FYI

My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

and I have a link to where you can receive
SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

Please go to the NEW BLOG.
thanks, bj

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Once upon a time....

 the mantel in the dining room needed some CHANGE.
I was so ready for something NEW...
something AWESOME...
something that I would keep going back into the room to LOOK AT.
and then I found THIS !
Isn't it just the most awesome thing, ever !
I had everything shown here....
I KNEW this would be my BLOGGER COPY CAT CHALLENGE for
She generally wants us to get our inspiration from a magazine or catalog.
THIS month, however she said we could copy a blogger photo if we liked.
WELL........I LIKED.
NOW...here is where I fall to my knees and all the way down to my belly on the floor
to ask forgiveness for NOT REMEMBERING WHO  this mantel belongs to.
I thought I had it marked but...........bwaaaaaaaaaaaa.
So, please let me know who this belongs to....I will add it right away.

BREAKING NEWS...

The original lovely mantel belongs to the beautiful LAYLA...
 
Here is what I wrote to her...

"Sorry you are hurt..:( I kept your mantel redo sometime back, didn't mark WHO it belonged to and for my copy cat challenge at DebbieDoos this week, I used your photo for inspiration to do my mantel like yours. I am sorry I didn't know who to get permission from so I am hoping it is ok for me to use your photo. It is such a beautiful mantel and, altho mine isn't nearly as pretty, I am happy. I had everything to do the mantel like yours....just had to buy a chalk pen. Thanks so much.....come over and see it all." :) xo bj

Here is the new reply:
"Thank you, BJ! I just visited your blog and I am absolutely tickled that you used our Spring mantel as your inspiration! Thank you and what a wonderful job you did. So fun!" :-D
 ♥ ♥ ♥
ON WITH MY COPY CATTING fun.....

The first thing I had to do was to spray paint my olden, golden frame.....
I had this large frame and had made a chalk board for it last year.

I had some white spray  paint left from another project and just enuf to cover this large frame.

 I have lots of little white pitchers and a few larger ones...
I've had the square plate (Dollar Tree, I think) for a long time...
and the vinyl number was from another project.
Next, I started adding the items I had that would make
my dining room mantel look very much like the top photo.
At this point, I had the frame painted but not the chalk board writing and
I  KNEW I would need help here.
I just put the frame up so I could place the other objects on the mantel.
 I'm getting there.....
and haven't had to buy one single thing to make my mantel as pretty as
the INSPIRATION   MANTEL so far.
My sweet Mr. Sweet came through once more with his artistic talent.
Didn't he do a GREAT job on the chalk board.?
I love it.
I realize that some of you would shabby up the frame to tone down the white...
I just happen to like the white so will leave it as is.

 This is just another way for me to use my collection of
WHITE IRONSTONE PITCHERS.....
and I am going to really enjoy the mantel with it's NEW LOOK.
 Maybe a little later I can add the taller, lime green arrangements to my pitchers...
and as the seasons change, Mr. Sweet can re-do the chalk board with
new quotes.

 In the meantime, I am gonna enjoy it all....
JUST THE WAY IT IS.
I just LOOOOOVE   IT. 
The ONLY thing I purchased to make my DREAM MANTEL
was a CHALK PEN.
THIS is why I love inspiration pictures...
Here, all this time, I have had the MAKINGS OF A GREAT MANTEL
but without someone SHOWING me what to do, I was left with a
PERSONALITYLESS  MANTEL...
Now, it has CHARM......STYLE....SASSYNESS....CUTENESS....FRESHNESS.....
all rolled up into ONE.   

48 comments:

Debby said...

Great job. Love it.

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

You are soooooo good at this, Beeeej! Love it all!
xoxo

TexWisGirl said...

that's very cute, bj. you're a good copy catter. :)

Christine @ First Home...Love Life said...

It looks lovely! Great job! Popping over from Debbiedoo's party :)

Sonny G said...

absolutely fabulous copy~~!!! you did an amazing job on this.. I love it love it..

Patty Patterson said...

So cute! I like your saying better than theirs, especially since it is no longer springtime. And - holding hands and saying a prayer never hurts!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

That looks good, BJ. I believe that is Layla's from the Lettered Cottage.

Gina said...

Your mantel is beautiful, BJ. You did a super copycat.

(The original belongs to Layla at The Lettered Cottage.)

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Great job BJ! It looks as lovely as your inspiration picture.

Barbara F. said...

Your mantle looks great. Love it. xo

Sherry @ Thrift My House said...

