Real Life Red Mantel

 Keeping with my vow to keep things simple and uncomplicated around here at Wilkeswood Manor, I decorated my den with real life red items.

These red things normally spread here and there were corralled into the den and place carefully.  

(Yeah, right!  It took twenty minutes.)



Let's look at things that caught my eye and promised to give me joy for the next few weeks.

 The heart basket usually hangs outside the front door, but I used it for Sweet Kitty instead.

A red wood/metal box repurposed from the Christmas decorations hold my prim sheep made by Brenda at The Rusty Thimble.

Yes, there is one black sheep.

Yes, you do see bottle brush trees.

 My huge Carr ironstone pitcher holds a beautiful bouquet of fake berry branches on a stack of red dictionaries and the cloth scrap that was Dear Deer's scarf on the winter mantel.

I weighed the pitcher - a whopping four pounds and four ounces.  

Can you imagine a waitress having to serve from that thing!?!

There's Teeny in her chair.

(A funny story about the fake berry branches.  The "berries" are plastic and suffer from excessive static cling.  Scout was helping by staying right underfoot wearing his Cone Of Shame. I looked down to see him spinning around chasing the "berries" clinging to the plastic of the cone.  I like to have never got all those "berries" rounded up and in the trash!)

Besides Teeny, the red plaque moved up to the mantel with another stack of red dictionaries and thread spools.

What is that glow?

A red egg basket from Tractor Supply filled with white lights.

Also left from Christmas.

A warm, wonderful view during these cold winter nights.

It is a real life red mantel.

Most all of it reused from the Christmas decor.

Life can be simple and joyful.

You just have to try.


See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

SHOP HERE! 

Share Your Cup Thursday #88  
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
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Party Junk #223 at Funky Junk Interiors 
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Share It One More Time  

 

Dear Deer, A Love Letter

Dear Deer.

I love you so.  I cannot put you away just yet.

You look more like a white tail deer than a reindeer anyway.

I want you in my life for several seasons, not just Christmas.

So I will welcome you with open arms.

Even though you are large and take up space.

At least I do not have to feed you.

Or clean up after you. 

Please do not leave me.

 I was thinking of you, Dear Deer, when shopping at the dollar store.

I found a felt red heart garland that seemed so perfect for you.

I know it was only one dollar, but it is the thought that counts.

And I bought you a gift before I bought Chucks a Valentine gift.

I think this will make a lovely scarf for you to wear in this cold, drafty house.

Red is a great color.  

It brings out the rust in your beautiful patina.

Oh, Dear Deer, you are simply magnificent in your Valentine scarf.

Love you forever,

Distressed Donna

Do y'all think I could find bunny ears for him.  Oh, wait a minute, he might be Irish and need an outfit for St. Pat's.


See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

SHOP HERE! 

Share Your Cup Thursday #88  
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage 
Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo 
Share It One More Time

Ready For Red

The middle of January approaches, 

Christmas decorations are stowed away, 

and I am tired of the snowmen.

I am ready for red 

and hearts and new vignettes to gaze upon as I laze around reading when I should be working.

 Looking about the house, I found a stack of plaques started, but never completed.  

I gave this one a second look.

It was already red.

It had a black stencil.

And, hey, doesn't that stencil sorta look like two hearts?

 Now to decide how to finish the plaque.

It had to be distressed!

First I will admit to total laziness.

I did not even clean off the work table.  I balanced the plaque on two jars of gesso.

I used paint pens.

I highlighted the black curlicues with white.

I highlighted the edges with gold.

Using a brown paint pen, I highlighted around the edges and around the curlicues.

I know it is hard to see the brown.

It is just to add depth.

Either use your imagination or keep reading.

There - you see the brown?

I decided the plaque needed some white distressing with a scrumble brush.

What is a scrumble brush?

All of you probably have one.

It is that brush which has been used for years and you hate to throw it out.

These worn, but loved, brushes are great for dry brushing a distressed finish.

With this technique, there is no need for sanding.

 Finished!

Or is it?

NO!

Needs some more aging to get that "I have been around forever" look.

I mixed a dark brown craft paint with some satin craft varnish to create an aging glaze.

Slapped it right on that plaque.

Notice I balanced it on a candle holder.

I must get my work table organized!

 

Didn't take long.

Dried fast.

Looks ancient!

Teeny, the doll, loves hanging out with the ready-for-red plaque.

I am not sure if the two will stay here or move up to the mantel.

The plaque looks great with some of my vintage dictionaries.

I have noticed that quite a few of you are ready for red and have been posting great vignettes.

Great way to lift winter spirits.  Or a place to lift a glass of winter spirits.

See y'all!

Carlene will be sharing Tuesday, January 14!

Be Inspired #173 at Common Ground