Oh, Why Not?

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Howdy doo, everyone and Happy Friday!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Weeeeell, after transitioning our Christmas tree on the kitchen island into a Valentine tree, I decided I just couldn't let it stop there ... so, the "love" started to spread ... it's contagious, I tell ya'!  I thought I'd share a few elements I used to create a budget-friendly Valentine mantel, and I hope to inspire a few of you to do the same!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First up ... the reason for the upcoming holiday!  Remember my "Believe" blocks from our <a href="http://adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com/2011/12/b-e-l-i-e-v-e.html">Christmas mantel</a>?  Well, I simply flipped a few of them around, painted them crimson red (with craft paint I already had on hand) and hot glued inexpensive, curly letters (from Michael's that I purchased with a 40% off coupon) ... instant "LOVE!"</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiede9CslrMFUKKvzyZPUNEoQdnq7Ji5JGpZwHOQCWcYYMdorkFNh5jOXRX0uKYJ7oIadKklNQG0ufBWpUnKDwfKVICFq9sNHT14HOJEDJ2KaNZ7799s5aJwDA8ZdnrcorRCf6aJczHA/s1600/vdaymantellove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiede9CslrMFUKKvzyZPUNEoQdnq7Ji5JGpZwHOQCWcYYMdorkFNh5jOXRX0uKYJ7oIadKklNQG0ufBWpUnKDwfKVICFq9sNHT14HOJEDJ2KaNZ7799s5aJwDA8ZdnrcorRCf6aJczHA/s400/vdaymantellove.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, ya' don't want to spend money on Valentine candles?!  No worries, friends ... just add a small bit of decorative red ribbon to one (or ten!) of your simple white candles, which I KNOW you have on hand!  Look(!), instant Valentine whimsy:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKOqiK_Fzcc3CRWhdA6DFSuK9PKkaU7y60Hf0oanqH9vIFlUKbt-gW939Rbp15PPl_3fbdshjYoVEEl-0ME7lHZSz660lhW01Jnu2aZ4x_rB6LH_cLyVEoR_VZNaJlJr4Jn_dsAf_1Ds/s1600/vdaymantelcandles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKOqiK_Fzcc3CRWhdA6DFSuK9PKkaU7y60Hf0oanqH9vIFlUKbt-gW939Rbp15PPl_3fbdshjYoVEEl-0ME7lHZSz660lhW01Jnu2aZ4x_rB6LH_cLyVEoR_VZNaJlJr4Jn_dsAf_1Ds/s640/vdaymantelcandles.jpg" width="360" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm also willing to bet that you have a white vase or something similar hanging around.  Why not grab a few faux *Spring-y* florals from your collection and mix in a bit of red berry *Valentine-y* florals:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4M6AaGsXbAMjfPa9-gs8EqI8YqFT9py8Wf9dQ-JftzKEUtKuNEHltWX_3m5p09sTV-6MlF_O3KXKLOnD0i8HzRLerMnCMuJfuf5BLa8CJsSTNlqpzyfD-6WBDawiJ7_S2H7ap9roj_Wc/s1600/vdaymantelflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4M6AaGsXbAMjfPa9-gs8EqI8YqFT9py8Wf9dQ-JftzKEUtKuNEHltWX_3m5p09sTV-6MlF_O3KXKLOnD0i8HzRLerMnCMuJfuf5BLa8CJsSTNlqpzyfD-6WBDawiJ7_S2H7ap9roj_Wc/s640/vdaymantelflowers.jpg" width="360" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, hmmmm, as the crowning touch, do you happen to have an inexpensive heart made out of *faux* roses?  If not, then think about skipping on over to Big Lots and grab one (better yet, make one of your own, you crafty gals, you).  And, THEN ... why not frame it with a picture frame (that you're currently not using) and layer both of those on top of a mirror?!  I love adding layers, EXCEPT for layers of fat, which I seem to have added a LOT of lately (gee, thanks, holiday season) ... true story !!