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My “Wild” Non-Traditional Valentine’s Mantle (Or Craft I Do When Snowed in)

January 28, 2015 by Cassie 28 Comments

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So here’s a post I didn’t think I would be writing this year….. I had sworn off doing too many crafts, and was certain I wasn’t going to decorate for Valentine’s Day.  I mean, really…. Ain’t nobody got time for that!  But then a weekend comes and goes and the kids are off on the following Monday due to teacher work day which ends up being a snow day anyhow….. So here I was at home with the kids looking at my mantle which was still in its New Year’s mode and I thought…. “that has just got to go.”  I honestly had no idea what I would do to it, but then I saw my friend Anu’s post about a Valentine’s arrow wall hanging, and inspiration struck!  And I decided to create a non-traditional Valentine’s Mantle that I knew arrows would be a part of!

Wild At Heart Non-Traditional Valentine's MantlePin

I pulled out my paper stash and found lots of black, cream, and brown in graphics and animal prints and knew they’d be perfect for me. (I was not feeling pink or red).  I gathered some wooden skewers, scissors, and my hot glue gun and Emmy and I got to work creating the arrows with those animal papers which inspired the wording for my banner.  I didn’t follow Anu’s method of making arrows, and kept it really simple so that Emmy could help me, but if you want to create some, I recommend her tutorial.

For the banner, I just free-hand drew the lettering and heart and hung them from the same twine with the same clips that I had my New Year’s banner on.  I also kept the feather garland and pom pom garland up.  Those things have gotten lots of use this year with the Fall mantle, Christmas mantle, and New Year’s mantle (which I never blogged about, but it appeared here on instagram)

The jars with branches were also part of my New Year’s mantle and Emmy and I hung our arrows from those branches.   In the end we created a non-traditional Valentine’s mantle that suits my style!

Non traditional Wild at heart valentine's mantlePin

 

I am a big fan of layering garlands and banners- I just think they look whimsical together.wild at heart valentine bannerPin

 

 

As you can see, the letters are just clipped right on- nothing permanent which makes it easy to change out each season.  And I personally am a fan of imperfect freehanded letters, although I know that’s not for everyone.  But I’m wild at heart. 😉

wild at heart bannerPin

The banners and arrows complement each other perfectly in color and style.  And of course I had to being a little blue in by way of the bottles.
Non traditional valentine's mantlePin

In making the banner, I cut out two hearts and chose the zebra one for the banner.  I had an extra cheetah heart, so decided to layer it with my glass bottles.

branches with arrows and wild heart valentine's mantlePin

And I had to add this picture just to I could share my favorite arrow- the black and striped one!mantle7Pin

 

While I was shooting, this guy, who is totally wild at heart and in spirit, but also super sweet and happy, decided to crash the shoot.  I just had to share.  He’s perfectly wild, and the only dog we’ve had who thoroughly enjoys running and playing in the snow.  Yesterday while I shoveled, he played, running through it, and leaping over all of the shoveled piles.  It made me so happy to watch him.CatcherPin

So how about you?  Will you decorate at all for Valentine’s Day?  I am fairly certain this is the only decorating I will do…. although we may have more snow days so you just never know!

 

 

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Filed Under: Living Room, making our home, Mantle, My House

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Comments

  1. Julia@Cuckoo4Design says

    January 28, 2015 at 7:28 am

    Love that photo of catcher, he is so sweet. And your fireplace decor looks great. I love that it’s not traditional Valentine’s Day decor.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 28, 2015 at 2:17 pm

      i was so happy with that picture- he wanted to move so badly… i was begging him to stay seated!

      Reply
  2. Holly says

    January 28, 2015 at 8:30 am

    Love that you made this your own and that it is non-traditional. It’s funny I did the same thing yesterday. I came home. Looked at the mantle (still decorated with holiday/New Years items) and said – this HAS to go right now. I decluttered it and am feeling so much better about it now – it’s all ready for a little Valentine’s zhushing 🙂 And I love what Anu did – I’ll have to check that out! Stay warm!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 28, 2015 at 2:17 pm

      her wall hanging is awesome- enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Sarah says

    January 28, 2015 at 9:00 am

    I don’t even know who you are anymore!! Crafts and Valentines Day! Love the non traditional mantel and it sounds like a fun way to spend the day with Emmy!

