Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Friday, June 19, 2015

Mantel Design For Summer

Today I took down my Spring Mantel
&
Decorated for Summer:)
My banner was inspired by Carol at,
Art & Sand
http://artandsand.blogspot.com/2015/06/garden-party.html 

Stenciled letters on drop cloth.
 
My first project was to paint these softballs
that I bought at the Goodwill.
I started by making some star stickers
with my cricket. 


After painting I pulled the stickers off
to reveal the softball.


Then I took a makeup sponge and rubbed on ink,
 to stain them and give them a primitive look.

 
 I purchased these little flags for 40 cents each.
Took them off their little poles 
and hot glued them to sticks, 
that I cut from a shrub.

 Then I soaked them in coffee to stain them.

This is a scrap of plywood from Steve's wood bin.

A plywood star cut out, painted, stenciled
 and hot glued on.

Then it was time to put everything together:)
I purchased that tin sign at a shop in Enterprise, Oregon back in the Spring. 
The sailboat was a gift from a dear friend
about 20 years ago.
My lovely garden gate was a gift from my 
friend and neighbor, Shirley.

I found this piece of art at a yard sale 
two weeks ago for $5.
The ship lantern I bought at an antique shop for $85 about 15 years ago.

I'm ready for summer . . .
hot dogs, potato salad & watermelon.

How about you . . . are you ready?


KEEP SMILING!

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

53 comments:

  1. II love, love, love it! The baseball idea was genius! So neat...and the banner is too cute! Everything looks perfect for summer! I say bring on the hot dogs, potato salad, and some cold watermelon! Yum....now I'm hungry! Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Vicky

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    1. I think that summer brings out the kid in us . . . ball games, picnics and sitting on the front porch. I love summer!

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  2. I love what you did, so many great ideas you came up with.

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    1. Thanks Betty, Just using up scrap fabric and scrap wood . . . sometimes those little scraps can come in very handy :)

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  3. Your mantel looks fabulous and painting those baseballs was a wonderful idea. There were so many amazing DIY projects and they all work together beautifully. Have a lovely weekend... :)

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    1. Good Morning Dee, I saw the baseballs on Pinterest about 6 months ago and started looking for old ones at the Goodwill. When I spied that bag of softballs, I was in crafting heaven, LOL It was a fun project.

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  4. That's such fun Connie! What happens at the beach, stays at the beach!! I like it. I like the whole thing actually. You've been such a busy bee again and as usual it looks just great! Pity though I'll have to wait a few months or more to get back to summer here.x

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    1. Oh I know . . . you're getting ready for winter, aren't you. When I was a kid winter was wonderful, making snowmen, snow angels, sledding and ice skating . . . now it just makes me cold and I hate driving on icy roads.

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  5. Good job to decorate up all patriotic for the summer! I have a boat painting over my mantel and a pair of ship's lanterns on either side. Definitely love anything nautical! Looks like you're ready for the 4th of July! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Hi Teresa, I was born the day before the official ending of WWII. My Momma called be a peace baby:) I had a brother who was twenty years older than me and he was off to war . . . we were always a patriotic family, but everyone was back then. Every GI was a hero and I believe it should still be that way. I have two brothers that made the service their careers . . . I guess you could say that I am a "Don't you even think about burning my flag" kind of girl.

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  6. Great summer look for your mantel. I love the baseballs. I'll have to keep my eye out for some. I'm totally ready for summer. It's my favorite time of year

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    1. It's a great time of year! Now that we live in the country and have such a big yard and garden, I see the big deal they use to put on spring cleaning. It's a time to get everything done and done right, because after the gardening starts, you will be spending 80 percent of your waking hours outside. I love it!

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  7. We've just started winter here in Australia! Will be minus 3 overnight tonight with a heavy frost ! Talking of Summer seems a distant memory lol ! Enjoy reading your blog Connie ... Have a lovely weekend .

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    1. Hello Gayle, you know that is one of my favorite things about blogging. In the winter when I'm in the house more and it is cold outside, I can get on the computer and tag along with my southern hemisphere blogging sisters and enjoy their sunshine and flowers:)

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  8. I love the patriotic softballs...what a great idea!

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    1. Thanks . . .but it wasn't my idea, I found it on Pinerest and just had to make them.

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  9. Love the idea of marking the seasons. I am so ready for summer. As you may know it rains quite a lot here in Cornwall U.K. So as soon as the sun shines I'm out in my chair in the garden!

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    1. That rain is what makes your gardens so beautiful. Around here we are watering and moving sprinklers around the yard all the time :)

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  10. Haha...so envious! Like Gayle above, we're facing our winter here :) Love your summer display.

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    1. Hi Jill, thanks so much for stopping by . . . I hope this provided a little warmth on your winter day:)

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  11. American items catch my fancy - love the mantel and all the elements. I may be a tiny bit envious of the garden gate!

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    1. I know, I love that gate. My neighbor was cleaning her garden this spring. She had it as a decorative item in her yard for many years, and just decided to see if I wanted it. . . . best gift ever! I painted it white and brought it into the house. I think it will be beautiful with a big Christmas wreath on it this winter:)

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  12. Great summer time display, I love the antiquing you did to the balls and flags, such great projects!!

