Our mantel was looking a little sad without it’s Christmas garb. I needed to fix that.
I just wasn’t feeling the Valentine’s Day mantel thing. Pink doesn’t fly so well with the husband. I am more into calming neutrals lately so red was out.
I’m also not a big Valentine’s Day fan. I’m not one of those that will dress in black and say things like “stupid Hallmark holiday”. It’s just not a day that we celebrate much in our house.
But that mantel. It was looking so boring. What to do? What to do?
A Pinterest browse sparked an idea.
I found a tutorial for yarn wrapped letters over at My Sister's Suitcase. Everyone is making yarn wrapper letters. I can totally do this.
Yarn letters are not fun. I am not good at making yarn letters. I will never make yarn letters again. At least not the letter “X” anyway. You win some. You lose some. The end.
Do you like my new sassy owl friend? I found her at Menards for $7. A sassy owl at Menards. Who would have thought? (Who. Owl. I kill me.) She looks flirty. Perfect for the upcoming holiday.
There you have it. My not a Valentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day mantel.
Are you a Valentine’s Day decorator? Do you think it’s weird that I have a bird phobia but love little sassy owls? Yeah, me too.
I feel the same way about fabric wrapped letters. The frustration paid off though. So cute. I love the diva owl. Her expression is great
ReplyDeleteI think that looks great. The yarn letters are brilliant and I love the little owl. I'm not a huge fan on bird ornaments, but for some reason love anything owl related! As for mantels, not my thing really. I have the Christmas mantel and a 'rest of the year' mantel! I'm lazy. I may swap some candles or add a pot of pretty flowers but that is as far as it goes. You see if you don't move things, you don't need to dust as often. Told you I am lazy :)
ReplyDeleteYour letters look great. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a Valentine's Day decorator.
Woohoo! Finally someone else that doesn't celebrate Valentine's Day! Our Anniversary is Feb 6th, the boys Birthday is the 13th and his Mom's birthday is the 14th. So between all the celebrating that goes on for those ocassions, Valentine's gets neglected. And I'm ok with that! Love the yarn letters. They look great! I might try this. Maybe not the letter X though.
ReplyDelete-Diana
i love the xo's! they look fabulous! and that owl is adorable and quirky and perfect!
ReplyDeleteI think this is super simple and sweet. I could see how the X's would be harder than the O's. And your little owl is being flirtateous; it's got to be a girl owl. :)
ReplyDeleteI am decorating for Valentine's Day for the first time, my daughter is old enough to want seasonal decorations now, so I am happy to oblige. I love the yarn wrapped x and o.
ReplyDeletePesky X's. They turned out well! That owl is pretty sassy. I like owls, but my ex-step-mom used to love owls so they kind of remind me of her. And I'd rather not be reminded of her.
ReplyDeleteOoh pretty! I also prefer neutrals, especially black and white, so I love your color choices. We don't really go all out for Valentine's Day either, and I've never decorated, but a few years ago Rick and his co-workers made a bunch of medicine conversation hearts to decorate the pharmacy, like "What's Up? Viagra"...etc. I was highly amused by them.
ReplyDeleteNote to self...
DeleteLooks good! The owl is a cutie. I am all about some owl right now.
ReplyDeleteTotally not into V-day either, but I like your letters as subtle representation. The owl is very sassy. I'm liking it :)
ReplyDeleteI am not at all a valentine's day decorator. I'm also just not that into the holiday....and I don't actually decorate for holidays. Oops. I think I just lost my house blogger status.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally loving the yarn letters, though. You're getting awfully crafty other there, lady!
Your mantel is bea-who-tiful. Too much of a stretch?
ReplyDeletebahahahahaha
Deleteyay-still you, and goes with your decor, and yet a little something seasonal. i found these letter blocks that i rescued from the trash in my office, and my plan is to paint them to match my living room and spell out xo or something like that. i've been too lazy. perhaps this is the push i need!
ReplyDeleteI like this a lot! I'm not much of a Valentinesy or pink gal myself, so this is right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteWho. Owl. hahaha. love it.
ReplyDeleteI think the yarn letters look great and I like it even more that you didn't do traditional Valentine's Day colors. I don't think I'd have the patience for it though. Sounds tedious. I'd rather pay someone to make mine. Ha. Lazy girl.
Now that's my kind of holiday decor! I'm also not very into Valentine's day (I was going to make an Anna Howard Shaw Day joke here, but I can't find a clip of that, so I can only hope you watch 30 Rock and appreciate that reference), but this is perfect. Not hokey or cutesy at all, but still festive. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteI love it! The owl is adorable too. I made my first Valentine decor this year. It is on my front door and I still do a double take because it is not something I would normally do. Valentine's Day is my birthday so I have never been a fan.
ReplyDeleteWe're oddly not into Valentine's Day either. Go figure. The letters look cute. Where did you get the letters?
ReplyDeleteJoann's!
DeleteI am loving your mantel decor! But I really triple love your owl! What a steal too, $7.00! WOWZER!!!
ReplyDeleteI love it! It's really cute! I totally understand the not wanting to wrap letters again though! After I wrapped an R in twine for our front door I vowed never again as well.
ReplyDeleteThat owl is adorable! The only holidays I decorate for are Halloween and Christmas, I just don't have the storage space or energy to do all of them. Love your mantel & surrounding decor (and paint color for that matter!)- very pretty!
ReplyDeleteI like your mantel, but I am in love with your little sassy owl! Omgoodness, it it is just adorable.! I too have a little obsession with birds, so much so, that I was contemplating getting two real birdies...that is, until I remembered that we have bobcats in our neighborhood. Great job on the mantel.
ReplyDeleteIt looks cute. There's nothing wrong with those XOXOs either. You are too hard on yourself.
ReplyDeleteI have a few V-Day decorations that I just pulled out, but not too much.
Sooooo not a Valentine's Day kinda gal. I love the xo you did. I must be out of the loop because I didn't know we were supposed to be wrapping yarn around our letters now, duh!
ReplyDeleteYour mantel really looks great!
ReplyDeleteNot too sweet and a whole lot of sass :)
I have a HUGE bird phobia as well. I hate them. But for some reason I like them in design on things like fabric. My husband doesn't get it...
ReplyDeleteI think the letters look great even if the X's gave your troubles. I like that owl too. Menards huh? I will have to skip right over there. BFF loves owls and her birthday is coming up.
ReplyDeleteI love these! I struggle with my holiday junk clashing with my normal decor. I never used to decorate for Valentine's day but I think, in the back of my head, I always wanted to. Because as soon as I reproduced, it was like someone gave me a license to go nuts with the holiday decor. I have a kid! = Pink, red and glittery crap everywhere!
ReplyDeleteThat owl is fantastic! Great job with the yarn - I'm not sure I would have such patience to wrap that around and around =p
ReplyDeleteI love this take on valentines day. I just can't get excited about redoing my mantel in pinks and reds either.
ReplyDeleteHello fellow 4-Her. I love the XOXO decor. I can feel your pain about wrapping those letters. I came up with the bright idea of wrapping letters with wire. That was a big mistake and killed my hands. I guess it doesn't hurt to try right?
ReplyDeleteThis is one holiday I do not decorate for - never have and I am not sure why...let me see if I can come up with something in time. Yours looks great..cute owl!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get the letters?
ReplyDeleteHow creative! I love it.
ReplyDelete