I finally got my mantel decorated for Easter.  I decorated it with Dollar Store items. It’s nothing spectacular, but it feels like spring and the kids love the eggs and bunny.  To them that means Easter Bunny will be hoping down the bunny trail soon. Colored eggs, marshmallow peeps, baby chicks, chocolate bunnies, egg hunts and a family feast are forthcoming.  Excitement is in the air.

I made the wreath from Dollar Store Items last year.  You can check out My Frugal Easter Wreath here.  Additionally, I purchased the small buckets and plastic eggs from the Dollar Store.  The Spring sign is from Target’s bargain bins.  I actually purchased the buckets to house my herb plants this summer, however, I didn’t see the point of them just sitting around until summer.  I loved the color, and they matched the Spring sign from Target.

Also, I had planned to paint the sign white, but decided to leave everything as it was and use the painted white branches in the orange buckets to offset some of the bright colors. The branches had been used in my winter mantel scene previously.

Now to put everything together. I thought I would keep the Easter egg theme going in the wreath.  So, I decided to use the branches for egg trees.  Furthermore,  I also reuse the decorative grass from year to year.  When Easter is over, I just scoop it up and put it in a grocery bag to store.  I placed a layer over the mantel. Than I placed the Dollar Store gravel that I had used for another project in the pails and arranged the branches.  They were perfect for making the egg trees.

I used ribbon to hang the eggs on the branches/twigs. I have yards of ribbon stored away to hang the eggs. You can use twine, yard or whatever you have on hand. I cut pieces about 6 inches long and hot glued them onto the eggs. Make sure you’re happy with the length, you will bending it in half to glue onto the egg. Glue one end to the egg and than glue the other end to the piece on the egg. Note: I tried using craft glue, it didn’t work very well.  I love my hot glue gun. The scattered flowers fall off a wreath.  Rather than gun them back on, I saved them with good intentions. Glad I did, because they make a great accent to the spring mantel.

I picked up this adorable bunny at Michael’s for 50% off.  Bargains at 70% off are usually what I wait for, but they only had one so I grabbed it.  Isn’t it adorable?  I plan to fill the bucket, a Goodwill find for $1.25, with bunny treats. Stay tuned for that post.  What are some of your favorite Easter decorating items?