A Cake, a Mantel, & a Table

Got a few little ideas and projects for Met Monday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, and Today's Thrifty Treasures, hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality. A big "thank you" to these gals for faithfully hosting these fun events.

Let' start with dessert - that's always a good thing! Take one cake mix, crushed vanilla wafers, ice cream cones, a 5 year old birthday gal, a swimming pool, lots of friends, one clever momma (my DILaw) and what do you have? A sand castle cake! Now how cute is that?! It was delicious, too! What a great metamorphosis!

This is a free project.....it was our first coffee table in 1969 and has been hiding in the basement because it was tired of being drab brown. It has good bones (Ethan Allen) and has just gotten a fresh coat of black paint. You'll have to come back later and see it in its new home.

Great garage sale find - Laura Ashley smocked dress, flip flop dress, cute blue top, matching frog shorts & top, and a black leotard with tulle skirt attached - it's that thing that doesn't show up! All for a grand total of $2.

Found this wicker table at GW for $10 - why was it painted silver? Did Princess Leia have it in her Star Wars home?

After a fresh coat of everybody's favorite - Heirloom White - it is at home on the deck. Now I have a place to sit my iced tea and magazines!

And now for a mantel re-do. Now you minimalists just close your eyes because it's getting ready to get "busy", as well as become assymetrical.

I told my daughter to "have at it" and her decorator juices started flowing. She incorporated my $2 topiary and added some ribbon trim.

I'm sorry that the photo is a little drab, but in real life it is lovely. More restful, and less in competition with the tile (argh!) around my fire place (not pictured - duh, you know why?!).

Someone commented that they had this little S.L. basket and had never used it. She wondered what to do with it.

I had miniature pumpkins in it this fall - so cute! Right now it holds my Bible, journal, and devotional book and sits by my comfy sofa. It's always changing!

That's it for today! Don't forget to go by Susan's and Rhoda's to check out some great ideas and finds! Happy Monday! Linda