The One In Which She Throws Some Paint Chips in a Frame and Calls It Art

Oh, hello there, you. Nice to see you on this fine Mantel Monday! This mantel is inspired by the gray January skies that are still quite absent in Texas. Pretty sure the hubs wore flip-flops yesterday. But, according to the mantel, it's January, nonetheless.

Today's mantel is all about layering. My mantel formula is pretty consistent:

Start with a large scale anchor.

Flank with height (oh, you know, vases, candlesticks, branches, Christmas trees, if appropriate), ending either above or below anchor's top (never, ever at the same level as anchor. What would Nate Berkus say to that??).

Add layers with varying shapes, textures and/or styles.

Rinse and repeat next week. 

Are you eye-ballin' my fancy art? Oh, it's just something I whipped up when I realized it was time for another mantel (darned if I get any rest around here!)

I know what you're thinking and no I didn't take all these paint samples just to make mantel art...

I took them because one of my in-real-life BFFs is getting married in the Fall and planning a peacock colored affair. We may have to paint something for her wedding! And, you just never can be too prepared.

What? 10 months ahead is, in fact too prepared? Ah, well. 

To make my 5 minute art I grabbed a handful of paint chips, arranged them from blue to gray, opened a frame I had in my junk very organized home decor closet and slipped them in. I didn't even tape them down. Nor, did I analyze the layout too much. I just let the chips fall where they may (ha, chips. Get it? Because they're paint "chips"?)

Oh, never mind.

I made that gray "chip art" after we'd painted out house and I was left with dozens of gray chips. Sorry, that was done pre-blog, so there are no tutorial pictures. I'm sure you get the gist, though.

  Dollar Tree vase + fabric scraps= pretty cute vases to go with the gray theme.

And, there you have it, friends! Another mantel down.

Speaking of mantels, I've opened an ongoing mantel party for YOU to link your mantels to! Link any season, any style, any posted date. I'm hoping you can help inspire folks who are in a mantel slump. Go enter your mantels now!

Need a few more inspiring mantel-scapes? These lovelies linked up at our inaugural  Thursdays are YOUR days last week and rocked our socks off!

 Jen from Harrison Home showed us her Faux Fireplace. Yes, her hubby built her a mantel! 

 Aimee from It's Overflowing showed us this beautiful Family Room Mantel

 Helen from Helen's Decor gave us a tour of her friend's Texas Mantel

Gina from Random Thoughts showed us her pretty Winter Mantel

Andrea from Our Blue Front Door showed us her fun and beautifully layered (you know I love chalkboards!) Winter Mantel

Kelly from Eclectically Vintage gave us Four Little Owls on a very well styled mantel! 

Have a great mantel-filled Monday! 

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Yep! I link up to these parties  and Thrifty Decor Chick