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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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November 8, 2013

A Thankful Thanksgiving Mantel

I’m thankful for many things…

I’m thankful for that very first sip of coffee in the morning…I can feel it coursing through my veins and bringing my out of my early morning stupor.

I’m thankful for that moment when I rip off my skinny jeans and pull on my sweats…oh sweet, sweet elastic waistband come to mama.

I’m thankful for the smell of the first batch of Chex mix of the season…but not so thankful for how quickly it disappears in our house!

I’m thankful for dual-purpose decorating.

Like being able to easily turn my Fall Mantel into a Thanksgiving Mantel.

Thanksgiving-mantel-with-chalkboard-platters atthepicketfence.com

I’m also thankful for the wonderful invention that is peel-and-stick chalkboard paper.

chalkboard paper roll

And so thankful that it comes with cutting lines on the back.

chalkboard paper grid lines

That wonderful invention of peel-and-stick chalkboard paper allowed me to create a wall of thankfulness.

Turning simple silver platters into expressions of my heart.

Because, you see, as much as I am thankful for that first sip of coffee and elastic waistbands and Chex mix…

Thanksgiving Mantel Decor from atthepicketfence.com

I know that really those are just simple pleasures.

They don’t mean as much to me as the real stuff.

Thankful platters Thanksgiving mantel atthepicketfence.com

How absolutely blessed and privileged I am to be a mom to my two precious kiddos.

The joyful feeling I experience in watching them grow into these incredible, hysterical, marvelous little human beings.

The feeling of being so completely loved by my husband of 15 years. How content we are to sit together in the evenings and talk about absolutely everything or absolutely nothing.

peel and stick chalkboard paper on vintage silver trays from atthepicketfence.com

I look at those platters and know I will be sharing them with you here and feel so unbelievably grateful to you, that you take the time to come along on this journey with me as I share my heart and my home.

Thanksgiving-mantel-with-chalkboard-platters atthepicketfence.com

And, most of all, I am thankful.

Thankful that I am totally and completely undeserving of all of these things and yet God has given them to me.

I like to think that I don’t take them for granted…but I’m sure that I do.

But this year, I will be walking past that wall of thanksgiving every day.

And it will serve as a gentle reminder to stop and remember just how much I truly have to be thankful for.

 Oh, and here are two  more thing I’m thankful for…

I’m thankful that the peel-and-stick chalkboard platters were so easy that they totally qualify to be part of our 5 Minute Craft Series which happens here every Friday!

5 minute crafts peel and stick chalkboard platters

And I’m also thankful that I’m participating in the Bountiful Harvest Blog Hop today

bountiful harvest blog hop

With all of these incredible ladies!

Coffee and Pumpkin Tiramisu at Cupcakes and Crinoline

Free Thanksgiving Printables at Yellow Bliss Road

Thanksgiving Mantel at At The Picket Fence

DIY Burlap Silverware Holder at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Thanksgiving Goodie Bags at Domestically Speaking

Simple Thanksgiving Centerpiece at French Country Cottage

Thanksgiving Tablescape at Setting for Four

As always, thank you so much for meeting me here At the Picket Fence,

1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B

30 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Crafts, Decorating, Mantels, Thanksgiving Tagged With: mantel, simple holiday decorating, Thanksgiving

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim says

    November 8, 2013 at 5:21 AM

    Well, I need to check out that peel and stick chalkboard stuff. I still need someone with good penmanship though. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Kristin says

    November 8, 2013 at 5:22 AM

    Love your mantel and the blessings plates are wonderful.

    Reply
  3. Heather says

    November 8, 2013 at 5:46 AM

    Vanessa – A gorgeous mantel made by a Gorgeous Mama!!! I’m so thankful to have met and know you two lovely talented ladies! We may be separated by many miles but our friendship is close at heart! Happy Thanksgiving Heather and Vanessa!! xo Heather

    Reply
  4. Martina says

    November 8, 2013 at 5:51 AM

    I LOVE IT Vanessa!! The silver pieces look beautiful hanging above it and I love the pretty display of pumpkins and raffia you have on it’s shelf too!

    Reply
  5. Leslie Stewart @ House on the Way says

    November 8, 2013 at 6:00 AM

    Love your mantel and the chalkboard platters are perfect!

