{Layers of Gold} Fall Mantel 2013 Reveal!

Wahoo!
It's finally that time again :) 

I can't believe that it's already time to share my fall decor...which of course ALWAYS starts with my favorite area of the house to decorate.... my mantel. 

I'm constantly amazed at all the different ways to change up the mantel...sometimes I worry that it'll start repeating itself but, nah, there's too many possibilities out there!!!

I love looking back at my previous fall mantels too, like here and even here. 

It definitely shows how my tastes changes from year to year. 

Last year, I went for a beautiful orange and white look and centered everything around pops of color mixed with gorgeous textured whites. 

This year, I went a totally different direction and incorporated my new-found love for all things gold. 

I'm obsessed :) 

But I think it's a good thing...check out this year's fall mantel gorgeousness...

What do you think?

Are you okay with my slight love for gold?? 

The whole vision for this mantel (yes, I have mantel visions...it's a sickness...) started with that amazing chalkboard centerpiece. 

You won't ever, ever believe what it's made from. 

Just you wait.... and, yup, I"m gonna make you sweat it out a little bit.

I have a whole post dedicated to it's transformation... let's just say it's going to be a fabulous roadside rescue makeover. 

After I found it I knew it would be the centerpiece of the mantel. 

And with it's gorgeous gold & chalkboard yumminess, it. is. perfect. 

But let's start at the bottom of it all...

I wanted something cute to corral a group of pumpkins on the hearth... and could never find what I wanted.

So I made my own pumpkin box :) 

Tutorial to follow soon!!

I layered a chunky fabric covered pumpkin along with some other cute ones I had and stuck an old scale & a painted mason jar in there for looks :) 

My shabby striped frame sits pretty on my hearth most of the year and I just change out the prints inside. I pulled out my fall printable from a couple years ago but it's likely to change again :) 

I also plopped a gold painted pumpkin on a thrifted candlestick and called it a day. 

The mantel itself was all about layers.

I'm crazy about some awesome layers, guys. 

My mantel is huge and deep enough to lean several things and still have lots of room. 

The chalkboard was the base of all my layers and then I added a DIY striped mirror (tutorial soon) and one of my white cabinet doors that always seem to make an appearance. I never get tired of a distressed white cabinet door. 

My other favorite project from this year's mantel are my DIY candlesticks. 

I have a tutorial coming for these guys too but I'll go ahead and tell you what makes them special... they are made from old banisters from my parent's house. 

And the tree slices are from a tree they cut down there too.  

So they are full of sentimental value and turned out a million times more beautiful than I ever expected!!

I added another pop of gold with a DIY sign that simply says 'home'. 

Because home is my favorite place to be. 

With my kids and sweet husband and silly pets. 

Love it :) 

I told the kids that I was replacing my spring 'watch birds' with 'watch owls' and they loved that. 

There are several owls around the house now that keep watch over things. 

This little orange guy was a Hobby Lobby find last year and I plopped him on one of my 4x4 pumpkins I made forever ago. 

Sometimes unpacking boxes reveal little treasures that I had forgotten I had.

This little post office box door was one of those. 

I literally squealed when I unwrapped it.

I have no idea why this random little door brings me so much joy but it does :) 

Heading to the right side of the mantel... there are three more of my banister candlesticks.

Oh and those cute ruffle pumpkins are soooo easy.

I'll be sharing more on those soon too :) 

I'll tell you what, my little white vase that I got at Hobby Lobby a couple years ago is a little workhorse.

It somehow always finds a place on my seasonal mantels and I never stop loving it. 

It's the perfect amount of texture and for fall, it looks amazing with a handful of faux wheat. 

The little blue bottle is a Hobby Lobby find too. 

I love me a good garland and this year I wanted all kinds of texture in it. 

I made an easy rag garland with strips of burlap, linen, white jersey  orange chevron and gold rope. Love it so much. 

So much eye candy. It makes me happy every time I walk into the living room.
Which is a lot.

So that's a lot of happiness :) 

And that, my friends, is this year's fall mantel.

What's your favorite part??

I'll be sharing some of my DIY projects that brought it all together in the next couples weeks. 

I start my new job (Eeek!) on Monday so bare with me if I disappear for a few days while I settle in :) 

Happy fall, friends!!

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Linking to: 
Friday Link Party @ Craftionary.  Link Party Palooza @ Tatertots and Jello