – so maybe give it a try! Smile

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I typically don’t do an all-Valentine themed mantel.  I usually do a winter mantel and throw in a little red.  Because usually once Valentine’s Day is over, it sort of seems funny to still have Valentine themed stuff up in the house?? But since it is almost the end of January and I am just now decorating my mantel, I decided to go all Valentine’s this year and just deal with it at least until the end of February when I can’t contain the spring fever anymore.  And I am so glad I did, cause this mantel is cheery and fun and I love it! Smile

So here is my fun, romantic, black and red . . .

Valentine’s Day mantel!

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I don’t always have a vision for the entire finished product, although I always have some definite ideas of some things I want to do.  I knew I wanted a subway type print and I knew I wanted to use the red lanterns (more on that below).  I didn’t plan to have it all black, red, and white, but as soon as I got the lanterns and the black frame with the red bow up there, I knew that was going to be my “theme!”  So I rummaged through the house to find any and everything black or red.

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Here’s how the lanterns were inspired…  During Christmas I saw a display at Kirkland’s where they had used a lantern hanging over a mirror on a mantel and I loved it!  Then I realized I had already seen that same idea on Sarah’s Christmas mantel and the red lanterns she had used were perfect for Winter leading into Valentine’s Day. 

They are from IKEA and they are only $3.99.  Our store didn’t have the red ones in stock anymore, but you know there is always a cure for that, right?  Winking smile (Yep, spray paint!)  They are the only things I bought specifically for this mantel, but they will be used over and over again I am sure! Smile

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Here’s the rest of the details:

Lanterns – IKEA, $3.99 ea.

Shutter – Goodwill

Small black frame  -  50¢ yard sale frame with a wedding picture in it

“LOVE” sign – $2 from Target dollar spot bought sometime last year

Roses – from my stash

I added the red bow on the frame (idea from here).  I also added the red heart in the “O”  – from a dollar store pick bought last year.

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Large black frame – Goodwill, $1.01 (already black, no spray paint needed Winking smile)

Print in frame – from Peppermint Plum (you can print your own too!), matte is just red paper

Roses – from my stash

Candle holder and berry ring– yard sale

Red + silver frame – borrowed from guest room 🙂

“XOXO” sign on mirror – I made from burlap just like my “FALL” sign

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I need to pick up some battery operated tea-lights to go in the lanterns, but I have real candles lit in the pictures.  They are fun and romantic at night Smile

So there is my fun Valentine’s Day mantel!    I LOVE it! Smile  I think I am inspired to add a some more Valentine touches to my house …. hmmm.. I am off to browse Pinterest for some ideas! Smile

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How about you?  Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day? 

{cj}

Linking to:

Beth’s Valentine’s Day mantel party on Thursday

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Comments

  1. Debbie says

    January 24, 2012 at 11:37 AM

    I really do enjoy how you play with your mantel. And the red lanterns are too cool.

    Reply
    • Christina says

      January 24, 2012 at 11:45 AM

      Thanks, Debbie!! I love playing with it! Even though I did buy the lanterns this time, it is fun to challenge myself to find things around the house that I can use to decorate it with. 😉

      It is my “furniture re-arranging fix” on a much smaller scale – LOL! 🙂 For which my husband is grateful 🙂

      Reply
  2. Wendy says

    January 24, 2012 at 11:52 AM

    Just adorable! I love everything you’ve done! xx

    Reply
    • Christina says

      January 26, 2012 at 12:25 AM

      Thanks, Wendy! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Chrissy says

    January 24, 2012 at 2:43 PM

    Christina,
    I love everything you do!!! Please keep posting away! I love seeing what is new! 🙂

    Reply
    • Christina says

      January 26, 2012 at 12:25 AM

      awww, thanks! I will. Much more to share – as soon as I can get it all done and posted 😉

      Reply
  4. Alicia says

    January 24, 2012 at 4:55 PM

    Love it!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Christina says

      January 26, 2012 at 12:24 AM

      Thanks, Alicia! It was fun 🙂

      I am glad I delayed and then decided to do all Valentine’s this year 🙂

      Reply
  5. Sheila @ Seasoned Joy says

    January 24, 2012 at 5:03 PM

    So pretty! I think my favorite is the candle holder & berry ring!

    Reply
    • Christina says

      January 26, 2012 at 12:24 AM

      too funny, Sheila as those 2 things are the cheapest yard sale finds up there 😉

      Do you shop yard sales?

      Reply
      • Sheila @ Seasoned Joy says

        February 2, 2012 at 5:27 PM

        I know I should to get great deals, but I HATE shopping, so spending my Saturday morning doing that sounds like torture. So I go to Goodwill, which is not as inexpensive as yard sales, but still cheaper than buying new, and not as painful to me as yard sale-ing would be.

        Reply
        • Christina says

          February 4, 2012 at 12:40 AM

          too funny, Sheila!

          Can I tell you that I don’t go to yardsale after yardsale all Saturday morning either?! 🙂 I found one parking lot yardsale (it is at a antique place, people pay $10 to rent a parking space, and it is open all year round). I just pop in there 2-3 x’s a month and that is where I have found most of my deals 🙂 So look around and see if you can find something like that. Maybe it will be just be a once a month sale.

