Our "I Give Up" Fall Mantel ...

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy *official* Fall Y'all!  Deep rich colors are popping up alllll over blogland now, and I.love.it.  Too bad it's still hot out!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay, after our mantel from last year was selected to be featured on Better Homes and Gardens website (<em>BHG.com)</em> as part of this year's Fall inspirational <a href="http://www.bhg.com/thanksgiving/decorating/fall-mantel-decorating-ideas/#page=13">slideshow</a>, admittedly, I found myself thinking "no WAY" will my creative juices be flowing this year.  So, after tweaking ... and tweaking ... and tweaking, I gave up!  Alas, here is our "I give up" Fall mantel:</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTYLNMOaSuUNXDyr55V1eAvOyDYKaxdmG1vmssrtucnmBCf8cSNgP0oICEk0bJaJWzgvyaP6smXd_IZrGTTK0PrckRBQ_r3x2CnY01ahzDaKWFX7xFxUu9b-SMyac9VlRjdMrjiEVP5k/s1600/fallmanteloverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTYLNMOaSuUNXDyr55V1eAvOyDYKaxdmG1vmssrtucnmBCf8cSNgP0oICEk0bJaJWzgvyaP6smXd_IZrGTTK0PrckRBQ_r3x2CnY01ahzDaKWFX7xFxUu9b-SMyac9VlRjdMrjiEVP5k/s640/fallmanteloverall.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to give the initital *shout out* to the bee-you-tee-ful iron piece that stands center stage on the mantel ... what can I say(?), Home Goods rocks!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPmZ1EXZbd-qu_j25CocG8jEmzOjTw0HJYK8yzjnTNlauas07hniFLVb5BkxzJCNLL8qyTpWkSwrzfWV3MWYnEVMxDFep7iMQcBm5MPC8fnJAIS65PjgHAHaeIA8qMZDApBGeVlJC6NM/s1600/fallmanteloverallside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPmZ1EXZbd-qu_j25CocG8jEmzOjTw0HJYK8yzjnTNlauas07hniFLVb5BkxzJCNLL8qyTpWkSwrzfWV3MWYnEVMxDFep7iMQcBm5MPC8fnJAIS65PjgHAHaeIA8qMZDApBGeVlJC6NM/s640/fallmanteloverallside.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I added lit branches to this simple arrangement in a cream pitcher (which I also wrapped twine) ... LOVE how they glow at night.  And, I found this handsome birdie at Hobby Lobby ... I was instantly attracted to his beautiful warm colors:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I57R0cR0cBwE9Z5OXwxrEQmiy2U5NGWAaP64yHlFC6IzFEXfgbCzeWarclXLlpUvf5i5whgc-dOnLeke6vx4YLjDGICRCHggVfAgNtwragWI3ejIgtH8CiDVnSV47ML9wM9BvFkhkcM/s1600/fallmantelbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I57R0cR0cBwE9Z5OXwxrEQmiy2U5NGWAaP64yHlFC6IzFEXfgbCzeWarclXLlpUvf5i5whgc-dOnLeke6vx4YLjDGICRCHggVfAgNtwragWI3ejIgtH8CiDVnSV47ML9wM9BvFkhkcM/s400/fallmantelbird.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This "Welcome Harvest" sign was also purchased at HL ... and, the garland below is much like last year's, except I removed the lights and added larger pumpkins:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEKN5DZauCJf7YCTnFxlcgHfZ5er4bzQPry1Dl7_kop0CixymmxMzcy8DOUL7uKhSUrWYLHF6Bu4Kys568QKut127En0VMY1V0NnbpmpU0Rhdq_Iz29rWi9B_kgjuFmkBxIPBiXB5xCs/s1600/fallmantelsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEKN5DZauCJf7YCTnFxlcgHfZ5er4bzQPry1Dl7_kop0CixymmxMzcy8DOUL7uKhSUrWYLHF6Bu4Kys568QKut127En0VMY1V0NnbpmpU0Rhdq_Iz29rWi9B_kgjuFmkBxIPBiXB5xCs/s400/fallmantelsign.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This cloche, containing lots of smaller pumpkins/leaves, is perched on old books, which I turned so that the pages are facing out:</span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvYfdobXf0rKIj_0WGf1gmJukhSgDbg3PKLrZXcE9qxlJrzgbIV0Bn5niI_ugXh_ipG_4UOc3-Vk1pkSfs1YmPXPhTOmIyDvszmxU5EmhBcEmad2L_OJQFwljQFWpHWxyzmBwVEscH6M/s1600/fallmantelcloche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvYfdobXf0rKIj_0WGf1gmJukhSgDbg3PKLrZXcE9qxlJrzgbIV0Bn5niI_ugXh_ipG_4UOc3-Vk1pkSfs1YmPXPhTOmIyDvszmxU5EmhBcEmad2L_OJQFwljQFWpHWxyzmBwVEscH6M/s400/fallmantelcloche.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hot glued an apothcary jar to this tall candlestick ... threw in some corn, a battery operated monogrammed candle and large bow (with Fall sprig) and call it *a day:*</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLRBtivaYNZn0b2zKbxqg00mvTlIPMgc_QjqOUICnmcKelEVo4isvRYQUhBZvFFS00pnLAyvx3g2tGGhV-6eFUcNKFIyRJTmMi0bo8mTE2GjTYG9hVm5hQxk046Xb7eKghfONndkzv4o/s1600/fallmantelcandle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLRBtivaYNZn0b2zKbxqg00mvTlIPMgc_QjqOUICnmcKelEVo4isvRYQUhBZvFFS00pnLAyvx3g2tGGhV-6eFUcNKFIyRJTmMi0bo8mTE2GjTYG9hVm5hQxk046Xb7eKghfONndkzv4o/s400/fallmantelcandle.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Down below, our chair now has a coral pillow and simple cream pillow, which I added a burlap bow:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoD2KWRHIJ-20YhBSEMPCRyBz2OdsU5SwShJEkO7DbeTy-MWMlmZU8hDfkbJVsjaqwj4OaVbn4X2rW8mM227uxhdufR9gXvsJFsoBf1SF04hYTVxS9LMPzIPnLQqL7eguI0-lDz3ZojRE/s1600/fallmantelchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoD2KWRHIJ-20YhBSEMPCRyBz2OdsU5SwShJEkO7DbeTy-MWMlmZU8hDfkbJVsjaqwj4OaVbn4X2rW8mM227uxhdufR9gXvsJFsoBf1SF04hYTVxS9LMPzIPnLQqL7eguI0-lDz3ZojRE/s640/fallmantelchair.