Vintage-Inspired Chalkboard Art: Christmas Mantle

 Before you go out and spend $$$ on a trendy (but-oh-so-beautiful) Christmas decor item for your mantle...WAIT!!  Here's a fast and easy DIY crafty project that can update your mantle in less than an hour! I had a BLAST whipping this out last night (although the hubs thought I was crazy at first LOL!), and I thought I'd take a minute to explain how I did it to help and inspire you, too!

Okay, what you need is a chalkboard--I simply unscrewed the chalkboard off of my littlest one's easel (this one) and popped it right off--love the fact that it already had the holes I needed for hanging!

Next, using this chalkboard printable for inspiration, I used white chalk to draw the sentiment onto the board (skinny side for most of the letters--wide side for "COME"). Then I added a bit of washable Crayola red paint over the "COME" letters.  Last, I outlined all the white cursive letters with a chalkboard marker to really make them POP.  Above you will see an up-close picture of the chalkboard--feel free to click on the image to see it larger and in greater detail!

  

To hang, I simply knotted a burlap ribbon through the holes in either corner of the chalkboard and strung it up on a removable Command hook.  Then, I added a wire-on prefab chevron burlap bow I snagged off of my fall wreath (bought at Michael's).

Here's the final look of the mantle, complete with a curtain rod which came out of my basement to hold the stockings--love that I can slide them down to add more when family comes into town for Christmas morning! 

I hope you enjoyed this Pinterest-inspired and FREE Christmas mantle update using your kids' craft items!  It was fun to put together and will be fun to enjoy all season long!

Chevron Canvas Journal

Hello and welcome back!  I am excited to share with you two of my FAVORITE things in ONE...journals and chevron, haha!  I stamped this canvas journal from CTMH using their Charming Chevron stamp set in slate, lagoon, outdoor denim, and smoothe ink.  I then added sparkle chevron shapes (also CTMH) to a few of the chevron designs to add some BLING and interest!

Sentiment is from the He Said, She Said stamp set (CTMH, retired) stamped in Smoothie and Slate ink.  Can't wait to crack it open and start writing my thoughts...I am really cranking out the journals these days as my children are growing so fast and we are anticipating a move soon!!  Hope you have a creative day, my friend, and thanks for stopping by!

Wintry Wishes

Happy December! I will be embarking upon a daily blogging extravaganza to showcase a new handmade card I have made in anticipation of the Christmas season. Some cards are designed for Christmas Day...others have more of a wintry theme, but either way, sit back, grab your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy the eye candy! Be sure to stop by each day for fresh inspiration! I hope you and yours have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Supplies used: card design CASED from Vicki here, Wintry Wishes stamp set (CTMH), black ink, Outdoor Denim chevron ribbon (CTMH), Frosted patterned paper (CTMH), Slate cardstock (CTMH), watercolor pencils (CTMH)

Chevron Journal

Remember this post from last month?  Well, I left off these chevron shapes off the cards from the SU Paper Pumpkin kit and glued them on this canvas journal to make a trendy little gift for my sister-in-law.  I also used a button from the kit, too.  Supplies used: Noted backgrounds stamp (CTMH, retired) in slate ink, seriously stamp/dots/ink splatter stamps in outdoor denim ink from various SU Paper Pumpkin kits, red baker's twine (SU), canvas journal (CTMH).  Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

For Always Romance Card

Here's an easy and lovely card that is perfect for telling your spouse how much you love him!  I used the For Always paper packet and white daisy diecut cards from CTMH.  The sentiment is from the zipstrip atop one of the papers in the pack--I just trimmed it to fit my card front.  The flower embellishement was created with SU's blossom punch and modern label punches, with the center being a cluster of black adhesive gems.  Of course, it uses my favorite pattern--chevron!!  Can't wait to surprise my hubby with this one in his lunch one day this week :)

Chevron Obsession

I have to confess--I have been totally addicted to chevron lately!  I am SO stinking excited that CTMH is coming out with MULTIPLE chevron patterened papers in their new catalog, which goes live February 1st!  But until then...I have been playing with chevron in other ways at home! 

 

 I found this amazing dark brown and white urn at Target in the Nate Berkus collection.  Score!  It is in a prominant place in our living room entertainment cabinet so I get to enjoy it everyday!

 

 

My next find was in the clearance section at Kirklands.  I found this monogrammed photo album and KNEW I had to have it!  But...I didn't want to use it as a photo album, so instead, I ripped out the 4x6 sleeves and put in my travel Bible--a perfect fit!  It now sits snuggly inside thanks to craft-sized glue dots :)



 

Stay tuned for more chevron inspiration and crafty projects in the weeks ahead!!