I love what you did! I've been working on my mantel all week using ideas from the same blog. I still need to buy greenery and make my chalkboard. It's awesome that you didn't have to buy anything. I am inspired :-)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

That looks great! I love the inspiration and your copycat is awesome! Love what Mr Sweet wrote on the chalk board. Hugs, Linda

Gail said...

Your mantel is beautiful BJ! You did a great job.

LV said...

With all your inspirations and ideas, you found the right guy, Mr.Sweet.

Honey at 2805 said...

I just adore your charming mantel! You and Mr. Sweet did a lovely job and it's a fabulous copy cat! Hugs!

NanaDiana said...

Great, great copy-cat!!!! Your Mr.Sweet did a great job with his artistic hand. I like it white and pure without all the distressing...perfect- xo Diana

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

And where did you find the chalk pen? I have been looking for one!

Sunflowers With Smiles said...

So cute. Thanks for sharing.

Vee said...

http://theletteredcottage.net/mantel-mania-our-spring-mantel/

Oh I like yours very much!

Pamela said...

BJ it turned out just fabulous!!

Olive said...

You copy cat very well BJ and are such a good writer you will have loads of sweet nothings to write on on your chalk board.

Lynn said...

I love it BJ, it turned out great! Nothing better than being able to change the sayings when you want to. I've really been thinking I need a chalkboard too, maybe to announce Sunday dinner:@)

Lettered Cottage said...

WOW! It turned out so pretty, and I am flattered to pieces that you chose our mantel as a part of your challenge! SO FUN! :-D

chateau chic said...

Your mantel turned out great - so fresh and pretty!
Mary Alice

Audrey said...

Great copy bj ... Love it.
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures.

Debbiedoos said...

This is awesome Bj! And I see it is Layla's. You done good there! WOW, so inspiring that you had everything on hand too. I have never used chalk pens, but you bet I will now...I am a copy cat too. Thanks Bj, as always for joining in on the fun!

Lavender and Linen said...

so sweet! You did a great job!

Maria Elena said...

OOOH! I just love your mantle! Your copycat is beautiful! You did an amazing job!

Stacy said...

Ah your copycat is flawless! Dad did a great job on the writing too! Now, come to my house....

Kris said...

Awesome!
XO Kris

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

What fun you must have had with this! It looks wonderful!

Becki said...

Love your mantel - and the chalkboard! Where did you find the chalk pen - I've been everywhere!

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Isn't that the cutest copy-cat ever???!! You did a great job, bj. Hmmmm....I may have to copy cat your copy cat!!

On Crooked Creek said...

BJ,
Love, love, love it, dear friend!!!
You did an amazing duplicate!!! "Mr. Sweet" does nice writings!
Fondly,
Pat

Kim said...

Oh B.J. I just love it! You've given me so many great ideas. Thanks sweetie. How is the fam and that darling little Deeds?
xoxo,
Kim

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Leaving things white. So pretty. And so cool looking, in the summer time.

Gentle hugs,
"Auntie"

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

How about my new blog look... A total change, "BJ"? How does it look on your computer?

Like I said, on my computer, it takes up the same space (for the whole blog to show at once) as an ordinary blog in Pretty Blog Land. One, which is like-everyone-elses, so to speak.

'Cause I really don't want mine, to be tooooooooooooo wide.

Gentle hugs,
"Auntie"

Pondside said...

I love the fresh new summer look! Well done!

Sweet Tea said...

You.Did.Good.
What a great copy-cat. Amazing that you only had to purchase a chalk pen. Love that!!

Beverly said...

Great copy, BJ. Your mantel looks wonderful. And, lady, let me tell you that nothing about you is "personalityless". You are the best of the best.♥

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Great copycat design. Isn't it fun? You are so good at it.

Miss Charming said...

Everything Layla does is copy worthy. You did a wonderful job on your mantel. What a great way to display your ironstone.

Ricki Treleaven said...

BJ, I absolutely love this copycat. :D Your copycats are ones that I remember....I still can't get over that Country Living bicycle one. I hope you are having a great summer!

xo,
RJ

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Hi BJ, hopped over from Debbies. Love your copycat! They are both darling and what wonderful chalkboard messages.
Hugs,
Jann

Kathleen said...

It is lovely! I love the sentiment!

Barbwire Pretty said...

I love your beautiful redo,I to have a collection of white pitchers and may try out your ideas.
Thanks for sharing.
Bernice

Mimi said...

What a great job BJ! It is hard to see which is the copy! Love it

Thanks so much for your sweet comment on my Anthro cactus! I'm so happy to discover your blog How fun, creative and chock full of great ideas!

Annesphamily said...

Great job! I absolutely think this is so darling! You are so creative!