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, woohoo, I discovered this vintage tool box planter hiding at Tuesday Morning (my apologies to whomever hid it to come back and purchase later ... you see, I'm one of those sneaky "hide while I think about it" shoppers, too ... do NOT hide items like this ... I will find it.)  LOL !!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGvudvuSSgEqYSSeMtlgm6hOQj0DII6qcvMPMYSTyGHT1sbxtLeU1cVqYUhwTi4P9oRCpP_MgtPHIa5BeEK19orIW6IRTbKiOi1IU71ilerxtynPQTP_LvGdxnQJ1RYkWTdtoPJMcXkc/s1600/fallmantelbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGvudvuSSgEqYSSeMtlgm6hOQj0DII6qcvMPMYSTyGHT1sbxtLeU1cVqYUhwTi4P9oRCpP_MgtPHIa5BeEK19orIW6IRTbKiOi1IU71ilerxtynPQTP_LvGdxnQJ1RYkWTdtoPJMcXkc/s400/fallmantelbox.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annnnnd, lastly, a simple white pumpkin topiary sits atop a grapevine wreath, raffia and leaves:</span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouHAFvu31uFfyb9CE9_tpuNkPVEcW1Bl-bvtZ0vijVCz6I990cgnPYeOl03nSMAfHZe-_obyk5qxzQJn8tUVFay0IaRnkYAUYMkmp60QeHnDWo5QaEDV-3bGv8wjSAPW4bjqlWJPfH2E/s1600/fallmanteltopiary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouHAFvu31uFfyb9CE9_tpuNkPVEcW1Bl-bvtZ0vijVCz6I990cgnPYeOl03nSMAfHZe-_obyk5qxzQJn8tUVFay0IaRnkYAUYMkmp60QeHnDWo5QaEDV-3bGv8wjSAPW4bjqlWJPfH2E/s640/fallmanteltopiary.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh ... and, I did bring back the wooden bead garland that I made last year:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGSW8tUNuI32hI_3WYHqKcJ0yJe7p5KVPtgYytR8nlnaPeRzswIzUZKdQ2MgOmABtqtdTo3eZKkmrMuASp1AxCIeq7n3MSPJtT5FCHTlAOG88huAnIPzB1t2nUrDRXqY_fILlF03CHSE/s1600/fallmantelclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGSW8tUNuI32hI_3WYHqKcJ0yJe7p5KVPtgYytR8nlnaPeRzswIzUZKdQ2MgOmABtqtdTo3eZKkmrMuASp1AxCIeq7n3MSPJtT5FCHTlAOG88huAnIPzB1t2nUrDRXqY_fILlF03CHSE/s400/fallmantelclose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't wait to see everyone's mantels!  I'm linking up with:</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/ideas-for-fall" title="The Lettered Cottage"><img alt="The Lettered Cottage" src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Linky%20Buttons/Fall_Link_Party_Layla.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2011/09/83rd-table-top-tuesday.html">Amaze Me Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Stroll Thru Life/<a href="http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2011/09/83rd-table-top-tuesday.html">Tabletop Tuesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/2011/09/tuesdays-treasures_26.html">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Coastal Charm/<a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2011/10/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no82-and-giveaway.html">Nifty Thrifty Tuesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/09/wow-us-wednesdays-33.html">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">DIY by Design/<a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/2011/09/fall-into-fall-its-party-33.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FIhyCb+%28DIY+by+Design%29">Fall into Fall</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">2805/<a href="http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/2011/09/potpourri-party-5.html">Potpourri Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">French Country Cottage/<a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2011/09/feathered-nest-friday-fall-mantel-peek.html">Feathered Nest Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At the Picket Fence/<a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2011/09/welcome-to-inspiration-friday-no-34.html">Inspiration Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Romantic Home/<a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2011/09/show-and-tell-friday_29.html">Show and Tell Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">No Minimalist Here/<a href="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/2011/09/open-house-party_28.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NoMinimalistHere+%28No+Minimalist+Here%29">Open House Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Seasons/<a href="http://www.savvyseasons.com/2011/10/autumn-arrives-party-link-up.html?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=twitterfeed">Autumn Arrives Party</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/248/3B01215062574D4D6FFA221C1E7FF50B.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; 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Our "I Give Up" Fall Mantel ...

Happy *official* Fall Y'all!  Deep rich colors are popping up alllll over blogland now, and I.love.it.  Too bad it's still hot out! ...

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