mantle redo, diy.

[click to see all photos larger!]
well, i have been inspired by this photo, for some time now:

and decided that i could maybe try something SORT OF like that. i say sort of, because who could ever find frames that odd size to mimic the wainscoating? and i certainly was not up for the task of making my own, for a low budget diy project this weekend... so. i had one 24x36" frame already up on my mantle, which housed an inexpensive black and white poster that was simply filling space. i went out and bought a second 24x36" frame, and a roll of wrapping paper from Border's, which i had seen numerous times and always thought to myself, "i want to wrap gifts in that," but never remembered to purchase. until yesterday. (the wrap, by the way, is plain white paper with black FUZZY(!!!) flowers. since the wrap was 6.5 feet by 27", it proved absolutely perfect with none to spare for this project! i think 3 frames would have been better, maybe more balanced, but the mantle is only big enough for 2....

here is the mantle yesterday -- including brand new candle holders purchased at target and tj maxx...

and here is the mantle a few minutes ago after this morning's project...


now, normally i would actually hang the frames on the wall.. but i am trying to get away without putting any more holes in the wall than necessary. so they will sit on the mantle for now. my hope is that when we end up moving (whenever that is...), we'll have a good wall to hang them on. because for a project that cost me all of $25, they're pretty sweet.