Summer Vignettes: Mantel

Layla (and Kevin) are hosting their Summer Fun Link Up Party over at The Lettered Cottage today, so I thought that would be good motivation to get my summer mantel up. Last year I finally finished my summer mantel at the end of August, so right now I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself:)


I went for an overall nautical/exploring/discovery kind of "theme" (ugh, doesn't that word give you the chills?!). (And remember, the goal of this kind of seasonal decorating is to spend no money, just shop the house for things that will work or DIY some new stuff using things I already have). A couple of items stayed from my winter and spring mantel, like the large grey metal frame featuring a map of the Pacific Ocean.


I also kept the square brushed silver shadow box frame, but swapped out the spring time butterflies for this sea shell print (Stematisches Conchylien-cabinet (1837)[1879] - whatever that means) that I dowloaded from Vintage Printable. I love the varying color and pattern on these guys!!




For something a bit more sculptural, I added in this model ship I stole from my mom a while back (plus the big white canvas sails do a good job of balancing out all the white in that frame on the left). I had already painted the hull once when I didn't like the original color, and I just did it again! I wanted some more color here, so I threw a coat of blue acrylic paint on the bottom and changed the red stripe to white. (This thing was probably like $3.99 at the Christmas Tree Shop ten years ago, so I don't mind roughing it up a bit.)


The last thing I added to the mantel are the old apothecary glass bottles I found at last year's Brimfield Antique Show. Usually I leave well enough alone, but this time I decided to try a project I've had pinned for awhile. I made little tags for some of the beaches we have visited over the years and filled each bottle with sand from that specific spot. (I originally wanted to do this using baby food glass jars for Maura's room - the beaches she's been to so far, but this is a good spin off for now.)


The tags I cut out of cardstock and then wrote on them in pencil for a more vintage, used, collected look. At first I tried tying on the tags with jute twine, but it was a bit bulky, and too much brown, and a bit distracting, so I grabbed some sage green thread I had sitting around in a little sewing kit (baker's twine would be cool, but I don't have any of that). Confession - to be honest, only the PEI Canada sand is actually from PEI Canada (brought home in a bucket), the other two bottles are filled with sand from our backyard. They are both beaches close to home that we visit frequently (one down the street, the other down the Cape), so next time we are there I just have to remember to grab some sand and come swap them out.


Overall, I'm digging this new summer look. I like the contrast, natural vibe, pops of bright color. What look are you going with this season?


Thanks for hosting, Layla! Can't wait to browse through all the other summer decor! Are any of you guys linking up? (Your post doesn't have to be about a mantel - it can be a bookcase, table vignette, whatevs.) 


Comments

  1. Your mantle is so elegant, I love the vintage bottles filled with sand and the cute sailboat. The seashell print looks great, love that website. I just love the whole look! Thanks for visiting me please visit again soon.

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  2. I always love your mantels. I really need to give mine a fresh look.

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  3. Yet another beautiful mantel, simple and summery. I really like your seashells printable and the pop of blue on the hull of your stolen sailboat.

    I'd love to link something up, but since my kids just spied a stray Easter bunny floating around, I can't guarantee my timeliness!

    Great post as always, Sarah!

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  4. You're so good about this. You know I think about your shelving every time I walk up my stairs and I look at my shelves that are so desperately in need of some love. I did organize some of the books and shift some things around - but no where near ready to take some photos yet. I would say my summer decor has been bringing some plant life to our home. Although my peace lily looks so sad - I need to troubleshoot what is going on with it.

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  5. Amazing blog!

    Do you want to follow each other on Bloglovin? Follow me and I will follow you back with pleasure. Just let me know in the comments ;)

    LA By Diana Live Magazine

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  6. Love your theme of Nautical Discovery, and have always been intrigued by the sand from different places, yours are displayed beautifully.

    Thanks for stopping over to see my mantel as well.
    Happy Summer!

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  7. Love your theme of Nautical Discovery, and have always been intrigued by the sand from different places, yours are displayed beautifully.

    Thanks for stopping over to see my mantel as well.
    Happy Summer!

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  8. Sarah - I just love the idea of the beach sand in those little bottles! Very clever! I agree with the other posts; I love your mantle ideas! Good seeing you a couple of weeks ago @yard sale. Fondly, Lisa

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