Glitterfied Christmas Mantel.

PSSSST...I'm no longer blogging here!

You can now find me at

www.acottagegirl.com

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Layla and Kevin of The Lettered Cottage are hosting a Christmas Mantel party.  

I thought I'd mention it in case you hadn't heard.

(EDITED to add:  I liked this up to lots of other awesome parties listed at the end of the post.)

I brought my newly rehabbed fireplace.

I basically went to town with the glitter.  You may find it on your keyboard after reading this post.

 Just a warning. 

I also went to town with burlap and coffee filters.

I helped make Martha Stewart happy this season as I purchased almost the entire stock of her grey/blue ribbon and glitter at Michaels.  I made the Dollar Tree happy too.  They have some most excellent plastic snowflake ornaments that were also adorned with Martha's glitter.

Glittered trees were Pier 1 snags.  All the plastic eucalyptus came from Michaels, as did the glittered birds. Did ya know it helps to spray glittered crap with clear coat?  I said 'helps', not fixes.

Oh, and the chipboard letters came from Hobby Blobby, and got promptly glitterfied.

Crackled glass and pearly white ornaments, milkglass, and mini candle wreaths were mine from past Christmas decorating adventures.

That includes these birds too.

I stitched these stockings up over the last couple days.  It went just slightly better than last year's attempt.

The boys get a plain ribbon, the girls get ruffled ribbon.

Married kids get to share the stocking loot with their beloved.  Spouses also get glittered initials.

Ginormous green glass candle holders from Hobby Blobby on 80% off.  Go.

Aforementioned Dollar Tree Plastic Snowflakes glitterfied.

Not happy with these cone trees.  Bought white styrofoam, then tried to glitterfy them with Martha's aqua blue glitter.  Then I tried some more plastic snowflakes....and some irridescent beads.  Uh, fail.

And the feather tree looks nakey.  Well, what do you expect...it's only freaking Nov. 29th.

If you look close, you can see a paper towel roll spraypainted and cut into sections to prop up the crackled glass ornaments.  I'm a genius.  Under the Pier 1 trees are old lamp bases turned upside down and spraypainted.  The color was metallic champagne....perfect match to the silvery gold glitter.

Pretty views.  I used all kinds of lighting and non-lighting with these shots.  

 I was too tired to get the tree lamp out.

These are thrift store sconces I painted and glazed.  

Hubs hung them for me just minutes before I started the photo shoot.

Click here to see my Christmas mantel from last year.  It's just a wee bit different than this year.

If you want to read about the family room transformation (just a week old) click here.
Ye Olde 2011's Christmas Mantel is HERE.

Now go see the fabulous blogger's mantels at The Lettered Cottage (Nov. 30)
Or go see my entry at Rhoda's Christmas Vignette Party (Dec. 2) HERE 
Or go see my entry on Kate's Christmas Craft Party (Dec. 7) HERE
Or go see my entry at Sarah's Christmas Tree Party (Dec. 9) HERE
Advent Calendar Jars HERE
Front Porch Festifying HERE

Christmas 2009 HERE
Christmas 2011 HERE
Christmas 2012 HERE

Also linking to:
A Stroll Thru Life: Tabletop Tuesday
Blue Cricket Design Show and Tell and Mantel Linky
Between Naps on the Porch
Perfectly Imperfect Christmas Cheer Challenge
My Salvaged Treasures Christmas in July Linky

Make it 4 Monday!

Welcome to another week's episode of Mi4M!  So glad you came :)

So here's the rules.  Gotta have rules.  Well, you don't gotta, but it helps keep me sane.  Here ya go...

Pretty please with Little Debbie Oatmeal Cakes on top, only link:

DECORATING PROJECTS 
FOR THE HOME

That means no recipes, no clothes, and no crafts unless it will be used
FOR MAKING YOUR (or someone else's) COTTAGE LOOK OR FUNCTION BETTER.
If you're not sure, email me. 

Yes, I will delete posts that don't color within the lines.  Yes, I delete links every week.  Makes me feel like a meanie, but alas, I will do it again this week if need be.

Also:  Please visit some other partiers and leave some comment love....if you just link and run, it feels a bit rude.  Just sayin'.
Oh, and: Please add a link back here or my button to your post so others can find their way here.  Again, if you just link and run, it feels a bit rude. (Yep, again, just sayin'.)

