Southern Scraps

Yesterday I showed you my beach themed summer mantel decor. Today I'm back to show you how I've updated that same decor to a patriotic look and for less than $10. I picked up some patriotic paper fans from the Dollar Tree. They came two to a pack, one large and one small. I'll go ahead and tell you to expect to need a few more supplies to make them work. One of mine was missing string and one was missing the adhesive strip to hold it together. I also took extra adhesive to get them to stay together in the middle and not fold in half. I hung them from my mantel on clear Command hooks. You could also make a garland with them. I placed some red votives I already had on hand on each side. I purchased some small flags from Michael's and added them to the succulent arrangement. I took the fan with no string and adhered a small dowel to the back and stuck it in my shell filled hurricane.  I also picked up the picture frame from Tuesday Morning for $3.99. I placed

  I changed out my winter mantel to my summer decor (we skipped spring decor due to illness in the family) a few weeks ago. I kept some of the same things I had out for winter and just swapped out a few others. I'm using the same elements I've used for the past couple of years , just in different ways.  I also kept the succulents in place as they go well with summer and beach decor.   Here's an overview of the whole mantel and hearth.

    This was my kind of project. Quick. Easy. While browsing at the Dollar Tree a few weeks ago, I saw this top hat decoration. I thought it would be cute hanging on my door, but knew it could be cuter framed.       I happened upon a sale at Michael's where I got a laser cut frame for 50% off and their Craft Smart paint was on sale too. I painted the frame with "holiday red".  It took three coats because this wood really soaks up the paint. After I painted it, I applied a clear top coat by Plaid. Then I added some pears and rhinestone embellishments to the frame. I didn't go overboard with red, white, and blue so I can use the same frame at Valentine's or Christmas.  Here are a few close ups of the embellishments. I hung the top hat from the back of the frame. I attached it with a staple. Be careful with staples, one of mine showed from the front but  I covered it with a rhinestone jewel. I added a flag to my plants at the front ent

Shirt- TJMaxx; skirt- thrifted; sandals- Wal-mart with DIY clips necklace- made by me   What else can I say? This outfit is mostly thrifted or DIY. And this skirt is one of my favorites to wear in the summer.   Linking up with WIWW.

May 2011 My mother-in-law grows the prettiest flowers.

 Have you refashioned some sunnies yet?  Check out 9 ways to do so HERE. You're going to need a case to protect them when you throw them in your bag. It may as well be a cute one. Here are seven tutorials for making glasses cases. Glasses case tutorial   by Sew Fantastic gingham with bows by see kate sew From a potholder - Two shades of pink Scalloped sunglass case by Positively Splendid by Positively Splendid Sunnies case tutorial

I resisted the chalkboard craze for a long time, partly because I didn't think I had a use for any of the projects and partly because I just hadn't gotten around to it. I have a platter that I bought at a yard sale with a chalk board project in mind but I haven't gotten to it. When I saw Suburb's Mama's chalkboard sign on her front porch, I knew it was time to get on board. I just had to copy this for my own front porch update. I wanted a white frame and I didn't want to paint it. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on it either. Luck would have it, I found a clearance frame at Michael's that was white. It was on clearance because it didn't have a glass but I decided I could work with it. There are tons of ways to make a chalkboard from a picture frame. I was initially going to paint the glass in the frame, but since this one didn't have a glass, I had to shift to plan B. Luckily the backing board was a sturdy smooth MDF board, s

  I loved the Banana Republic look the minute I saw it, but it didn't even occur to me that I had similar items in my closet already to create the look until I saw MK at Outfit Post do it.     Suit- JCPenney; sweater- Gap; necklace- Target shoes- thrifted   Note: I don't normally buy shoes at the thrift store. It's just gross to me, but these were never worn, brand new, excess from antother store. Score!   Linking up to WIWW.

Chapel at Callaway Gardens Dec. 2010   One of the most peaceful places I have ever visited.

We are over half way through June now and in a few short weeks it will be the Fourth of July. Time to get your red, white, and blue on! Here are 20 patriotic projects to decorate your home and tables for Fourth of July entertaining.   Sparkle hat door decoration

  Some friends of ours were married in April. About a month before the wedding, they sent me some pics of a photo prop from the internet wanting to know if I could make something similar for their wedding. Well, I was flattered, and of course, I love a crafty challenge. ( I don't know the sources of the photos so I can't give proper credit to whoever had this idea first.)   This is an easy prop to make and makes for some darling photos.   I started with a white MDF? board heart from Michael's. I don't remember if its MDF but you can find them at Michael's with the wood cut outs and shapes.  The hubby drilled the two holes for me. Even though it was already white, I painted it with a coat of white paint so scratches on the board wouldn't show. The couples' wedding color was periwinkle. I distressed the edges with periwinkle paint and used May Arts periwinkle ribbon for the handle. I used my Silhouette SD to cut out the words in black vin