My Christmas Mantel 2014

My kids are soooo happy!

They have been asking and asking and asking WHEN am I going to start Christmas decorating?!

Well, the wait it over!

Yep.  

I decorated my mantel for Christmas.

 

One space down, several more to go!

I have to say, I think this is my favorite Christmas mantel I’ve decorated in this house.  

It’s a little bit rustic and a little bit traditional.  

 

I adore green and red at Christmas.  I think it will always be my style.

 

You’ll notice, the decor is pretty simple.

I think it’s my mantra this year — “Simple, simple!”

 

In year’s past, I’ve had a lot more garland and more “stuff.”  

This year, I didn’t want to fuss or have the mantel compete with the tree that will eventually sit right next to the fireplace.

Did you notice I got a wild hair and exchanged my usual chippy arched window for a new chalkboard I made?

 

I made it the same way I made the one in my dining room.  I used an open-back frame, some hard board cut to measure from Lowe’s and some chalkboard paint.  So easy!

(By the way, I did the chalkboard writing free-hand, but I have a great tutorial here showing you how to make your own beautiful chalkboard art with no artistic skills required.  However, if you just want to buy one already made, I fashioned mine after one found in Dear Lillie’s online shop. It’s quite a bit smaller than mine, however.  This one is huge and measures 30″ x 40″)

 

The nutcrackers are a new find from Target.  I couldn’t resist them.  

I love their traditional, yet rustic appeal.

 

The kids helped me pick them out.

I think we may have started a new tradition — collecting nut crackers each year.  

I think it would be cute to line them all up on the mantel, each having it’s own story of how and where we bought him.

I love traditions like that.

 

Maybe that’s why I love red and green so much.  

It’s tradition.

 

Full disclosure — I will probably tweak this space once the tree is up and/or all the Christmas boxes are hauled out of the attic, but right now I love it.  Bring on the holiday season!

 

Looking for more Christmas inspiration?

Be sure to visit all the other blogs on the Christmas Mantel Tour this week.

Thank you to Sonya and Melissa for inviting me to take part in this tour! 

 

Today’s Line-up:

Cherished Bliss
Domestically Speaking
Lilacs and Longhorns — you’re here!
Two Thirty Five Designs
The Happier Homemaker
My Soulful Home

 

To see yesterday’s posts:

Monday, Nov. 10

At Home With the Barkers
On Sutton Place
All Things Heart and Home
Stone Gable
The Woodgrain Cottage

 

Coming up tomorrow:

 

Wednesday:

Top this Top That

Refresh Restyle

Town and Country Living

Setting for Four

At the Picket Fence

 

Wishing you a day filled with joy!

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