A Winter Mantel

Sweet Tweet!

I have discovered the joys of after Christmas shopping. I must say...I've never done it much before.

I'm always too busy working to have time to shop the After Christmas Sales.

But this year...since I'm working a lot in Pier 1...

I can't seem to resist those can't pass them up bargains.

Hence...my little winter mantel scape shown here today.

It all started with those sweet little fat birds.

They were cute at full price but I didn't need them.

At 75% off plus my discount....they just had to come home with me.

Same for the little bird's nest. 

I don't decorate for Christmas in a natural way....no real branches and stuff in my Christmas decor.

So it's fun to break out the natural stuff for January.

I had the bits of greenery bought at Michaels before Xmas cause they were just too pretty to not get.

I added some of my mercury glass and...

twigs I brought in from the yard.

I splattered some white paint on them and snowy glitter...and they became the perfect thing 

for my little fat birds to rest upon.

But of course...now I'm thinking of Valentine Decor so this will change up soon.

Speaking of bargains....

I bought these the other day at 90% off

They were less than $1 each!

I bought 8. They will turn up on my Thanksgiving table next year.

But I have to say it was not much fun buying pumpkins when the store was full of 

glorious Easter stuff.

But I'll be glad I got them next fall.

Mainly, I bought candles at 90% off.

That is fun....because you can burn them without an inkling of guilt.

So...Mom went back to the surgeon today and she got a passing grade.

She is doing fine. She had fluid around her lungs and that had to be drained off but 

that is a pretty common thing...according to the doctor.

But after going to the Heart Hospital, having the little procedure and running around a little.

(We made a quick stop at Ross)

She was very worn out and ready to get back in bed.

She didn't feel so hot.

Her recovery continues.....

pretty good considering the surgery was only three weeks ago.

She has agreed to stay with me awhile longer.

She thought she wanted to go home very soon but today convinced her she needs to take it easy 

for another two weeks at least.

The surgeon said really 8 weeks before she'd feel decent enough to be on her own.

That's ok. 

sharing at

Jennifer Rizzo: Fabulously Creative Friday

Tweet

Christmas Mantel 2012

Sugar Coated Christmas

I finally got my tree and mantel decorations up yesterday.

This post is devoted to my mantel.

My tree and dining room will follow later in the week.

I wanted to do something different this year on my mantel.

Somehow it developed into a house and trees scene again but totally different than what I've done in the past.

I used a putz house given to me by my good friend Shannon H.

She gave it to me last year for Christmas. It's surrounded by bottle brush trees.

Sit back and view - lots of photos showing the details.

I put up my white tree again this year...and so I HAD to use white garland.

Luckily I have lots of it I bought on sale one year at Target after Xmas.

The sparkly garland I bought years ago also super discounted at Michael's.

This is the first time I used it.

I never intended to use it on the fireplace but I found it in my stash and on a whim 

hung it and loved it.

I originally was just going to use the large icicles.

These were also in my stash of Christmas stuff I haven't used in a very long time.

I pulled them out of my stuff that was put away in the garage.

I was planning on doing a more streamlined design this year....but so much for that.

I just kept adding stuff to it.

The wreath has been years in the making.

I keep adding more ornaments to it each year - all vintage shiny brite.

My blogging friend, Valorie Hart aka The Visual Vamp sent me the precious

little box decorated with a porcelain pup.

She said it just looked like me when she saw my decorations two years ago

and popped it in the mail to me after Christmas.

I was thrilled to get him.

Like I said...I just kept adding to the mantel decor.

The little bottle brush stars came from Pier 1 last year...my friend Petra came in one night

and I told her I loved them but would not be getting because I wasn't even putting up a tree.

One night she brought me a sack of them.

I couldn't wait to use them this year.

Those bottle brush snowflakes came from Target several years ago...after Christmas...super cheap.

I thought I couldn't like my Christmas mantel any better than the one I did in 2010

but I like this one more.

See last year's here...

Yes, I love this year's more.

Totally inspired by this putz house.

This pillow is really the only new thing I bought this year and it came from....Pier 1...where else?

I wanted it last year but we sold out before Christmas.

I made sure and grabbed one early this year.

I bought the pom pom fur throw there last year.

All my posts this week will be about my own Holiday decor.

So be sure to come back...oh...I'm having fun now.....

sharing at

 

Fabulously Creative Friday Linky Party at Jennifer Rizzo

Tweet