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    1. Thank you . . . I saw some baseballs done this way on Pinterest and was impressed with them. So when I found this bag of balls at the Goodwill store, I had to make my own:)

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  13. I love how each little element has come together to make such a glorious display. Stunning.

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  14. Hi Connie, What a neat post! Wow, you are quite an amazing lady to come up with such an excellent display for the summer season. Your creations are great! I love the way you did all this so economically. Thank you for your very kind comment on my blog. I appreciate your remarks about Seattle. I sounds like you may be over around Ellensburg. I love that part of the state ... have even thought about it as a possible place for a future home. Hope you will stop by my blog again soon. Take good care and be well! John

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    1. Hello John, it is a pleasure having you stop by. There are good things about both sides of the mountains. It has been so warm lately that I spend a lot of my time moving sprinklers around the yard to keep it green . . . that's not a problem on your side, LOL. The last time that we were in Seattle was three years ago. My husband's cousin is a captain on a cargo ship and it was in Seattle for repairs, so that made it a great time to go over there and spend sometime with him. Not only did we do some of the tourist things but we also got to board the ship and have a personal tour. Since there was no crew, we had it mainly to ourselves and took time to look at everything and ask questions. Those ships are so big, and especially high when they are not loaded with cargo. It was raining when we boarded and had to climb this large chained stairway to the deck. I don't do well with heights and climbing those wet moving stairs was not the best part of the tour, coming down even scarier. Thanks again for stopping my to visit. My welcome mat is always out:)

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  15. Boy you are having so much fun. Great display!

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    1. Thank you so much . . . it's always a pleasure having you stop by to visit. Have a great week!

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  16. Lov, love, love...your Summer mantel.!! It's so pretty...and I really like those baseballs.
    ~Cindy

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    1. Those baseballs where so much fun to make . . . one of my brothers has played baseball all of his life. He's still playing at 75 and has gone to the Senior's World Series playoffs many years now:) I think that I just might have to make him a set of these:)

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  17. That looks great! Love the softballs (we had 2 girls who played for years). So cute!

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    1. Thanks so much . . . I found a photo of them on Pinterest and just had to make a set:)

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  18. What great summer decor you've created. Love the seaside themed art piece you found.

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    1. Hi Lorrie, I paid $5 for one of them at a yard sale and the tin sign I bought at a small store, it was on sale for $8, I gave her a $20 . . . and she couldn't make change, so she gave it to me for $5, LOL.

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  19. Okay, you just left me with too much to comment on so I hope I remember it all.

    Love the SUMMER banner - thanks for the shout out.

    Love the gate!

    I might just copy the red and white striped board idea.

    Have a great week!

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    1. Hi Carol, thank you for the banner inspiration . . . that was my starting point.
      Copy any idea you want, that to me is what blogging is all about . . . sharing ideas :)
      Have a happy day and a great walk on the beach:)

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  20. Love this look! So pretty, crafty, and summery. Who would've think to paint softballs?! Of course, someone very creative like you who can think outside the box. :-)

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    1. Hi Melanie, I wish that I could say it was my idea, but no, I saw it on Pinterest:) I'm happy that you like it!

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  21. I love it....ALL of it. You did a super job getting the decor ready for Summer! [painting the baseballs in a patriotic style is fantastic]

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  22. Hi Connie :)

    Everything looks so cute and summery! Carol is great for inspiration, isn't she? I love your take on her banner and those baseballs are so sweet.

    Congratulations to your daughter on her graduation from nursing school. That's quite and accomplishment and I know you must be very proud of her :)

    Love the redneck hot tub too :)

    Have a great week!

    xo,
    rue

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    1. Hello Rue, it is suppose to reach 110 degrees here by Sunday . . . I may just be spending some time in that tub, LOL.
      Thanks for your sweet and encouraging words about my summer mantel. Painting the baseballs was a fun project that I have been wanting to do for some time now. So, I was delighted when I found that bag of balls at the Goodwill.

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  23. I love the things you've put together for your summer decor.....it's all the things I love. Especially that little chair with the big shell! Happy summer! Hugs, Diane

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    1. Thank you so much. Some of this stuff I made, but most of it was pulled from different rooms and just rearranged. It's fun how things look new again, when moved around the house and used in different areas:)

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  24. Hi Connie,
    You always make everything fun. I love watching your process of finding or making each individual part and then putting all together into one delightfully cohesive theme. It makes me want to head for the beach. Happy Summer!

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    1. Oh, wait for me . . . I'll grab my swimsuit and towel:)

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  25. Hi Connie, Your banner is very nice! Your whole display is so interesting and hearing how you put it all together. Thanks for sharing. I cannot keep up to life this summer but maybe next! I will get out the table runner I use for the fourth of July and call it good!! Will enjoy the decorations through your blog! Have a great fourth! Nancy

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    1. Here's wishing you a wonderful 4th, too :)

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  26. I love your patriotic decor, Connie, especially the balls!

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    1. I saw those on Pinerrest and had to make a set :)

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  27. Hi Connie, love the fire place décor! I am thinking about fall but wanted to wait until hurricane Irma passes through. Enjoy your summer Lisa @ Sweet Tea N' Salty Air

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