Blog Parties

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Memorial Day Mantel aka: My First Summer Mantel

Summer is on the horizon. Can't you see it? I sure can.

I know Summer doesn't officially start until the 21st of June. But unofficially Summer starts Memorial Day weekend. And that is this weekend.

So I thought for my first Summer mantel, I'd honor Memorial Day.

Plus, I can stretch this mantel out for Flag Day which is June 14 as well as the 4th of July simply by changing out a few items.


Summer is not my favorite time of the year. It's simply tooooooo hot.


What I do like about Summer is VACATION!!!!! And I am leaving on my first Summer vacation in 2 days. I can hardly wait. I'm going to Utah, to my niece's wedding. It will be great to see family I haven't seen in a year or more.

And next week is my anniversary as well. So hubby & I are staying a few nights in Vegas on the way back to celebrate our anniversary.

Well enough gabbing about my vacation. Better get back to the mantel party.


I picked up this lantern at Ikea last month when I was down in San Diego. I love it!!! I should have bought two. Maybe I'll have to drop by Ikea when I'm in Utah and pick up another one.

I made the fan medallions back in February. I just keep changing out the middle part. I picked up the patriotic stickers from Joann's a few weeks back on sale.

I was thinking about making some just like these. But I know how lazy I can be, so why not buy them instead? So I did.

The vintage white ironstone pitcher was a thrift store find. The flags are from Target's dollar spot. I just added the chicken wire to my frames. You can read all about it here. The blue lantern I've had for probably 20 years. It normally sits on the window sill in the boys bathroom. It's getting pretty rusty now from years of being in a wet climate. I didn't feel too bad when I skinned the books as I only had to pay 10 cents a piece for them.

Here is another fan medallion that I spruced up with a patriotic sticker.

Since the mantel is in honor of Memorial Day, I thought it appropriate to place this flag case on the mantel.


The flag is my hubby's. It is from his Father's funeral. His dad was a veteran and is buried at Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. It's a beautiful cemetery. And it has a fabulous view of the ocean as well.



When we lived down in San Diego we used to visit the cemetery every Memorial Day to place flowers on his father's grave. I love how the Boy Scouts place flags on each of the graves for Memorial Day.

I placed larger flags from Michael's in this thrift store vase.

Here is another of my frames that I just added the chicken wire too. It's great for changing out prints for the different holidays or themes of my mantel.


And another fan medallion with a patriotic sticker.

I printed out this Memorial Day image I found on the Internet. I just googled vintage Memorial Day and clicked on images and wall-la, I found it. Pinned it on with a small clothes pin I found at Walmart in the office supply area. I found even tinier ones in the craft/fabric section.

I got this lantern a couple of weeks ago from Big Lots. It was $5.00. Such a deal. They also had it in blue. But I knew that I already had a smaller blue lantern to use.

I think having a banner makes the mantel look more complete. But I'm too lazy to design my own. Luckily for me, there are those of you out there that like to and are even willing to share with us that don't. And for FREE! How I love you.

I found this freebie at Cakes likes a party blog.

Plus she even gives you a second one for 4th of July. And it's free as well. A 2fer.

Don't you just love free? And don't you just love this banner?

So there you have my first mantel of the Summer. And I know it won't be my last.

I'll be changing it up, ever so slightly for Flag Day and the 4th of July. So you all come back now.




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11 comments:

  1. Very pretty! I love the vintage MD image! So cute!
    Jen
    Scissors & Spatulas

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  2. love the patriotic thing going on here. i've said it before and i will say it again, i am glad to see a little variety from the beachy theme : ) i love beachy, but it's fun to see different things. love it!

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  3. Kim, I would soooo love for you to come and decorate my house up!! I think it is fantastic that you do so much so inexpensively, too! Love the sweet banners!

    Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  4. I love this! It looks beautiful and love the way you made it patriotic while still keeping it pretty.

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  5. Love this mantel, and thanks for honoring our military in such an amazing way!

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  6. Love your holiday mantels!
    Take Care,
    Jackie

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  7. Have a great summer ahead! Congrats to your niece.

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  8. Wonderful! I love those fans you made. Very nice. ~ Sarah

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