Christmas Mantel 2010

A Little Winter Wonderland

My mantel is finally done...but subject to change as I decorate the rest of the house.

I kind of add a bit here and there all over.

And normally, the last thing I decorate is the chandelier but this year...

trying to have my mantel up and complete first...I went ahead and did.

I may decide to switch things around.

But I'll post updates, if I do.

I added the little pompom garland thing at the last minute. 

I just thought it needed something.

But I had no pompoms, so I made some by rolling cotton batting in my palms.

They are strung on fishing line.

I like the concept...but may refine.

I think I'll go buy pompoms and dust them in glitter.

But might just nix it all together if I get around to making new stockings.

Or I might put my old stockings up...which are aqua with trees on them and totally still go.

They just look store bought...which they are...so I want to make some.

 I have not unpacked them yet.

Chandi is decked out but I'll probably add a few more ornaments after I do the tree.

I love these little cardboard houses and have collected them for years as well as little snowmen and elves.

Funny thing is...when I was a kid...I hated all this stuff.

It seemed so cheap. And they were...this sort of thing cost like 10 cents new.

And they were old when I was a kid....and I didn't like old. Well, I liked antique and they weren't antique, so I didn't like them.

But then as an adult I became drawn to all the ornaments that when I was a kid I didn't like.

I've done Christmases full of Department 56 Villages

(all packed safely away in case I decide I want to do again)

and I've done big Victorian Christmases with tons of paper scrap ornaments and antique santas and elegant glass but about 10 years ago,

I started obsessing about the more ordinary. 

The ornaments that weren't necessarily expensive to begin with.

Like Shiny Brite bulbs with flocking and Merry Christmas printed on them.

If they are tarnished...all the better.

So for the last few years..I've been doing a 1930's/40's type Christmas. 

You'll understand when you see my tree.

I used to buy these little elves for a few dollars but they are becoming more and more expensive. 

Good thing is...I have plenty of them. 

So now I only buy when I find them cheap.

Of course these stocking hangers are new - bought at Target last year.

One for each weenie.

Speaking of weenies...

Look at my little elves that helped me with this.

Well, they helped while I took photos.

Newman...being so good! 

He just sat on the ottoman while I took photos...usually he jumps from sofa to chair to ottoman 

and back and forth. 

But today...there was Christmas stuff all over the sofa and chairs and only the ottoman was clear

so he had to just sit and be good.

I think that's a bit of snow glitter on his nose.

And since I got a good shot of Newman....I had to get one of Harvey too.

But he kept getting closer and closer to me...I couldn't get him to sit still...

He was very excited by all the stuff in the room.

Not that he moves very fast when he's excited...

his being excited consists of a tail wag that continues all through his body. 

And he kept jumping towards me with his little hop hop...

he doesn't get more than an inch off the ground when he hops because he's so tubby.

It's too cute. Both were very good boys today.

I always put roll out cotton snow on my mantel because I'm scared of scratches.

I used a round candle holder to make the scalloped edges.

I just pressed the candle holder down twice beside each other and could cut the scallop 

by following the imprint it left. 

I did this all along the edge....two scallops at a time...much better than drawing it on with a pattern.

More photos to come as I continue the decorating marathon.

My favorite thing about Christmas is the decorating.

So I often decorate right up till the day of.

Continuing to add.

Last year I was snowed in on Christmas Day.

Just me and the weenies with nothing but a can of pumpkin to eat.

They had dog food but I shared my can of pumpkin.

All my neighbors had left town or gone to relatives the day before...

and I could have gone next door and raided their pantry and they wouldn't have cared.

But I just didn't feel that was right.

So I shared my can of pumpkin with the dogs and then I proceeded to decorate some more 

on Christmas Day!

I'd been working so much that I didn't have it all just so...

So I enjoyed tweaking it.

I also made vintage looking bottle brush trees that day which I'll show soon.

Now I'm off to look at everyone else's mantels. 

I wouldn't let myself look until mine was up too.

I love seeing everyone's Christmas decorations, don't you?

Isn't this blogging thing just the best!?!?!?!?

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