Today marks the first day of a Fall Idea Tour. Thirty-two bloggers will be sharing our mantels, tablescapes, wreaths, and crafts over the next four days. I am contributing my fall mantel, which I am calling my Hydrangea Harvest mantel because I am super creative like that. Be sure to check out the other fall ideas linked down at the end of the post too.
I spent exactly zero dollars on my Fall mantel this year. My parents have large limelight hydrangea bushes that produce tons of blooms each year. After visiting one day, I asked permission to clip some for our mantel. I filled a bin with hydrangea clippings, and their bushes were still full of blooms even after I was done. I pulled out a variety of mason jars and vases and added a small bit of water to each of them. I arranged the flowers on the mantel, and as the water evaporates, the flowers will dry just as they are. I preserved some of our own hydrangeas this way, and they still look beautiful a year later.
The hydrangeas frame my fall themed chalkboard art. I spent an hour one afternoon creating this plaid sign with colored chalk and a yard stick. I erased a section in the middle of the plaid and added the word “harvest.” Harvest is one of those words that looks so pretty written in cursive. All the right curves and balance.
Since I am doing very little Fall decorating indoors this year, I just pulled three ceramic pumpkins out of storage and placed them strategically in the display. I may swap these out for the real thing later in the season.
I like being able to mix my vintage blue Ball jars in with newer regular and heritage jars. The greens and blues work very well in our living room.
This is the first time I have used so many natural elements in a mantel set-up. I will be on the lookout for other pretty, and FREE, elements I can use when styling other mantels down the line.
In the interest of authenticity, I’m including this pulled back shot of our fireplace. You can see why I am doing so little decorating right now. We are STILL living with subfloors and piles of installation supplies downstairs. It doesn’t really make sense to decorate too much when we will have to move it all back out when we can finally get our floors installed. The fun of home improvement, right?
Be sure to visit all the stops on this four day Fall Idea Tour! Today’s posts all feature Fall mantels, Tuesday will focus on tablescapes, Wednesday is all wreaths, and Thursday will bring thrifty Autumn crafts.
Monday
Postcards from the Ridge | All Things Heart and Home
Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer | Domestically Speaking
Prodigal Pieces | Housepitality Designs
Mad In Crafts | My Creative Days
Tuesday
Refresh Restyle | 2 Bees in a Pod
Fox Hollow Cottage | Artsy Chicks Rule
Our Southern Home | Restoration Redoux
Savvy Southern Style | Atta Girl Says
Wednesday
H2OBungalow | Cottage at the Crossroads
Today’s Creative Life | Dukes and Duchesses
Hunt & Host | The Interior Frugalista
Sweet Pea | Petticoat Junktion
Thursday
Thrift Diving | At the Picket Fence
Town and Country Living | Cupcakes and Crinoline
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | So Much Better With Age
Oh how I love the Limelight hydrangeas and they look spectacular on your mantel….Such a beautiful mantel with that wonderful chalkboard art. Amazing job!!….Great to party with you today!
Such a cute idea! And you can’t get better than that price! Looking forward to seeing the room when it’s finished. We just went thru a major renovation so I understand…
Shelley
Thanks so much! I know the reno will be worth it when it is done, but it's the waiting that is the worst!
I totally understand living in construction. We are living through a kitchen makeover and have tiles lying in the guest bedroom and no countertops on half of our cabinets. It will all be worth it in the end. The Hydrangeas are all you need. They are beautiful all on their own!! It was fun touring with you today!
It makes it easier knowing other people have been through it! Loved your fall decor too!
Super cute chalkboard and you can never go wrong with dried hydrangea blooms. Lucky you to have a supplier. 🙂
I definitely got the hook-up this year!
Been there! It’ll all be worth it (and we never would have known) lol!
Loving all the lush Hydras 🙂 So pretty!!
Thank you, Shannon!
You had me at hydrangeas. And mason jars too! The chalkboard sign is so cute and clever!
Love the plaid chalkboard idea, Jessica! So jealous of all those gorgeous hydrangeas. I have had zero success growing them in our yard and they are one of my favorite flowers. Thanks for keeping it real in this post. How exciting to be getting new hardwood floors!
I am going to just lie down on the empty floor and enjoy them once they finally get installed!
Living during construction is tough. I about went crazy the summer we did an addition and kitchen remodel.
You mantel is so pretty with the hydrangeas and your awesome chalk art.
Can’t go wrong with hydrangeas! I hear you about the DIY decor dilemma, we’re in the same mix. 🙂
It never ends, does it?
Wow…love the hydrangeas and your super creative chalkboard. Great ideas! We appreciate a glimpse into your rality LOL. Living through a reno and construction is no fun!
So beautiful… I adore hydrangeas… the blue and green combo is so calming… love it!
I love your Hydrangea Harvest mantel! My favorite flowers are Hydrangeas. Our Hydrangeas didn’t bloom this year, bummer. Everything is so pretty.Thanks for the inspiration.
We only got one bloom off of our bushes this year. Luckily my parents had a bounty!
Beautiful and simple. Very nice! (I love hydrangeas!)
Nancy
I LOVE plaid. This is such a fun way to use it in the mantel. Brilliant idea! I wish I had the hydrangeas fresh like you do, I am totally jealous.
I am a nut for plaid. I like to work it in wherever I can!
Oh my goodness I just LOVE that you showed some real life amidst your beautiful mantel!! It made me appreciate it even more and showed that sometimes even when things are crazy in our homes having little pockets of loveliness is good for the soul. <3
It's so true!
I had to smile when I saw your last “keeping it real” photo! How exciting to get new flooring though! Love your hydrangeas.
Thanks, Jennifer!
I’m glad you showed the full shot so we can see how well the green hydrangeas compliment the pretty blue background on either side! I feel your pain on the floors…we just tackled that project at the start of the Summer! Beautiful natural mantel. 🙂
Hi Jessica, I don’t believe that I’ve met you yet, but I’m happy to be on the tour with you. I think your chalkboard artwork is sooooo creative, and I’ve never really thought about it, but the word “harvest” does look good written in cursive!
*note to self-plant some limelight hydrangeas next year!
Love your mantel, hydrangeas are my favorite…in fact I didn’t even notice that floor 😉 Love it all!
Debbie
Those hydrangeas are beautiful, Jessica, and so is the rest of your very beautiful harvest mantel.
I am in love with that plaid chalk art! So cool!!! XXOO