    Reply
  6. Carol Reddin says

    November 8, 2013 at 7:32 AM

    Very special, Vanessa! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  7. cathy phelps says

    November 8, 2013 at 7:39 AM

    please tell me where I can purchase the peel and stick chalkboard paper! does hobby lobby carry it? I live in Kentucky, if that helps.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      November 8, 2013 at 7:55 AM

      Hi Cathy! I purchased mine at Michael’s Crafts but I wouldn’t be surprised if Hobby Lobby has it too!

      Reply
  8. Jeanie says

    November 8, 2013 at 8:04 AM

    I love this! A quick and easy way to add the sentiments of Thanksgiving that looks so pretty, too!

    Reply
  9. Shelia says

    November 8, 2013 at 8:09 AM

    You’re just the most creative one! This is lovely.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  10. kristin says

    November 8, 2013 at 8:32 AM

    THis is so pretty and I love all the wording! ok where did you get the chalkboard paper? Hoping Michael’s has it, I have a project I wan’t to do but I can only find it online. Hmm, now you have me hungry for some chex mix 🙂 So happy to be partying with you today.
    XO

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      November 8, 2013 at 1:08 PM

      Thanks sweet friend! And yes I got mine at Michael’s over where they have the cork boards, etc. 🙂 I’m hungry for chex mix now too! LOL!

      Reply
  11. Marty Walden says

    November 8, 2013 at 8:54 AM

    I totally used the same product at my husband’s surprise graduation party and loved it! Love your wall!

    Reply
  12. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says

    November 8, 2013 at 11:14 AM

    So pretty Vanessa & the fact that it’s super easy makes it even more gorgeous!

    Reply
  13. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    November 8, 2013 at 4:58 PM

    What a great and beautiful idea!…I am grateful for many of the same things you are…like that first sip of coffee in the morning and taking off the jeans and putting on the sweats…love your blessing platters…

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      November 8, 2013 at 7:27 PM

      Nothing quite like sweats, right Shirley! Thanks so much for coming by today! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Mary Ann says

    November 8, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    So beautiful and creative. Where did you find all the silver trays?

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      November 8, 2013 at 7:27 PM

      Hi Mary Ann! I’ve collected the trays over time from different vintage and thrift stores. They’ve been used in lots of different ways around my home! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Courtney says

    November 8, 2013 at 7:07 PM

    Oh so much fun~ love this idea Vanessa!! Pinning away and happy to be partying with you!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      November 8, 2013 at 7:26 PM

      Thank you friend!

      Reply
  16. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    November 8, 2013 at 7:42 PM

    What a beautiful post! Your list is quite long… yes, you are truly blessed! LOVE the manyel and the chalkboard paper!

    Reply
  17. Cindy says

    November 8, 2013 at 9:54 PM

    Me too, love my morning coffee! Sweet mantle, so much to be thankful for!!!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  18. Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline says

    November 9, 2013 at 2:20 PM

    Oh my goodness ~ you totally rocked my craft world. I had NO idea the peel-and-stick chalkboard ‘stuff’ even existed ~ big woot to my oh so temporary style of decorating. I love the sentiments on each and every platter, your lovely mantel and I am so very happy to be partying, hopping and being Thankful with You.

    Blessings!
    Mary Beth

    Reply
  19. angie says

    November 10, 2013 at 4:44 AM

    A wonderful expression of all the things we take for granted. A great reminder of what we have to be “thankful” for! Just perfect.

    Reply
  20. Heather - Chickabug says

    November 13, 2013 at 9:12 AM

    What a wonderful way to fill the heart of a home with positive messages. Thank you! : )

    Reply
  21. Pam @diy Design Fanatic says

    September 5, 2014 at 11:57 AM

    Your chalkboard silver platters are wonderful! Awesome reminder as we enter a season of thankfulness!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Coffee and Pumpkin Tiramisu ~ A Bountiful Harvest | Cupcakes and Crinoline says:
    November 8, 2013 at 6:20 AM

    […] Heather and Vanessa at At The Picket Fence […]

    Reply
  2. Free Printables for Thanksgiving - Yellow Bliss Road says:
    November 8, 2013 at 8:53 AM

    […] Thanksgiving Mantel at At The Picket Fence […]

    Reply
  3. Thanksgiving Goodie Bags Printable ~ A Bountiful Harvest Blog Hop - Domestically Speaking says:
    November 8, 2013 at 9:22 AM

    […] Thanksgiving Mantel at At The Picket Fence […]

    Reply
  4. How to Create Simple Vignettes in Your Home - At The Picket Fence says:
    November 11, 2013 at 6:59 AM

    […] the perfect vignette would include raffia and candlesticks and pumpkins all in a soft palette with thankful platters hanging […]

    Reply

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