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A Lazy Girl’s Patriotic Summer Mantel

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My name is Pretty Handy Girl and I am addicted to my Christmas mantel. Yes, I have used it since December 2012. I needed to enroll myself in a program that would help me get unhooked from holiday mantel décor. Truth be told, I needed a little help from my friends to change my habitual ways. So let’s turn this Christmas mantel into A Lazy Girl’s Patriotic Summer Mantel.

Thanks to my good friends on Facebook and Instagram, they intervened and guided me in the right direction. With some suggestions they helped me turn around and get my life back in the correct season.

Using my kitchen upheaval as an excuse is really only acceptable for one or two months. I used that lame explanation as a crutch for seven months! But, the issue became glaringly apparent when our good friend and house sitter remarked that she thought that was our Christmas mantel still up in June. {busted} Before she settled into our home (while we left for an extended vacation), I knew I had to change it up.

Everyone had some great ideas, but the easiest and quickest were to add buntings and some blue. Within 45 minutes (because I always have to play around with things for at least half an hour.) I had a fresh seasonally-appropriate Patriotic mantel.

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Inexpensive buntings from Michael’s were the undeniable champion in this makeover.

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A few American flags in a cobalt blue bottle brought some more patriotism onto the scene. Red, white and blue books were an easy way to add the right colors.

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The stars remained unchanged, except I ripped off the crispy dead sprigs of rosemary.

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Antique tins and a cigar box bring out the Americana feel.

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Yup, give me 45 minutes and I can change a Christmas mantel…

…into a Fourth of July mantel!

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Thank you to my social media friends for your help and for not turning me in to the decorating police. xxxooo

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15 replies
  1. Maria G.
    Maria G. says:

    You are really set for the Fourth of July. I agree, sometimes it helps when you have friends to help you. I’m not the best decorator myself but my kids are my decorating police. In fact, they are the ones planning for our Fourth of July décor and they enjoy it.

    Reply
  2. Linda J
    Linda J says:

    I promise to switch out my Christmas finery for my patriotic pieces tomorrow! You have inspired me by admitting you too were still admiring your seasonal work just as long as I have.

    Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. […] into North Carolina, I was ready and waiting! But, my living room was still stuck on 4th of July (you know I’m a procrastinating decorator, right?!) I trudged up to the attic to pull down some fall décor. But, frankly, I wasn’t excited […]

  2. […] Wooden stars from Pretty Handy Girl created this awesome mantle with wooden stars, antique tins and flags. I saw a wooden star recently at the Seattle garden store Ravenna Gardens and thought it would be a fun idea to create. […]

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