Valentine Mantel by Simply Creating Home

Have you had a chance to make cornstarch dough stamped hearts ?  I just loved how fun it was to work with the dough.  I suppose it brings back good memories of playing with Playdoh as a child!  The simple hearts I created with the dough turned out so well, I’m using them on all sorts of things.

My hurricane votive's worked great for a base for tying them on.  I found the plaid cotton fabric in my fabric stash and loved all of the pastel colors. I ripped strips that were about 1/4 inch wide across the width of the fabric.

For my large votive, I tied a bow and then tied on two hearts that had a single hole.  One heart I cut using my larger heart cookie cutter on just the swirled dough. The second smaller heart I stamped with my word stamp while the dough was a lighter pink and used the mini heart cutter.

TO SEE THE THE REST OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PROJECT PLEASE VISIT LAURIE AT:

SimplyCreatingHome.com

To see some truly beautiful fireplace mantels for your home check out these suggestions:

Wood Fireplace Mantels

Rustic Fireplace Mantels

Economy Mantels

How To Create A Majestic Fireplace Mantel

Ever noticed that some fireplace mantels just stand out? They seem to possess an essence that makes the entire room more elegant, put together, even majestic. Wondered what your mantel is missing?

The secret is in the lighting.

Lighting is often seen as purely functional. Sure, it allows for bedside reading long after the sun has gone down, illuminates the windowless hallway for safe navigation, and provides a helpful battery-operated beam on camping trips. But there’s much more to it. Lighting can inspire, enhance, and create an ambiance. It can be dramatic, romantic, or energizing.

If you want to call attention to your fireplace mantel, put a spotlight on it! Your eyes will naturally be drawn to the light when you walk into the room; although you’ll focus in on the beautiful fireplace and mantel, rather than the light fixture.

The best way to illuminate a mantel is to install a couple of adjustable recessed lighting trims on the ceiling a few feet away from the wall. The adjustability will enable you to direct the beam of light exactly where you want it for maximum drama. You might want to focus it on a decorative vase sitting on the mantel, a photograph, or even a painting hanging on the wall. For a great selection of adjustable recessed lights, check out Pegasus Lighting.


Guest Post by: Emily

Hearth, Patio, BBQ Expo 2012 - Innovations for Indoor and Outdoor Living

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo: is North America's largest indoor-outdoor living showcase. Every year, more than 350 leading hearth, patio and barbecue manufacturers and suppliers exhibit and demonstrate their latest home heating solutions; grills, grilling accessories and fully-equipped outdoor kitchens; casual patio furniture and outdoor accents; water and landscape features; all-weather entertainment products and more.

The show attracts more than 5,000 specialty and mass market retailers, and professionals interested in getting a first look at the indoor-outdoor living innovations that consumers will be asking for in the seasons ahead.

Georgia World Congress Center | Atlanta, Georgia | Exposition: March 1 – 3  www.gwcc.com

Education Program: The 2012 HPBExpo Education Program is developed to help you grow sales, improve business efficiency and strengthen technical competencies. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) abound for those seeking to renew an NFI Certification.

Who's Exhibiting: Exhibitor Link

New Product Pavillion:  HPBExpo’s New Product Pavilion is one of the most popular areas to visit on the show floor. Attendees and prospective buyers flock to the pavilion to find innovative year-round products that will attract customers to their retail stores.

Exhibitors can participate in this year’s New Product Pavilion by displaying a product that was introduced to the marketplace after HPBExpo 2011, which was held March 3-5, 2011. Give buyers a first-look and get your business noticed in Atlanta.

For More information on the HPB Expo 2012: HPBExpo.com

Recommended links for great product and excellent customer service:

• Masonry & Prefab Fireplace Glass Doors
• Economy, Rustic, Wood Mantels and Mantel Shelves
• Blackbox Fireplace Paint
• Fireplace Screens that blend function with form
• Incredible Matte Finish Brick Paint - 3 Color Themes