Vintage Garden Mantel for Spring

Are you noticing a theme this month? Me too.

I seem to be on a vintage lace and linens kick. I used them in my Vintage Linen Table Runner as well as the Spring Hoop Art last week.
Apparently I’ve been in a vintage/girly mood lately. Weird.

That’s what I love about decorating for the seasons though! I can be all girly and romantic in the spring – and go all modern and decorate everything in emerald green and arrows this summer. Maybe.

So today I’m showing off my Spring Mantel!

It’s all done up with old frames, handkerchiefs and linens, and a sweet pennant and framed cameo – all lined with this awesome moss runner, so it looks like a vintage garden!
I love how soft and Spring-ish everything looks!

Let’s do some close-ups shall we?

I found a fun mix of frames – some are new but with an antique look, and some are old frames that I dressed up with some spring colors to match the handkerchiefs inside.

For the runner on the mantel I used a roll of moss that I picked up at Joann’s. It was an 18″ x 48″ roll that I cut in half. This gave me plenty for the mantel with some left over.
Confession: This thing stinks. Like really smells wonky. I’m hoping as it’s out in the air the smell will fade. Otherwise the summer mantel might be making a sooner appearance than I was planning.
The smell? I’m sticking with strong mothballs. Others have said that it has more of a strong fish smell. Nice. Whatever it is, it needs to disperse. Real quick like.

On the mirror I made a little pennant with fabric and crochet lace, and I hung a cool framed cameo (I picked this up from Earth Cookie at a Queen Bee Market a few years ago) in the center. The bow is made with cool wired burlap ribbon from Tea Party Ribbons.

In the frames I have sweet handkerchiefs or linens – some I’ve found at thrift stores and some are mine and Mr. F.T.’s grandmas. I didn’t cut these, I just folded them around the glass of the frame so that they would stay in one piece. :)

The colored frames were fun to do! I found some old antique frames at a garage sale and I used a dry brush paint technique to add some color to them, to match their handkerchiefs.
This technique is super easy to do.

I started with some antique frames that were cream colored, with brown distressing. If your frames are brown or another color, you could just add a step by brushing on some cream paint first.

Put some light color paint on a plate and add some to your brush. Rub the brush on the plate to get most of the paint off, so the brush feels almost dry. Brush the frame lightly with the paint. This will add some color but keep most of the distressed look.

Now do the same technique with a darker version of the same color. Hit the corners and edges of the frame, and any raised detailing as well.

I think the color really helps the handkerchiefs stand out!

I did 4 of the frames with spring colors. I think they look fun with the mossy runner!

The handkerchiefs underneath the runner were our grandma’s also. Aren’t they fabulous shapes and prints? I love the yellow one – it says “Best Wishes”! Gah. So sweet.

So what do you think? Sometimes it’s fun to just be girly isn’t it? :)

Linking up at Sunday Scoop, Today’s Creative Blog, Met Monday, Tutorials & Tips Tuesday, Shabby Creek Cottage, My Repurposed Life, 504 Main, and the other fabulous parties on the party page – make sure you check them out!