Winner! & a couple of tips for a fireplace mantle...

Okay, so I figured out that blogger doesn't number comments.. so I printed them all out and cut them into strips and drew one out...
The winner is..........

Nicki!!!! http://bellsandbugbites.blogspot.com/
who said (since I know you can't read that!)

I have put a little something out there on my little blog. I had high hopes that it was going to be one of those awesome blogs, but then my computer burned up at home so I am reduced to sneaking some blogging in at work, lol.


Check er out!!

Nicki I'll email you to get your address and I'll get this out to you this week.

Like I said before I was totally overwhelmed at the response. I've decided I'll do a giveaway frequently (hopefully once a month, we'll see how it goes), of something I've made.. that only seems fair to me, since you guys are all so nice to come and look at my blog. (and I really really tired to make another banner this week so I could giveaway two, but it just didn't happen--- my kids have the flu & we are going on fall break next week!)

I thought I'd answer a few questions from the comments too... 

The cricut font I used was Storybook.
Most of the embellishments are punched out pieces of cardstock that are glittered.. along with a little bit of ribbon, I REALLY did not take very many supplies.  The vintage image I downloaded from www.thevintageworkshop.com, printed it on cardstock, applied glue to the edges and dipped it in orange glitter.
The "googley" eyes just came in a package at the craft store.

I also, got lots of comments about how the mantle was arranged...

Nothing on that mantle cost more than $10 (except the clock, but it doesn't count it stays up there all year)... Last year I knew I wanted tombstones on my mantle this year,  so I went to Target the day after Halloween (sometimes they mark them down before too)... and got 2 headstones, the skull snowglobe & the gargoyle... The big headstone was the most at $10.. the rest were $5-$8... I picked up the glittered Trick or Treat sign when I was in Utah last year at one of my favorite stores, Rodworks... And the candelabra...well, my Aunt works for Hallmark corporate and they have this really cool half price half price store, and she is super nice and sends me lots of holiday stuff.. I think it was $2... The "spells" book is also from Hallmark.

To "tie" all the elements together, I strung cobweb all over it...  It's the one time of year that all the cobwebs (the REAL ones) in my house don't look too bad!!

I thought I'd tell you my "mental" steps I go through when I put stuff up on my mantle (man I WISH I had photos of other times of the year... I'll have to get on that this year)...

- Vary the heights of the things on your mantle. This is the biggest tip I can give someone.   - You don't want things all at the same level.. use books, and other objects to get a staggered look.  If you don't have any "old" books, just take the paper sleeves off some books you have.

- Don't line things up.. it doesn't usually look "natural".. keep things in clusters, at odd angles.. in odd numbers.

- go for a little "drama" or something unexpected... for Christmas this year I'm putting a tree up there.

- Circles love straight lines... (a photo of my mantle at my old house)... Put something round next to something with a straight line.. (like a clock, a plate, a wreath etc)... 

- Add,  and vary the texture... at Christmas put up greenery, leaves in the Autumn, shiny things next to "old" things...
There are a few tips, I am by NO means an expert! I have struggled with arranging my fireplace mantles since I've had one. I had my sister in law come over once and do it for me several years ago because I just could not " get it"... which is another good tip... get a second opinion if you are stuck.