{DIY} Mantle Decor

Happy Monday, sweet friends! I hope that all my friends on the East coast have stayed warm this weekend with all the snow you have gotten. No snow in Oklahoma, just cold, although today felt a bit like spring. I will admit, after seeing all of the cozy snow pictures, it did make me wish for just a dusting of snow. If you know me and my love of warm weather, this is very strange for me!

The Christmas decorations came down after New Year's and it had been a while since I had my regular decor up. Before Christmas it was all things fall! As much as I love Christmas and the holidays, I was ready to have my regular decorations back in place. I decided to take a little time and revamp my regular look to really make it what I wanted.

I became obsessed with HGTV "Fixer Upper" over Christmas break and love how there are so many flowers around the homes when they stage them for the families. I decided I wanted to add a little pop of color by my fireplace and found these yellow flowers at Hobby Lobby 50% for $2.50. The jar was brought for just $1 at Goodwill.

I love, love, love how this wreath turned out! I had been wanting one to add a little spring feel to my home and once I took down the garland and lights above my fireplace, I knew something was missing. I decided that a simple green boxwood wreath would be perfect! I found small wreaths at Target for $20 but really did not want to spend that much and decided I could probably make my own. Bought the grapevine wreath at Hobby Lobby for $2.50, boxwood greens at Michael's for $7 (I had a 50% off coupon), and the gray ribbon at Hobby Lobby for $2. I already had some wire to secure the greens so total I spent $11.50, half of what I would have spent at Target! I have a few more doorways this wreath would look adorable on so I may make a few more in the coming months.

I believe this one was another "Fixer Upper" idea. I love old windows and how they can be painted and displayed anywhere for a rustic look. I have been looking and looking for a wooden piece to paint and came across this at Michaels for $7 and with my 50% coupon, only $3.50! A little white paint did the trick for just what I wanted. You have probably noticed that coupon's are my favorite. :) I already had this potted candle from the fall and add some extra greens I had leftover from another project.

These candles were a Pinterest inspiration. Best part? $2 each. I already had the candles and bought the candlestick holders and glass jars at Dollar Tree. Just hot glued them on top and added candles. That's it! Super easy, super cheap, and super cute.

I already had this glass jar (Dollar Tree) and decorative balls (Hobby Lobby).

I also already had these flowers and vase. The flowers from Hobby Lobby sometime last year and the vase from Dollar Tree.

I knew that something had been missing from my mantle but it took me the longest time to figure out what. I was browsing for some inspiration in Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and came across this sign. I absolutely love this verse. If you look closely, there is no 4th edge to it and was broken when I found it on the clearance isle. I bought it for a great deal and it only cost me $3. I put some greens in front of it to cover up the broken side and you would never know (except I just gave it away)!

My wooden "Blessings" piece I brought from China, completes the look. Simple and elegant. I love how it turned out and makes winter feel not quite so dreary. 

{Decor} Headboard

Since having my own apartment, I have discovered the most wonderful thing on the internet.

Pinterest.

I know, I know, it's been around for several years now but I didn't quite understand what all the "hoopla" was about until I had my own space to decorate and make my own. Oh my goodness, it has been a lifesaver. I love my job (although that is a little negotiable at the moment as I transition into a new position), but let's me be honest here. I don't make the big bucks. Therefore, not only has it been a difficult year of making my apartment a home, but making it a home while on a budget. I like to call it "decorating on a budget." 

My bedroom walls are a boring white. When I first moved in, I knew that I had to do something about them because I felt like I was once again living in a college dorm room. Slowly over time, I have made it my own and it is finally starting to feel like a room I actually want to be in (other than sleep of course). 

When I moved to Oklahoma, I had a super limited budget. My savings was just about drained and so I used what I had and was able to take several furniture pieces from my grandparents house. I did not have a bed, but we purchased just the mattress, boxspring, and frame. As I have been decorating my room, I realized that what it was really missing was a headboard. Now headboards can be expensive, and I could go look for a used one somewhere but I thought I'd take a look on pinterest to see what I could find. 

I found a winner, folks, and all for less than $15!

Several websites I looked it, said you could use wood, cardboard, or even poster board. I just have a twin size bed and it is 40' wide so I went with a poster board that was 40' exactly and on sale for $4 at Hobby Lobby.

I then bought "quilt batting" to pad it with. I bought the smallest one they had which was the size of a crib quilt for $4.99 at Hobby Lobby (I then had a 40% off coupon so it cost me even less). My first step was to doubled up the quilt batting and stapled it to to the poster board.

I washed and ironed the fabric and then did the same thing. Laid it on top of the quilt batting and stapled it on every side.

For stability, rather than hanging it on the wall, I decided to nail each corner on and it has worked great.

So easy and it looks really cute! I love it because you can pick out your own fabric to go with whatever style and look you are looking for.

My next project was to do a little decor above my bed. I found a frame at Goodwill for $3. I took out the print and glass that was in it and pained it a light gray to match my pink, gray, and off white theme of my room.

I had picked out another fabric to cover some canvas' that I already had. 

Finished off the look with some "Live, Laugh, Love" wall stickers I had from the Dollar Tree.

I am so pleased with how it turned out!

Would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below! Hope you all had a wonderful, long weekend! Today is back to the office.