If ya get featured, here's a button and a cyber little debbie oatmeal cream pie.  No need to thank me :)


 



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This week's Top Ten features are those with the most hits last week. 
Congrats Girls!


Betty Crocker Wannabe: Dollar Store Christmas Craft

Boogieboard Cottage: DIY Shabby Tree and More

Remodel This House: Graphic Art for Cheap

Forever Decorating: Guest Bedroom

My Texas Nest: Feather Tree

The Speckled Dog: Dollar Store Bird Makeover

3 Ring Cottage: A Chandelier Story

Primitive & Proper:  Bathroom Makeover

All Things Heart and Home:  Tiny Christmas Trees

A Rosy Note:  Felt Poinsetta

Okay, let's get this show on the road.

Fireplace Before and After....with some beadboard and trim thrown in.

PSSSST...I'm no longer blogging here!

You can now find me at

www.acottagegirl.com

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Let's first take a walk down memory lane, shall we?  

Here is the family room on inspection day....note lovely orange beams.

Previous owners loved the dark 80's version of country.

Blurry pic, but you get the idea.

One week after moving in...silly kids, but good before shot of the fireplace.

Same day, looking in from the nook.  Cave.

Are ya ready for the AFTER?

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Ta da!

The room now feels HUGE, airy and bright!  

Beadboard ceiling and chandy (gonna put shades on I think).

 Just left of the fireplace...

Looking in from the kitchen nook.

The view from my couch....sigh.

Here's a closeup of the paint treatment I used on the brick.  

We'll be putting more of that same trim and a beefy crown molding under the mantel tomorrow.

My hubs worked sooooo hard getting the room put back together before company came for turkey.  

I put the last coat of paint on the trim this morning, 

and he was still wiring the lights an hour before my folks arrived! 

My youngest 4 are pretty darn excited about it too :)

Oh, and I finished my banner, see?  

Recognize that shelf?  It was in the first 'before' picture waaaaay up thar.

I'm thrilled with how the familyroom turned out, and can't wait to start decorating the room for Christmas....
EDITED:  Click here to see it Glitterfied for the Holidays.

I'll be bringing this post and some Little Debbies to the following parties this week:
Metamorphosis Monday @ BNOTP
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle
Project Diaries @ Stories Of A House
Show Off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses
Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Nifty Thrify Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Power of Paint Party @Domestically Speaking
Faded Charm: White Wednesday 
Before and After Party @ Savvy Southern Style
Re-Stored It Wednesday @ Re-Store Interiors
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage 
Hookin' Up with House of Hepworths 
Time Travel Thursday @ Brambleberry Cottage
Thrilling Thursday @ Paisley Passions
We Can Do It Cheaper @ The Virginia House 
Furniture Feature Friday @ Mustard Seed Creations
Fresh Coat Fridays @ Life in the Fun Lane
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home 
Show and Share Day @ Just a Girl
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest 
Remodelaholic Friday Linky 
Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Project Diaries @ Stories of a House
Simply Designing Link Party
Favorite Things Friday @ A Few of My Favorite Things
Feature Yourself @ Fingerprints on the Fridge
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Style Feature Saturday @ Perfectly Imperfect
Show and Tell Saturdays @ be different, act normal
Weekend Wrapup Party @ tatertots and jello
Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table and Dreaming
Before and After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick
Room Redo's 2010@ The Lettered Cottage

Happy Thanksgiving

My lego fanatic son built us a turkey.....

 I built us a table setting....nothing fancy, but there's a few projects to show ya.

I made the ruffled burlap runner using a tutorial from Confessions of a Plate Addict.  It was hard.  

But it looks cute, and that's what matters. I hope.

Salad plates are thrifted pieces I picked up last year sometime.  Love that aqua and brown!

 The ironstone dinner plates are a set of 11 picked up at the same thrift just last week for $9.  Included a serving platter, 4 salad plates and 11 saucers.  Vintage linen napkins: 10 for $4 at the same thrift. 

Made a fun banner....I have another one to finish tonight that says "Gobble Gobble".

Simple centerpiece of candles and creamy punkins on a thrifted cake plate.

This is the first time we've used our new dining table full size since we bought it in February.  It only came with 6 chairs, so I pulled up the antique bench from the hallway for kiddo's bottoms...

May Thanksgiving Day be full of all your favorite things...for me it's Macy's Day Parade, family, food, and not doing dishes.  I'm thankful for the blog world, for the many talented and sweet friends I've made out here, and  that you find time to read my ramblings now and then.