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SPACER

Friday, December 4, 2009

My Christmas Mantle...

Here it is. Don't you wish you could keep Christmas up longer? I think I will start earlier this year. I did it on the cheap, used mostly things I already had. I got the big gold mirror from Ross on clearance for $11. I intend to paint the frame, but it worked so great for my Christmas setting. The Tree on the left is my fall/Christmas double purpose decorating. You can see it on my fall mantel too... The apothecary jars have the filling switched out. The Santa is a craft from years back that I made. The Pine cone tree is a 90% clearance from last year. $3. And the only new item is the gold star which I got on %50 off from Hobby Lobby. I like how it turned out this year.
I am definitely a convert to the apothecary jars. I just dumped the fall fixings into a ziplock, and dumped the Christmas fixings into the jar.

Same here. And for the filler, I just chopped up a pretty garland I got for 90% off last year at Joanne's. It has pretty greenery, and pretty pine cones with crystal glitter chunks. Also the sweet white berries, all from the same garland. I think it turned out really pretty. Plus I will keep it out after Christmas, because it is still winter.



Same with this one, it was in my fall mantel too. Same chopped up garland, but added a strand of red wood beads to the bottom.




I used to be a crazy person and did a lot of cross stitch. But I found this line of super pretty patterns. (lavender something?) They are the most complicated patterns I have ever done, but so pretty. I imaging my girls will fight over them after I die. This is probably 60 hours of my time. Crazy, I wish I had that time to craft now.



Isn't he a perdy vintage looking Santa? Love him. Maybe I should keep him up after winter too???
Ahhh, bless this snowman's heart. I made these two stockings right after I got married a 11 years ago. I think the snowman is for me...

This funny dog is for my husband. I copied these 2 designs from pottery barn way back when. I intended to make a whole new batch of stockings for us this year, but it didn't happen. Maybe I should by all the fixings this year after Christmas, and make them right away. No crafting gets done in December right?


Here is the full view fire and all. Do you like?


Linking at The Shabby Chic Cottage, The inspired room, Finding Fabulous, A Soft Place to Land , amylouwho , southern hospitality funky junk, hooked on houses and Miss Mustard seed

40 comments:

Amy said...

GORGE! Love ♥ the mirror & star

Auntie Em said...

Your mantle looks like it could be featured on a Christmas card. It's beautiful, and I love the way you have multiple items that you convert with the seasons.

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

What a beautiful holiday mantle! Great job! And your cross stitch? SO LOVELY!

Anonymous said...

Your mantle looks wonderful. I agree with you, I wish the Christmas season was just a little bit longer. I love all the sparkle.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Your mantle looks great! Love the apothecary jars! I did the same thing with mine; just dumped the fall filler into a large ziploc bag. I used to do a lot of cross-stitch, too {in fact, I know I have one floating around the past few years that I never finished}. I miss having that time to do it.

Megan said...

I love it too! I love your cross stitch Santa, thank heavens it still looks fab and not out of style :) Apothecary jars are genius. Good work!

Sara said...

what's not to love?! thrifty, homespun, lovely!!

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

Oh, I like! I don't decorate our house until the 22nd so I'm really enjoying looking at all the others and getting into the holiday mood.

Kim B said...

Lavender and Lace. He's beautiful! You did a lovely job on him!!

Love that mantle decor!

Morgan said...

AMAZING santa. I love him very much. :)
Also, I do a lot of "switching out" when the season ends, like you did with your apothecary jars. So I am a fan!

grammajill said...

What beautiful mantle decorations!You should enter it in some contest. I love the cross stich. Very creative!

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Hey what beautiful decorations for your mantel. And that Santa cross stitch is gorgeous. I cross stitch and did a nativity scene that took a couple years to finish but I'm in love with it. Great job...everything is just beautiful.
Blessings,
Debbie

gina said...

It looks so festive and cozy with the fire burning!!

Miss Mustard Seed said...

Everything is sooo lovely! I really like your arrangement and how you used the apothocary jars. And I also love picking apart a premade garland or wreath to turn it into something else. Great job! Just beautiful!

Lisa L. said...

Oh, I love your apothecary jars. Your mantle is lovely! I'm still working on mine -
http://attemptingtobecrafty.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-trees.html

Unknown said...

I love ANYTHING in an apothecary jar!

Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

I love your Christmas Mantle..seeing it is getting me motivated to do something about mine..love the apothecary jars!

Miss Mustard Seed said...

You're one of my FFF winners. Go check it out!

Unknown said...

Your mantle is beautiful! Mind if i borrow some ideas? :)

Phyllis @Around the House said...

Love the way the mantle turned out, love the jars, I have a passion for the jars, so inviting, I am a new follower, come for a visit...

Shannon said...

Your mantel looks beautiful!

seven thirty three said...

Thank is gorgeous. I am so showing this to my husband as an offensive to wanting to replace our existing mantel!!!

Thank you so much for sharing this post!

--
733blog.blogspot.com

Lesly said...

Very pretty!

Pokey said...

Wow! You have a lot of homemades, and a collection that clicks beautifully here. The cross stitch Santa is great, and I love the star!

Carla said...

Picture perfect! Makes me want a mantel just for decorating.

Amanda - Small Home Big Start said...

Your mantle looks gorgeous, like it could be in a home decor magazine. I love it.

If you get a chance, stop by my blog today and enter my children's Christmas book giveaway.
http://smallhomebigstart.blogspot.com/2009/12/gift-ideas-for-kids-gift-of-reading.html

BumbleBee Bagz said...

absolutely love the apothecary jars...I may have to try that!

Catherine said...

Love the look of your mantle and that Christmas Santa cross stitch is beautiful and worth all those hours you put in.

Terrie said...

I'm a cross stitcher too so really appreciate the effort that went into that great Santa. Charming mantel and isn't it great when we can make something lovely from inexpensive goodies we pick up here and there?
Terrie -YourDecoratingHotline

Lisa said...

Beautiful! Apothecary jars are so popular right now!

Sara said...

That is so pretty...Love to see places all decorated...

SueWis said...

You have some super cute decorations!

Leslie said...

this looks beautiful...i love the stockings.

Nina... said...

I love your thrifty style and sensibilities. Such great ideas. Your mantle is worthy of of a BH&G cover!! Happy holidays!

Rue said...

Yes, I DO like, very much so! I haven't done cross stitch in years, but you made me want to again ;)

rue

Kimberly Tripp said...

very pretty! I really need to put something in front of my big mirror on the mantle so that I see more than just my ceiling fan in it!

Heather said...

Your mantle is beautiful! great job and thanks for sharing!! It's stunning! merry Christmas!

june@craftyniche said...

Wow, your mantle looks amazing!

Little Lovables said...

so, pretty, I love it!!

on the eastern journey said...

What a beautiful mantle! I love your stockings. I think they're a sweet memory from your first Christmas together. It doesn't have to be perfect!