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Okay, okay, it’s not really a mantel! I don’t have a mantel (hopefully someday we will), but for now, this awesome shelf will have to do! :)
You may remember this shelf from the post I just had about simple birthday party decorations. My husband and I made the shelf from some old reclaimed baseboards and fun brackets we found. I just love it!
Anyway…moving on…
I’ve seen a lot of great, beautifully decorated mantels floating around the interwebs lately and I’ve been wanting to do something with this shelf. I didn’t want to go out and spend a small fortune on all new decorations, though. At first I wasn’t sure I would be able to come up with something presentable, but I just kept adding things a little bit at a time until I finally was happy with the result. And guess what?! It cost me almost nothing to put this look together! And you can do the same if you just get creative with what you already have.
Here’s how…
I started with this fun fall subway art printable you can get here for FREE!! The design is by Barn Owl Primitives and I just love it. I love it so much that I asked for the real thing for an early Christmas present this year! I can’t wait till it arrives in a few short weeks! :) If you haven’t checked out BOP’s Etsy shop, you really need to! Kristi is beyond talented!
By the way, free subway art is SO easy to find all over the web and can make a fun impact when you don’t want to spend a lot on decorating. I use them as much as I can! ;)
We just happened to pull out a dead tree a couple weeks ago from our front yard, so I had the perfect opportunity to grab up some skinny tree branches. If you don’t have a dying tree in your yard, I’m sure a living one would do, too! Just find a tree with some scraggly branches that is just begging to be pruned and go for it. I stuck these branches in a pitcher I already have.
The leaves were free, again, obviously! ;)
I found these leaves last year, actually, through one of my favorite blogs, The Handmade Home. Ashley creates such beautiful, free printables, I can’t help but use them as much as I possibly can! You can find a list of her printables here, but make sure to check out the rest of her blog, too. She’s pretty amazing!
This summer I was given a bunch of open frames from my fabulous friend, Amber. Yeah, she got them at a garage sale and just gave them to me! I have some pretty awesome friends! I wrapped one of the frames in a mustard yellow yarn (I did have to buy an extra skein because I was just using leftover yarn from last year and ran out). The other frame is covered in burlap. Then I taped a piece of twine to the back and hung an extra leaf from it. Easy peasy and (mostly) free!
And lastly, I popped in a few gourds here and there to add a little more color and make it look even more fallish.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my fake fall mantel makeover! :) Now that I have the shelf in my dining room, I’m planning to keep updating it throughout the year, so be sure to stop back and keep up with all of my low cost makeovers.
If you have a fall mantel or other fall decorating you’d like to share, I’d love to see it. Leave a link to your blog post in the comments below or, if you don’t have a blog, shoot me an email at thegoldensycamore {at} gmail {dot} com with pictures. Can’t wait to hear from you!
*Sharing this post at Fox Hollow Cottage among my other “usuals” which you can find by clicking on my “Where I Party” tab.
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Love your simple mantle. The pop of yellow is perfect and so is the texture that the yarn and burlap adds. Great job!
Thanks so much, Suzy!
Your shelf is lovely! I love the colors you used – it looks so peaceful and yet there is that pop of gold – love it so much!
Thanks Jill!
I totally “pinned” this. Love everything about the shelf. -Angela @ Mrs. White Twig & Tea
Ahhh! Love that! Thanks Angela!!
Perfect vignette! I love it all and the photos are fantastic!
Congratulations!
Besos from Argentina (Spring here), Silvina
A very pretty shelve vignette, love it’s simplicity!
Your shelf looks great and I love all of the colors. I am a new follower!! Love your blog.
Thanks, Shelly from shellybailey.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for following, Shelly! So glad you’re here!
Allison
This is really cute. I love the colors you chose. I especially love the yarn-wrapped frame. I might just borrow that idea from ya =) Happy Fall to you! I’m a new follower!
Thanks Tanya! The yarn-wrapped frame is such a fun project! Thanks for following!
Allison
It’s clean and simple and I just love it!!! Well done.
Visiting from WOW.
so beautiful – simple, colorful but no overpowering. Totally staying awhile and looking around:)
You’re so sweet! Thanks for hanging around a bit!
Allison
I’m loving everything about this mantle! You should enter it into Craftbaby’s Fall Decor Challenge!
http://www.craftbaby.com/contests/31/Fall%20Decor
XO
Candie
Love the look … simplicity … balance … color … textures. Creative fall tree too. Wish I could do simple. I end up doing clutter because I have been collecting too long.
Blessings,
Audrey Z.
http://audreyzumwalt.blogspot.com
Timeless Treasures
I love this Allison! Especially that yarn wrapped frame!
I love how simple this is–it feels so calm. I don’t get much calm around my house, so I treasure it! Have a great day!
I know the feeling, Rachel! We haven’t had much calm around here, either, lately! Thanks for stopping by!
Allison
Hi Alli, thank you for joining us again…..this is so tender…love its simplicity but it’s still just so pretty. I tend to make my mantels with a lot of items and then after a while it starts to get a little overwhelming. Thanks again..talk to you soon…xo
Lucy
Thanks so much, Lucy! I have been feeling overwhelmed with life in general lately and I feel like this “mantel” is a great example of the direction I want my life to start heading…asap! Haha! I’m glad you enjoyed it, too!
Allison
Love the pops of color! This is super cute! Popping over from Happy Hour!
Newly following!
Kristy @ Cup Of Jo
Thanks for following, Kristy! So glad to have you here!
Allison
The yarn frames ae so awesome…
Your photo’s and display: amazing! These should be in a magazine…
You are so sweet! Thank you Crystelle!
Allison
Great photos. I love the simplicity of this.
How pretty. I love yellow! Great job you did. Maybe someday if you have a mantel, you will decorate that. It will look awesome, just like your shelf does. I love the simplicity also. ‘Found you on Fox Hollow Cottage’s link party
Thanks Danice! That’s so sweet of you! Glad you stopped by!
Allison
Love your mantel! It is so clean and fresh, but festive at the same time! Featuring you tomorrow!
Take care,
Trish
Thanks Trish! I love when my projects are featured on your blog!
Allison
That is just all so wonderful! Simple yet fun and the pops of color are fantastic. Love the tree!
Thanks so much for sharing this at Inspiration Friday!
Vanessa
Beautiful! I’ve never thought of wrapping frames with yarn…great idea!
love your mantel! your sign will be shipping soon!
xo ~ kristi
Thanks so much, Kristi! And thanks for stopping by my blog!
Allison
Stopped by from Simple Home Life and I’m a new follower … I Love this shelf
Pinned!
Thanks Keri! So glad to have you here!
Allison
Simple and beautiful! Saw this over at My Simple Home Life!
Love Always,
Liz