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHCLvj3eS_j9ECRlbPu7CaBCjxVWlAjy0H62h7avVqBznHPDFxtQDwpVRmVgNnJIuKrdhbifLLcPC4KnTr20YqWpXYSiT2f04JqCZ_q1xSCgHytnVDxvoVuMEb1EFIKswTt2ivlnx5tE/s1600/vdaymantelrose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHCLvj3eS_j9ECRlbPu7CaBCjxVWlAjy0H62h7avVqBznHPDFxtQDwpVRmVgNnJIuKrdhbifLLcPC4KnTr20YqWpXYSiT2f04JqCZ_q1xSCgHytnVDxvoVuMEb1EFIKswTt2ivlnx5tE/s640/vdaymantelrose.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">After adding a few more simple, on-hand goodies, here's our first *eva* Valentine mantel:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eRA4J3ZurUG5I23aK-kBPL63nVRsmbzBMGLdX0D4YM0h_jH5_di5RYUB3Xd2eatGH1Z3hO0KvtsiDo5ojSnZnd5RVtSRxmlo4zuTKoHYV3b3HERUEGpowfpALUZpXXjFNye_oimPjBM/s1600/vdaymanteloverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eRA4J3ZurUG5I23aK-kBPL63nVRsmbzBMGLdX0D4YM0h_jH5_di5RYUB3Xd2eatGH1Z3hO0KvtsiDo5ojSnZnd5RVtSRxmlo4zuTKoHYV3b3HERUEGpowfpALUZpXXjFNye_oimPjBM/s640/vdaymanteloverall.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RDx3SV21C-7tpV_rumhvfeK_1fTkKG5seVQqQYd1X5eVnYi7f0seG2NveOWiC1o8bfgiaJhAW2EZp6LtbSEhl-06Q5wBtDW53ZP8kJdId8OVJr7FOilNUG6xzQbdjpnXt2vxlrxdivQ/s1600/vdaymantelclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RDx3SV21C-7tpV_rumhvfeK_1fTkKG5seVQqQYd1X5eVnYi7f0seG2NveOWiC1o8bfgiaJhAW2EZp6LtbSEhl-06Q5wBtDW53ZP8kJdId8OVJr7FOilNUG6xzQbdjpnXt2vxlrxdivQ/s640/vdaymantelclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSJN0APSyVSHObPny0fjAq5Y-4-5JSDKwDTGjyyWmVjZa1q0FkF9qMBcqETz1zkN-IqypPvNnkFu0hjVyunbhlCL7vfHXuJtDUAlmgLX1uvUKD6WxMah6ySkHRsfBGJWH0boikbZvwXk/s1600/vdaymantelside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSJN0APSyVSHObPny0fjAq5Y-4-5JSDKwDTGjyyWmVjZa1q0FkF9qMBcqETz1zkN-IqypPvNnkFu0hjVyunbhlCL7vfHXuJtDUAlmgLX1uvUKD6WxMah6ySkHRsfBGJWH0boikbZvwXk/s640/vdaymantelside.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Okay, so, how'd I do?  And, now, it's *your* turn ... show me what 'cha got!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Happy Decorating,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/248/3B01215062574D4D6FFA221C1E7FF50B.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Linking up with:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the Picket Fence/</span><a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2012/01/inspiration-friday-no-47.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inspiration Friday</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/</span><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia/~3/rIHCYEti9es/tuesdays-treasures_17.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday's Treasures</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">52 Mantels/</span><a href="http://www.52mantels.com/p/your-mantels.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mantel Party</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Stroll Thru Life/<a href="http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2012/01/99th-table-top-tuesday.html">Tabletop Tuesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2012/01/wow-us-wednesdays-49.html">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dear Lillie/<a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-link-party.html">Valentine's Party</a></span></div>

Oh, Why Not?

Howdy doo, everyone and Happy Friday! Weeeeell, after transitioning our Christmas tree on the kitchen island into a Valentine tree, I decide...

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