Summer Mantel with Driftwood Crab Art

Summer is here, and one way I love to welcome the new season is by giving the mantel a new look—in this case, a very summery look.

Don't you love change?

Ha, some of you might find it crazy. Changing the decor with the seasons might seem exhausting, but that's not my case. I love it, and that's precisely what I did once again to decorate our family room, the space we use the most in our home. 

A couple of weeks ago, when I was ready to take pictures of the old jeans pillow, I took out my stash of summery things and began looking for some props. Well, the first thing to pop up was the driftwood garland. I used it, and it looked good there, so after the pictures were taken...

I brought the garland to the mantel to try it again. I bought it last year to decorate the mantel, but after the first try, I didn't like it. One year later, I was giving it a second try, but nope, it didn't feel right.

Soooo, I dismantled it because the idea of the crab I saw right HERE would look much better using these pieces of wood.

I got the board where my new art would go and covered it with pieces of paper to trace the easiest crab I could find online.

Ha, lots of trial and error, but I ended up with a very charming crab. ;) 

Let me show you how that crab was drawn!

1. I first drew the center. Imagine drawing a hamburger outline with two pointy sides.
2. Make sure this shape is centered on your paper.
3. Draw the legs. It doesn't have to be symmetrical. 
4. I even like that one of the legs is going in a different direction.

Then, it was just like completing a puzzle... 

Finding a curvy piece for the claw... some short pieces for the legs... cutting two ends for the little eyes...

Until it was all filled up.

*I'm editing this post to add that I made the mistake of leaving the white pieces of paper I'd put together with tape on the board. 

I had to ask my husband to help me pull the "crab puzzle" onto the floor, being careful not to mess it up much.*

Once my board was empty, I marked the middle and began hot-gluing each piece of wood onto it. 

I started with the one piece right in the middle line of the crab and then branched outwards until I had the complete crab.

The final part was to bring some more accessories...

A little lantern.

Rope in a vase...

Starfish, fishing net...

And extra vases on the opposite side for good measure. :)

I also found a huge wire basket that I plan on converting into a light fixture; in the meantime, it serves as a side table. ;)

There you have it, my Summer-Coastal mantel this year.

You can see the entire family room here on my Summer Home Tour.



For more DIY decor ideas, check these out:

Ten Beautiful Patriotic Tablescapes

Old Window Memo Board

Breakfast Room Makeover

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