          Reply
  6. Annie @ {PeppermintPlum} says

    January 24, 2012 at 8:40 PM

    Hi Christina,

    Your mantel is beautiful! We love the hanging lanterns. Such a cute touch! Thanks for featuring our Valentine printable… it looks great! 🙂

    -Annie
    {PeppermintPlum}

    Reply
    • Christina says

      January 26, 2012 at 12:24 AM

      Thanks, Annie! 🙂

      Thanks for making the print available! I will probably link to it again in a Valentine printable post I am working on 🙂

      Reply
  7. Nikki says

    January 24, 2012 at 9:49 PM

    Soo cute!!! And I neglected to post on your pic with the wedding pic – LOVE!!!

    Reply
    • Christina says

      January 26, 2012 at 12:21 AM

      Thanks, Nikki! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Renee @ Living, Laughing, & Loving says

    January 25, 2012 at 9:56 AM

    Beautiful! So many unique, fun touches like the ribbon around the picture and the heart hanging from the “O.” Love the banner and the subway print too!

    Reply
    • Christina says

      January 26, 2012 at 12:20 AM

      you know, those 2 touches are my favorite part (other than the lanterns)! and they were a total, it’s midnight-rack my brain inspiration 🙂 I love the ribbon on the frame and think I might have to borrow that for some more frames. 🙂 and the heart in the LOVE – it just dawned on me and I was like, yes, I can so do that. 🙂

      I find the more I decorate my mantel/the more practice I get, the easier it is to be more creative. I would have never thought of anything like this 2 years ago but that was pre-TDC and decor blogs time 🙂

      Reply
  9. Sherri @ Design2Shine says

    January 26, 2012 at 9:17 AM

    Beautiful!!! Oh my mercy, I just love it all. Those IKEA lanterns and the shutter has to be my fav. And hanging them? Genius I tell ya. Love the tall candle stands on the hearth and I want your oval mirror. LOL

    Reply
    • Christina says

      February 4, 2012 at 12:53 AM

      haha! the shutter was a goodwill find. and the mirror was $8 at a kids consignment sale of all places??? 🙂 I am actually looking for another oval mirror to go in my bathroom now that I have pretty much decided this one belongs over my mantel 😉

      keep your eyes peeled at yard sales this spring 😉

      Reply
  10. Jen says

    January 26, 2012 at 9:49 PM

    Beautiful!

    Reply
    • Christina says

      February 4, 2012 at 12:51 AM

      Thanks, Jen! I am so glad I decided to do a Valentine mantel this year 🙂

      Reply
  11. Melanie says

    January 26, 2012 at 10:35 PM

    Adorable!!! Love your mantel, especially the lanterns!

    Reply
    • Christina says

      February 4, 2012 at 12:51 AM

      Thanks, Melanie!

      Reply
  12. Kristal @ Engineering Life and Style says

    January 28, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    I love your mantle….especially the little lanterns….it looks really great!

    Reply
    • Christina says

      February 4, 2012 at 12:50 AM

      Thanks, Kristal. I think the lanterns are my favorite too.

      already thinking I can use them again for 4th of July 😉

      Reply
  13. Heather G says

    February 21, 2012 at 12:23 PM

    Love your mantel, super super cute.

    Reply
    • Christina says

      March 1, 2012 at 12:24 AM

      thanks!

      Reply
  14. Sarah says

    February 3, 2013 at 4:30 PM

    Oh my goodness Christina! I love your mantel!! I was at Ikea yesterday and saw those lanterns and thought, “how cute would those be painted red for Valentine’s Day?” I bought 3 of them and I’m painting them today. How funny is that?! I guess great minds….

    Reply
  15. Brandy @ Home Sweet Here says

    February 5, 2013 at 7:35 PM

    Such a pretty mantle! I have those lanterns and I cannot believe I haven’t thought to pull them out for Valentine’s day! I’m doing that today. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Friday fun + Frugal Finds: 1/2 price day at Goodwill and Value Village | The Frugal Homemaker says:
    February 17, 2012 at 9:04 AM

    […] saw this old sleigh in my Valentine mantel pictures.  I found it in January at the flea market for $5.00.  Couldn’t believe the price when I […]

    Reply
  2. Celebrating 100 posts + a giveaway! | The Frugal Homemaker says:
    February 29, 2012 at 12:47 AM

    […] You can find those posts here – Fall mantel, Christmas mantel, Valentine’s mantel. […]

    Reply
  3. No cost mailbox re-do {Sprucing up the outdoors for spring series} | The Frugal Homemaker says:
    April 25, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    […] much spray paint projects like this take.  I had already used the red spray paint to paint the red lanterns on my Valentine mantel and there is still probably 1/2 a can left after this project, and I probably used 1/2 a can or […]

    Reply
  4. Valentine’s Day Mantel {Valentine Mantel} - The Frugal Homemaker | The Frugal Homemaker says:
    February 11, 2013 at 8:01 AM

    […] kept my same printable that I used last year – you can print your own over at Peppermint Plum.   I just backed it with some red paper and […]

    Reply
  5. Valentine's printables - The Frugal Homemaker | The Frugal Homemaker says:
    February 15, 2013 at 10:26 PM

    […] I showed you the fun printable that I have on my Valentine’s mantel. […]

    Reply

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Hi!  My name is Christina . . .

I love doing simple, frugal things to make our house feel like HOME! Come learn along with me how to have a beautiful home on a budget.

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