Pink Butterfly Spring Mantel

This Spring, I’m really loving the sweet pops of pink.  To decorate the mantel for Spring, a special heirloom is the focal point.  Let’s put together a special butterfly Spring mantel with sweet pops of pink.

When I decided to decorate for Spring, I didn’t really have a plan.  I knew I wanted to add touches of pink into the decor and that was it.  So I went into my Monica Closet and pulled out all the pink flowers and decor that I could find.  Then I remembered something special I recently brought back from my beloved Memaw’s house: a pair of retro vintage pink butterflies.  Instantly I knew these somehow would become the focal point of my mantel.

About the Pink Butterflies

These pink butterflies were hanging up in my Memaw’s mid-century original pink bathroom for as long as I can remember.  Her house sat vacant for a few months and then it was time to begin packing up her home and get it ready to sell.  I knew it would be hard, as I was really close to her, and that pain of losing her never really went away.

Going through the life of your loved one – deciding what you will keep, donate or sell.  I’m not really sure how we even did it, but we got it done, and I came home with lots of her things.  Digging through over sixty years of trends, antique heirlooms and irreplaceable family photos and recipes.  Learning things you never knew about that person. It was a lot and I told Mr. Sweet Southern Oaks that in a way, it felt like I lost her all over again.  But I have some of her things to keep those memories alive.  Like these butterflies.

So, back to the pink butterflies.  My sister said, “you should take these and put them in a nursery one day.”  What she didn’t know, was that I had the exact same thought!  So I took the pink butterflies with high hopes of hanging them in a sweet baby girl’s nursery, who will someday be named after my precious Memaw.

I did a little research on the butterflies, and I believe they were purchased sometime in the early to mid ’70s.  They’re not worth much and were actually originally a cream color.  I never could find pink ones online!  Later, I asked my Mom about the butterflies, and she said she had painted them pink for Memaw so they would match her bathroom.  And there they stayed on the wall for over fifty years.

Pink Butterfly Spring Mantel

I decided to keep the three vintage windows as the anchor piece on the mantel.  When starting a mantel design, you want to choose a large piece as an anchor.  You could use large mirrors, a large sign, or some kind of architectural salvage, such as windows, for your anchor piece.

Originally, I wanted for the butterflies to hang onto the windows because it was the focal point, but Mr. Sweet Southern Oaks thought the weight of the butterflies may not hold on the windows.  I definitely didn’t want anything to happen to the butterflies!  Instead, we hung two Command Strips on one side of the wall, which will hold the butterflies in place.  I wanted it to look like the butterflies were flying right above the windows.

Then on either side of the mantel are two thrifted pink vases that we had at our wedding.  Next, faux pink azaleas are placed inside of the vases to add a little height.  Finally, an Easter banner with a pop of pink is added to the mantel.

It’s kind of a clean, minimal design for the season.  This butterfly Spring mantel has special memories attached to it though.  Everytime I sit on the couch and look up at the butterflies, I smile and remember the wonderful memories with my Memaw.

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