I can’t believe Spring is just around the corner! It seems like I was just putting away the Christmas decorations yesterday (don’t worry, I wasn’t). But, here we are anyway.

So, to celebrate the upcoming season and arrival of Peter Cottontail, I did a little Spring decorating. Nothing major, but enough to brighten up our place and add a little ‘spring’ to my step (groan, did I really just go there?) Of course I did.

In the kitchen I added some cheer behind the sink in the form of this awesome free printable and a little Spring cyclamen.

Come on, you know you are singing it now… #sugarhillgang

Look at my little cyclamen bud about to open up. So cute.

And no, I did not match my counter spray and dish soap to my Spring décor… but how awesome is it that they match!? It’s the little things people.

And, looking up I have some more pom pom trim which I strung up as a whimsical banner. Little bunny tails everywhere!

In the living room we have another fireplace. This one has a larger mantel so I have a bit more flexibility here.

Another area that got a bit of Easter love is one of the end tables in the living room. I simply added some faux eggs to a glass vase and put them beside my gold tree bark lamp. Because every tree bark lamp needs a vase of fake eggs (obvs).

Hippity Hoppin’, Easter’s on its way! Anyone else infused a little Spring or Easter at their place?

I did a little bit of refreshing on the ‘ol mantel. It was time to (literally) lighten up. As in, all things WHITE!

I like the simple, clean and understated approach that using only white elements offers.

My Spring mantel was still relevant (since it is still Spring), but had a lot of Easter influence so it was time to shake it up a bit.

Since my last few mantels have been quite full, I wanted something a little less dense this time – and with an airier feeling about it. Plus I think I was inspired by my new curtains :). It’s the first mantel I’ve done since I installed them and I think the graphic nature of them (and the colour palette) led me in this direction.

I used what I already had on hand, and the elements themselves are quite simple. First I took a white frame and framed some shells photos that I got from ‘google images’. To tone them down a bit (keeping with the light, white feeling) I actually put a white box over them (in my design program – Adobe Indesign) and set the opacity to 25%. Basically what that did was make the shells a softer colour. Then I just printed it out on my colour laser printer.

The decorative scroll plaque is actually one that I got from a consignment store and spray painted white to use in my outdoor garden wall awhile back. It was sitting unused in my outside storage bin since I haven’t put all my outdoor decor up yet.

This candle holder is one I’ve had for years I lovingly call it my ‘swiss cheese holder’. As you can imagine, it makes a funky circle pattern when the candle inside is lit.

And lastly are these tree bark vases that I got back in the fall. I have used them on every mantel since I purchased them. (Seriously, check it out: Fall, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Spring)  I love the shape and finish – and even love them without flowers in them. I often use them just by themselves ‘as is’.

So that’s it. Clean. Simple. Nothing fancy.

I think it compliments the new curtains, panelled wall and art above the couch. What do you think?

What about you guys? Get up to any refreshing around your house lately? And new mantels? If so, I bet you can safely say you didn’t use any swiss cheese or bark on yours… which is a lot more than I can say ;).

    

It’s that time again – monthly calendar roundup – Yeeeehaaaaa!

If April showers bring May flowers, then we’re going to have a whole lotta flowers in my part of town this month!

Speaking of a-lotta, here are my picks for the calendars that caught my eye. Simply click on the link below each one to be redirected to the download.

Enjoy!

Blog a la cart

Design is Yay

Studio of Mae

Mom’s Crafty Space

Happy Serendipity

Rebekka Seale

Grown Up Shoes

Jennifer Squires

Nicole’s Classes

Shop Ruche

Paper Leaf

Oh the Lovely Things

Going Home to Roost

Oana Befort

Call Me Victorian

Rotten Cupcakes

Clever Thursday

Creative Design Magazine

Thomson Reuters

Red Stamp

Wild Olive

Ah yes, Spring is here. Now doesn’t this image just scream “Spriiinnnng!”

