You all know how I love a blog linky party, right? Well, imagine my delight when The Nester invited me to her Mantel Party! Okay fine, she invited everyone and anyone, with any type surface, to the party too.

Mantel turned Dining Room Shelf

A few summer’s ago I scooped up a discarded fireplace mantle at a garage sale. I don’t have a fireplace but why would I let logic stop me?

I knew in my gut the fireplace mantel would eventually find a place in my home. Plus, I couldn’t bet the cost. The purchase price? One dollar. Yes, a single buck.

Here she is, with new life, as a dining room shelf.

The Details

I love looking at the framed photo of Pete and I from the year before we were married. We look like kids! We were (and still are) very in love. We had no idea that 8 short years later we’d have a mortgage, a minivan and 4 kids under the age of 5.

I turned my crepe paper centerpiece from Living with Lindsay’s $5 Challenge into a wreath.

My son Ryan contributed his artwork, an astronaut flying in space with a view of Earth, for the mantel. I just love that my white frame has a clip inside. I can quickly change out its contents to meet my decorating whims!

Baby Girl Nursery Decor

Here is a link to my post about decorating the wall above Claire and Leah’s diaper table. Man, I love having baby girls in the house again!

Here is a list of things to think about (in The Nester’s words) when putting together a mantel, wall shelf or table scape.

1. Scale–you want big stuff, you want small stuff, you want medium stuff

2. Layering–don’t be afraid to put stuff in front of other stuff

3. Height Variations–make sure you have tall stuff and short stuff

4. Texture–shiny, smooth, rough, glass, wood, soft, sharp? I can’t think of any more textures but you get the idea

5. Color–consider repeating the same color a few times

6. Natural–try to add in one thing from nature

7. Meaningful–kid made pottery, a grandma’s silver rattle, quirky photo, framed letter

If you are visiting from The Nester’s Mantel Party, thanks for popping by Just a Blink!

Love,

Jess

A Few Shamrock Touches

Shamrock ribbon in a jar

Sideboard cleaned up for March

During my last thrifting trip I picked up a framed shadow box with a silver clip inside. I think it was for a wedding photo or something. I added in a shamrock ceramic ornament.

I propped a vintage St. Pats postcard up on a black scalloped pedestal candle holder.

Erin GoBraugh (Ireland Forever)! Anyone else have a black speaker to decorate above the TV?

May joy and peace surround you

Contentment latch your doors

And happiness be with you now

And bless you evermore

Love,

Jess

Here are some cool St. Patrick’s Day links

This post is linked up with

Just a few more touches…

I filled a baker’s tin with Scrabble tiles to send a loving message to my family.

Red winter berries bring my sideboard “mantle” just a touch of color.

To add a hint of love to my bedroom, I created a LOVE banner for the old farmhouse window. I made the banner from #4 coffee filters (folded in half) and scrap ribbon. The lettering is made from cut-out pieces of card stock that have been mod-podged with micro-beads then hot glued onto white card stock circles.

Here is a close up of the LOVE banner

Hugs and Kisses. I propped up these Xs and Os on the wall “grate” decor above the sideboard in the dining room. I glittered paper Xs and Os (glitter is a verb right? haha, within the crafter’s mind it is I guess) on the kitchen table. I swear I had glitter between my teeth after dinner that night!

I could totally be done decorating for this season, but, I something tells me I’ll keep fluffing my “love” nest until February 14th.

Love,

Jess

Time to get your Cupid On

I am okay with any excuse for chocolate and candle light, you? Valentine’s Day is notorious for romance but I want more! Am I coming across as high maintenance or what?

Seriously, what good is ONE day of romance if the rest of your days are filled with sub-par loving conditions? I am blessed beyond words to have a dh (darling husband) that shows me love everyday (does putting away clean dishes and getting quick shoulder rubs speak volumes, to you, as it does to me?)

Anyway, February is coming upon us and thus LOVE is in the air when it comes to decor. Although red hearts and glittery XOXOs can’t actually show us love, they sure can deliver a sweet reminder to show love to one another.

Here are some photos of a few of my Valentine’s Day decor.

Okay, gotta run, my babies are calling for me. And yes, it is impossible to keep Molly out of the conversation hearts. I might be rethinking the placement of that candle holder.

Love,

Jess

This post is linked up to Blue Cricket Designs