Nautical Themed Mantle

Happy Monday blog friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend!  I had such a wonderful time with my husband even though our packing and moving is in full swing!  Today I must admit I took the day off to relax and try to really realize that I am DONE with school!  A day off from packing can only mean one thing----yep you guessed it I was crafting up a storm!  

Here is my first of a few projects and tonight's treasured up-cycle:

I know some of you have read some of my other posts where I have talked about how I am only decorating with meaningful home-made art work...so keeping with the meaningful idea I found these sand dollars while packing.  I love that Cal found them for me on one of our trips to Cancun---ahhh special memories and moments.  I was inspired to display them as a reminder of the wonderful times spent together.

And here is where I started:

I came across a load of cabinet doors for sale for a bundle price at a re-use home building store 

***I know I didn't pay more than a couple dollars each even thought this ticket price says seven dollars or something crazy like that*** 

I can't stop thinking about different ways to use them!  

*At least a couple of this weeks projects will feature these lovely doors so beware!*

{So I should note this was not the cabinet door I actually used for this project but was one of many I have been painting and up-cycling lately}

I also have a pile of these old wall art box-thing-ies and have been full of ideas of ways to up-cycle them...I am always excited to rescue and reuse things that have been laying around the house that are no longer my style!

So I don't have many in between pictures this time but I just printed my sea inspired pictures on my beloved encyclopedia paper (same directions as the last few posts on how to do the printing).  I found the coral at the graphic fairy and starfish at wbclipart.

Then I distressed the corners of the paper with sand paper while supporting the paper on piece of scrap wood.

For the cabinet door I just painted it white, distressed like crazy and added the label holders and sand dollars.  I used a glue gun to place the sand dollars because I like the idea of being able to change the items on my board----my style is constantly changing!

I also must note that I am still so so so in love with my encyclopedias and took time to find fun sea inspired words to put in the holders!

Ahhh now if only we could all take a week off and play in the ocean!

Bbbuutt back to reality,

*I will be back to moving and packing tomorrow!*

Ohhh and before I forget I must mention that:

Once again I was also slightly inspired by pottery barn's new love for nautical decorium as well----ahhhh I love that store!!!

{Pottery Barn}

I am linking up here.