Mantle Makeover

So my mantle has needed help for a few years now. In our apartment, I had floating shelves and I decorated it more than it is below. But for some reason when we got to our house, I just kinda threw stuff up there, did one decal, and I was done. So here it is before:

Yeah, pretty sparse. 

But then I discovered Pinterest. If you haven't got on pinterest, get on there, and prepare to be addicted. And to find awesome ideas. I have found so many awesome things. 

Here are my makeover steps:

1. H from Pinterest. 

Here's the inspiration: 

Source: kaisercraft.com.au via Allison on Pinterest

I found a black frame at a garage sale for 75 cents. Then I added scrapbook paper instead of fabric, and traced the red H out of cardstock. I got a big bag of buttons from Hobby Lobby for $6, and I had red spray paint on hand to make enough red to fill the H. I also had an H to trace onto the cardstock. So in total, this project cost me about $9. 

 The finished product:

2. Then, I wanted to make decorative balls. 

Here's the inspiration: 

Source:

But don't be fooled by this tutorial! This was not easy. And it took forever. I got silver tacks so I wouldn't have to spray paint, and it just took so long.... The tacks were $2.50 for 200 (which didn't even cover one mid-sized ball) and I got three. I thought this was a little expensive, and I had trouble finding tacks! The styrofoam balls in three sizes were $3-4 a bag of 6 or so. 

After I did a few silver ones, I decided to do yarn balls instead. (And I already had yarn) That was so much easier. I used cream, red, and a really dark brown. I also had a few natural looking potpourri balls that I added. 

I arranged them all in three glass jars. Papa jar, mama jar and baby jar. Fitting right? :) 

The jars I had, except for the biggest one, which I got at Hobby Lobby 40% off so for $11.  So total this project cost me about $30. 

Here's the finished product:

3. I made a little "h" by taking another garage sale frame ($1) and scrapbook paper (22 cents) and making a  little "h" on it with a magic marker. 

Everything else I had or just rearranged. 

Once more with the before: 

And now....

Take a look at my new mantle: