January 16, 2012

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

25 comments:

  1. Love your 'art'! The one looks like a representational painting of an inlet in the Caribbean! Neat.

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  2. Love the mantels! Paint chips = great idea!
    Debbie

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  3. LOVE the paint chip art and fabric wrapped candle holders!!! I look forward to seeing what you come up with every Monday! Thank you so much for the feature..I love your mantel party idea, can't wait to see more throughout the seasons! Have a great week!

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  4. Hmmm.... you know I'm following closely on every mantle that crosses your blog. Mine is empty right now. It always looks nice at Christmas, and every year when it's all put away I think the same thing, "why can't I get it right the rest of the year?". So this time I decided not to put anything on until I'm ready to attempt to get it right, or at least more right than ever before! It's a real rock fireplace with a rustic railroad tie mantle.

    ~Bliss~
    BlissRanch.blogspot.com

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  5. I think paint chips can be really pretty - love the colors!!

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  6. Gorgeous mantels. Inspires me to change up my own!

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  7. I saw your link at Skip to my Lou. I am your newest follower. I still have my Christmas mantle up because I loved it so. I have to take it down this week. I will be looking to you for inspiration. You will have to check out Suppers, Youngans, & Thangs I will probably do a post about it.

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  8. I love your mantel! Chip paint samples are perfectly selected an arranged!

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  9. This is a great idea! and shhhhhh i would raid my local paint store for chips to use! hee hee

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  10. Love the paint chip art - especially the one you did with angles! Another great mantel!

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  11. Great ideas... very creative... love the paint chips frames....ps I'm your newest follower... stop by Fluff For the Mindless Reader= I think you might enjoy it... maybe follow along...

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  12. I love yours and I love all the options! Great inspiration!!! XO, Aimee

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  13. Love this post! I'm having a linky party, and would love for you to join! Here is the link http://www.thesouthernproductqueen.com/one-stop-shoppe-linky-party-3 Thanks for sharing!!!

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  14. I love paint chip art and yours is really cute. :)

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  15. Thank you all SO much for the sweet comments!!

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  16. Thanks Emiliy for featuring my owl mantel! I adore your paint chip art - I have three paint wheels waiting for my evil plans!
    Kelly

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  17. Great idea. Very neat.
    http://pam-lifethroughmyeyes.blogspot.com/

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  18. You won't be offended if I copy your paint chip art idea, will you? Because it's BRILLIANT! I love them both, but especially the one with the randomly placed chips. I also really like how you've styled your mantel - that's something that I truly suck at! I have a project in mind for my mantel, which I'll share if (1) it ever gets done and (2) it actually works out!

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  19. I love new mantel ideas!! So much you can do. Thanks for sharing! We are so glad that you linked up to our "Strut Your Stuff Saturday". We hope you will come back next Saturday and share another great idea! -The Sisters

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  20. great paint chip art! Included them with my extensive collection on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bluevelvetchair/paint-chip-projects/
    Michael

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  21. نقل عفش الاحمدي نقل عفش الاحمدي
    نقل عفش نقل عفش
    فني صحي الكويت فني صحي الكويت
    نقل عفش المنطقة العاشرة نقل عفش المنطقة العاشرة

    نقل عفش الكويت نقل عفش الكويت
    فني صحي الكويت فنى صحى

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