    Reply
  4. Trina @ Let's Just Build a House says

    January 28, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    rawr i love the animal prints too!

    I did not decorate for Vday this year even though I wanted to make a Valentine themed wreath–I thought about it when I changed my Christmas wreath to a more wintery wreath..but then remembered our little bambino’s due date is so close to Vday…it may be up until Easter. So I did a wintery wreath that can transition into early Spring instead.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 28, 2015 at 2:15 pm

      ha ha! that sounds like a perfect solution!

      Reply
  5. Corinna - For My Love Of says

    January 28, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    I don’t think I’ll be decorating since my living spaces are in chaos over my recent redecorate bug. I love the handmade everything you’ve created though and I’d love to try something like it sometime! No holiday needed I’d say!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 29, 2015 at 7:45 am

      you are right- i think this could be up not just for v day… good thing because it will probably be up til spring. 😉

      Reply
  6. laura@top this top that says

    January 28, 2015 at 5:43 pm

    love your wild at heart decor! perfect. i love that pic of the pup. perhaps if we have a once in a blue moon snow day i may decided to do a valentine craft too!

    Reply
  7. Kirby says

    January 28, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    It’s fun! I am not doing a Valentine’s Day mantel…I am keeping the snow village up until the thaw. Then I will do something wild, too.

    Reply
  8. Gretchen says

    January 28, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    Love that it doesn’t scream valentine’s day at you–looks great! I don’t see how anyone manages all out valentine’s decorating; I’m still worn out from Halloween and Christmas! But then, we are sadly lacking in snow days around here 🙁

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 29, 2015 at 7:44 am

      it was definitely due to the snow day!

      Reply
  9. Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home says

    January 29, 2015 at 7:05 am

    You are funny 🙂 I’m not much of a V Day decorator either, I just don’t have that much energy for it after Christmas decorations (which still, incidentally, are not all taken down…). This is great though – totally off the beaten path and I love it for that!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 29, 2015 at 7:46 am

      and as someone pointed out i could probably keep it up a little longer… which is good because it probably would be up longer no matter what…

      Reply
  10. michelle@decorandthedog says

    January 29, 2015 at 9:30 am

    Awww, look at that squishy furry face!

    And your mantel has just the right amount of festiveness. You’re sort of motivating me to do a little something to mine. Now i just need a snow day. Which we don’t get any more. It just snows and they are like “toughen up Iowans.” Lame.

    Reply
  11. Kim@NewlyWoodwards says

    January 29, 2015 at 3:24 pm

    This is super cute. Very unique.

    Reply
  12. Julia @ 551 East Design says

    January 29, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    That picture of you’re sweet dog….my heart just went all mooshy. He’s SO CUTE!!! Will he be my Valentine? 😉

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 1, 2015 at 6:35 pm

      he said yes. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Bethany @ Dwellings By DeVore says

    January 30, 2015 at 10:17 am

    I love the animal print and the arrows, too cute!

    Reply
  14. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    January 30, 2015 at 4:30 pm

    Cute, cute, cute!!! And holy cow, Catcher has gotten BIG!

    Reply
  15. Krystine @www.KrystineEdwards.com says

    February 2, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    Thanks for the inspiration! I need to do something for the boys and I love this so much!

    Reply
  16. Tone on Tone Loi Thai says

    February 3, 2015 at 4:25 pm

    So sweet! Your decor and Catcher 🙂 My Mocha loves the snow, while Panda is afraid of it.

    Reply
  17. Shavonda says

    February 5, 2015 at 2:22 am

    How cute is he and how cute is this craft. Im actually not at all a fan of Valentines Day. I kinda loathe it actually, so I love this non traditional take on it. Great job chica!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 6, 2015 at 2:26 pm

      ha ha! thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz says

    February 6, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    This is so much fun! I love it!

    Reply
  19. Anu says

    February 6, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    I’m glad you found some inspiration. 😉 It is really super cute and I love the theme.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Decor "Quick Fix": Hide a Fireplace says:
    February 19, 2015 at 10:37 am

    […] (The image above was taken when I had the mantel ready for Valentine’s Day.) […]

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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