No? I agree. It screams “mama’s been kinda busy”, actually if it were screaming it would be more like “MAMMA’S BEEN KINDA BUSY!” but I don’t like to yell. What you are looking at here are the remnants of my Christmas planter (I didn’t blog about it this year but it looked basically like this). Now, in my defense this is from about a month ago (so late March isn’t too bad is it)? Okay, it is.

Chace and I set out to give this planter a Spring overhaul. First we removed all the dead foliage and thinned out the branches drastically. Then Chace worked his magic moving the dirt around. Nothing like putting your (almost) four year old to work. And don’t you love the outfit he picked out? Priceless.

Once Chace had filled his time card we turned our attention to the flowers I had purchased. My birthday is mid-March and my sweet coworker bought me a gift card to a garden centre near my office (thanks Sharon)! I picked up these 6 plants on my lunch break a day or two before the big dig.

I’m sorry that I can’t recall the names for all of these but basically I picked up some ground cover, some heather (the purple one), decorative grass, a succulent variety, and some violas.

Then we began planting. I let Chace help by telling me which one he wanted to plant next and I helped chose where to put them.

I tried to place the plants in an arrangement that would add interest from each angle you viewed the planter at. For example, I put the succulent near the side of the planter where the door is as it is small so you may not notice it if tucked in back. I also put the heather to the far right as it is large and colourful so adds a nice ‘frame’. I put the grass near the succulent as I loved the play of texture. And the ground cover and flowers I tucked throughout to add diversity and interest.

Then my helper cleaned up. If anyone is looking, he charges $10/hr. All calls go through his momager.

This angle makes him look so tall!

Speaking of angle, this one here had a good one. She did nothing but look at me like this and try to get me to throw her ball for her. Get to work Belle. Shameless.

Once we were all done we had a planter that was ready to start growing. Now it feels like Spring!

As mentioned, I did this about a month ago and grow she did! Here is how she was looking last night when I snapped a few quick pics…

The flowers are loving their new homes and I am loving the colour and life.

This succulent is just so succulent. Sorry, had to be said.

Well, that put a little spring in my step – har har. There is something so refreshing about flourishing flowers. Gotta love ’em.

And the planter-o-shame is but a distant memory (albeit one with photographic evidence).

What about you guys? Get up to any spring cleaning inside or out? I love Spring cleaning/organizing.  I get a real itch this time of the year. Nothing is safe. I’m talking to you garage. You’ve been warned.

With Valentine’s Day over, I turned some Springy attention to my mantel. Time to show it some bunnyish love (minus actual bunnies).

I don’t normally make my ‘Spring mantel’ so Eastery but with my little guy taking more notice of the decorating I do these days (he’ll be four at the end of March) I though it was high time to tap back into my inner child and pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat.

I didn’t really have a set vision in mind (as you will see later) but one of the main jumping off points was the (always great) seasonal subway art from Eighteen 25. You can see all of their amazing creations here, and how I used their Christmas one here and Fall one here. So fun.

I placed some eggs in a green tin I had on hand, a nice way to nod to Easter without getting all baskety and raffiafied.

To play off the pinks in the subway art I used one of my favourite candle holders (bought a few summers ago for my back deck). I still think the ‘legs’ look like stiletto heels 😉

The white candle holder is one I’ve had for years. It houses a large pillar candle and projects a neat ‘swiss cheese’ pattern when lit. I thought it complimented the ‘spring’ look well. Nice and light and airy.

The pink bowl in the background was a gift from my parents. I placed some cotton branches and little wicker decorative balls in it.

To frame the subway art I used a frame I had (originally painted for my Christmas mantel a few years back) and mounted the art on some wrapping paper I had. I love the crisp green – very Easter like in my opinion.

And a photo of it all put together again for you… You can also see the white ceramic bark vases far left. I got those in the Fall and have been using them non-stop ever since. You can see them in use here, here and here.

Linking to:
The DIY Dreamer
The Style Sisters
This Silly Girl’s Life
Housewife How-To’s
Liz Marie
Serenity Now
Craftberry Bush
The Shabby Nest
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
A Jennuine Life