Beach Inspired Mantel

Summer is in full swing now....

and with that brings us thoughts of beaches and the ocean.

Living here at the beach really influences the way I do my decorating.        

This year I wavered between doing a 

full out patriotic decor or just skipping it 

and

going straight to my beach decor I love.

The beach decor won out.

Last year I put up the patriotic mantel and got so tired of 

having it up for 

Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day.

That was 3 months of red, white and blue in an all beach blue, white and sand colored home.

Way too much for way too long.

So this year I am skipping it completely

and going to straight to the beach for my mantel.

If you follow me - you know that we placed this faux pallet board background

on the wall above the mantel in January.

I love it - it gives me the rustic, weathered backdrop that I wanted for my mantel vignettes.

For the summer I changed out the resident book page wreath

for this white burlap wreath I made a couple years ago.

I love the texture that it gives this whole vignette.

Right below the wreath I placed a new piece of art

I just finished.

This is a shim art project I will be telling you about later this week.

I saw something similar to this at Ace hardware and this is my play on it.

On the mantel itself I placed 

a white ceramic shell lying on its side,

two blue candle holders I picked up at Target on clearance last fall

and

the thrifted vases I mod podged last summer.

Actually, I had everything here already - 

I only had to make the art.

This is a closer look at the beach art I did... I love it...

It looks so rustic and weathered like its 

been at the beach for awhile....

I like the simplicity of this mantel

and

it gives us the "beachy" feel I am going for

along with plenty of texture.

It blends so well with the rest of the living room...

Have you put your summer decor out 

or 

are you going with a patriotic theme right now?

Tell us about it in the comments below.

I answer all comments by email.

If you want to make sure you don't miss out on that beach art

or 

any other projects here - 

be sure to follow me by email.

Just sign up in the little box above my picture.

Until next time - create something you love.....

I will be linking up to the parties listed on "I Party At" page.