Voila!

What a difference a few days and some artwork can make. Thank you to everyone for your advice and comments regarding the mantle. Here is the finished product: I found the painting at Hobby Lobby and had a 40% off coupon so I got a great deal! It is really pretty. I liked the shape...it was the perfect shape for our mantle. Then my mom and I went out to Garden Ridge and I found the clear hurricanes (I think this is what they are called). We thought it might be pretty to do candles in 2 of them and a flower type arrangement in the other. We actually got the idea from the box the hurricanes were in. We bought some spanish moss, some rocks, and a silk orchid. I love the way it turned out and my mom even made me a similar arrangement with the left over stuff in one of my low, rectangular shaped vases to put on the table in our foyer to tie it all together.

I also found this painting at Ross of all places! It was $30 so I got it to go on the wall to the left of our TV. I love the bright colors! All in all, I did the 2 paintings and the stuff on the mantle for $150. John was quite pleased with that! Almost a year later, our house is finally starting to look like a home.