Fall Decorating (and a Bears game)

Chelle got some fall decorating done just in time for a gathering in the basement for the Bears game a few weeks back. Check it out here!

More pinecones from the Mama's put to good use in a embossed tin planter from on of

Chelle's thrifting journeys for .75 cents. This now sits on the downstairs bathroom toilet. :)

Inspired by one of Chelle's pinterest posts, this candle laced with a light gold overlay (found at Salvation Army for .25 cents, never burned) was wrapped in some fabric fall leaves from dollar tree and some burnt orange crafting ribbon, then placed in a narrow candle tumbler. Who says you cant craft on the cheap!!!??

Here is a broad view of the mantle, and please excuse the TV cords; we havent gotten brave enough yet to start drilling into the mantle where we need to run them. :) Since we havent posted full pictures of the downstairs living room, we'll give a brief overview here.

This is our absolute favorite room of the house. The entire floor is covered in heavily textured heated slate tile, run by a hidden thermostat in one of the downstairs closets. (TOASTY!!!) The same tiles that lay on the floor have also been hand-cut into smaller squares to make the fireplace, as well as the bathroom floor. They are so easy to keep clean, too, which is not to go ignored, as cleaning is no fun for anybody! :)

The stacking boxes in the right corner of the fireplace stoop were a craigslist purchase for $8, and neatly store misc aux cords, extra remotes and extension cords, ect. For information on the bouquet directly to the left of the boxes, check out our post prior to this one on one of Chelle's latest obsessions.

The candle spread, front and center of the mantle, is also a craigslist find. Weighing 15 pounds easy, and matching our slate perfectly, we were overjoyed when we stumbled upon this on Craigslist for just $6. The lantern on the left corner of the stoop is an antique looking "earth-green", found on clearance at Homemakers for $13. The door of the lantern doesnt shut all the way, therefore, they put it in the land of misfit home decor and Chelle immediately snatched it up. We about threw up when we saw what they originally priced it at....

In the bookcase shelves on the far left, there are some faux books providing additional hidden storage(originally 19.99 a piece at Pier one-- Chelle got all 4 for $12 on Craigslist). Sitting on top of one of the books is a glass liquor decanter Kevin was given as a groomsmen gift for a wedding he was in. Above that are the electronics that Chelle is dying for a better way to store, and a canvas tote basket with some coffee-table books from long ago.

Above that as the newly decorated mantle. Four candlesticks (another Craigslist find: $8 total) hold 4 decorative pumpkins (from Dollar Tree) with fabric leaves that Chelle hot glued to their middles, and beside them sit a big metal "Memories" sign (Craigslist-10.00). Along the mantle runs a series of 4 fall garlands purchased from dollar tree for .50 cents a piece, finished off by the fall printable Chelle mentioned in our prior post.

Moral of the story? We love our mantle decor (Chelle a little more than Kevin, we're sure), and we did not come CLOSE to giving an arm and a leg for the things we purchased to decorate it. Where there's a will there's a way, and you can ABSOLUTELY create a classy space without breaking the bank to do so! Get out there and search!

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Close-ups at some of the above-mentioned mantle decor:

Dont be intimated by "cozying up" your space this season in fear of throwing away your hard earned money. Put your creativity to work in a cheap way!

Also, some of our favorites came over that day to watch our favorite NFL team hold a clinic on thier recent opponent!