valentine's mantle

Of course now that I have a mantle I'll be decorating for holidays that I've never decorated for before... though to be fair, Valentines Day has been working it's way up there in my book. Mostly because of the amazing dinner Kevin makes me every year {see 2012 and 2011}. I can always count on there being chocolate covered strawberries and this year there is even talk of lobster!! 

So now that you're drooling, here's my cute Valentine's mantle

I made the yarn wreath in just an hour

(I know because it was just 1 episode of Battlestar Galactica - geek alert -

Kevin suggested we watch it, but I'm actually really into it, not proud, but it happens) 

I did not follow any directions to make the wreath, but I was inspired by a pic on pinterest so I went back to find the link, which happens to include a nice tutorial if you're interested.

It took one skein of yarn and a few pink & red felt scraps - I even freehanded the heart and I'm a pretty poor artist.

{in a stick figure competition I'd be sure to find myself in the consolation bracket}

I also made the pom-pom flowers in just a few minutes and I love how cute they are!

I'll be making more of these in different colors throughout the year for sure! 

The heart garland was just a couple of dollars at Michael's so I can't take credit for making it,

but it's cute non-the-less!

Last year I made this red ruffle heart wreath.

It's hanging in my office at work and really brightens up the space!

 So maybe I really do heart me some Valentine's these days

{and Battlestar Galactica}

{and chocolate covered strawberries}

how about building me a mantle?

"How about building me a mantle/faux fireplace?"

Is a question I've casually asked Kevin off and on over the last couple of years...

and he finally said yes... wait... What?? YES?! YAY!!

(I know this is old news and I posted pictures on facebook, but I wanted to update the blog now that I'm back with some more free photo storage options)

 Here's our wall before

and after

{In all it's Christmas glory}

Kevin used all boards that came in pre-cut sizes  

and he bought a pocket jig, which he loves and now is constantly trying to find new projects to use it on :)

Here we are before the paint  

And after just one weekend of building and a couple of days of paint drying we had a beautiful new mantle all ready to decorate!

(Note: 1 weekend is very fast for any project to be completed in our household. I guess I should mention it took over a month to do the final caulking, but a project completely done after even just 1 month might be a record for the two of us!!)

Pretty details

And did I mention we finished it just in time for Christmas?

And even though Christmas is long over,  here's a gratuitous tree shot

(because all the decorating pretty much matches and that's the first time that has ever happened!)