Well hello again, so glad you are visiting me today. I’ve got something to show you today that I am so so happy about.
Look what I did this weekend:
I gave my ‘mantel’ a makeover! I created a Layered Photo Frame Mantel Decoration. And since it is a bit of a heart shaped display, I think this qualifies as a Valentines mantel.
And that must be my first. My first Valentines mantel that is. We don’t  ‘do’  Valentines day over here. Commerce is trying to push us towards it, but it still hasn’t caught on. Fine by me, I love a bit of good romance, but not if it involves a specific date on my calendar and lots of frivolous, pinky fluff. I’ll take the chocolate though…. 😉
Anyway, back to my mantel, that is sporting a bit of a heart and lots of sentimental, images full of love-filled memories.Â
I had an image of a modern black and white, art filled photo collage in my inspiration file. I found it online one day, probably in a Google search, and saved it to my laptop  because I loved the look (I retraced it to a Dutch home decor magazine).
I wanted to create my own version, making it a bit more homey and personal by using my own images and graphics that had meaning to me. And making it heart shaped  ♥ .
I love it so much. It really suits our style.
Oh and those pictures are not really blurry and I haven’t hooked up with a notorious criminal either. That is is just my guy, purposely blurred out, because he still insists on remaining anonymous, spoilsport.Â
Okay here are the steps I took to make this heart shaped layered photo frames mantel:
 1. Empty out your canvas and take some measurements. You will be hammering in a lot of nails so you do want to get it right-ish the first time.
2. I cut a heart shape out of some cheap tissue paper so I could get a feel for the dimensions I was going for.
3. Place the paper heart on your canvas to see if it is right and mark where it goes.
4. Lay out all your big and small frames to see if you have enough of them and to figure out how to position them.
Paint all your frames in your color of choice.
While the frames are drying, have some lunch. This is an important step and easily forgotten when decorating and crafting.Â
Tape your paper template back up to help you get your outline. Start with the biggest frames first, than with the ones that determine the outline. Fill in with smaller ones. As you can see I hung them all with twine, slightly overlapping.
 Be fine with some of them hanging crooked. The road to happiness is not a straight line….
Loving my Valentines mantel so much…..
I keep staring at it. So many memories in one place.Â
I think this one is going to be with us for quite some time.Â
So what’ye think? Can you tell the heart shape in there (the spoilsport in my home could not….).
Let me know what you think and if you like it, feel free to pin or share it.Â
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 Pssst I have since updated this mantel to a summer version.Â
Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
Danelle - The Tattered Treasures says
I love it. It is giving me a few ideas for my home. Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer Rizzo says
I love how this looks Marianne! I think it is a super creative way to display!!!
Melissa Leach says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!! Is one of the hearts filled with little birdies???
Marianne@Songbird says
Hmm, it might…
No I think I just made little crosses, but I like your idea better, so let’s pretend those are all little birdies 🙂
Siggie says
Very pretty! I’m loving your use of black and white. It’s also given me an idea for the giant still empty wall on our staircase.
~Siggie
KOlein says
This is so wonderful! Time to find more wall space here in my home! Thank you SO much for the inspiration!!!
XO
~Kolein
Athena at Minerva's Garden says
I think this is a pretty take on a Valentine’s mantel, and I can see the heart-shape of it. I like how wide your mantel is–makes it easier to decorate!
Gwen says
Definitely an inspiration. How do you come up with all these ideas to do in your home and actually do them so we can see?!! I was wondering if Valentines Day was celebrated in your land. I got a little pang of I miss that day when I saw packages of valentines kids buy for their classmates. One came with a pencil for each classmate plus the valentine. I guess the no sugar is even affecting our day of sweets?!!
Back to your display. I like the subtle heart. I see it but maybe because we knew it was one(?)! I like the nails and twine. We painted but the kid graduation photos never got back up for our family has grown. It didn’t grow evenly around each child so I was wanting to do something a bit different than my yearbook layouts I did in high school–now I’m glad I didn’t hurry and ambitiously get them rehung! And yes, I will have to paint some and I will have to remember to eat lunch!!
Thanks again for more inspiration!!!
Grace says
Oh good gracious, this is absolutely beautiful! I have a big empty hallway that I think I’m going to try and do this to! Love, love, love it!!!
Emilou says
Hi Marianne, I gasped when I saw your beautiful heart shaped photo gallery. So unique and special. Thanks so very much for sharing this fantastic idea!!! Blessings and smiles, Emilou 🙂
Jill @ Still Keeping On The Narrow Way says
I love this look! The shapes, the textures, the memories…..so lovely. I definitely will be pinning. Thanks for sharing!
Susan says
Beautiful Marianne! I love the way that looks!
Allison @ The Golden Sycamore says
This is such an amazingly fantastic idea! I absolutely love your gallery wall! So creative and pretty!
micupoftea says
So unique- and so much fun. Happy Valentine’s Day 🙂
clairelynn says
Love this idea…..also, love that I have items around to use! Thanks
Corey @ TinySidekick says
I love how perfectly imperfect this looks. Caught my eye at HomeStoriesAtoZ and I just had to come check out the details. Thanks for the inspiration!
Jen says
Love how you hung everything!
Looks great!