Christmas Mantel: Lighten Up a Dark Mantel

We moved this last year which always makes for awkwardness 

in decorating for holidays.  

Things that had special places in our old home sometimes look out of place in our new home.

Our old mantel was white and very straight lines.

Our new mantel is dark with stacked stone creating a very masculine look.

I often find lightening up this mantel a challenge....

Here is my best shot at our Christmas Mantel in a new house

 Step 1: Keep our old white stockings

 Step 2: Turn the spotlight on the mantel to incorporate some light

{kinda feels like a heavenly glow}

 Step 3: Add some light garland.

I chose this shimmer gold and silver circle garland from my shop

Each are 8 ft long and fit perfectly along the mantel

Step 4: Add a little shimmer to your stockings.

I added these 4" Gold shimmer letters

and tied them on with some cream and gold bakers twine.

 {that moment you realize you only have 4 stockings and there are now 5 in your family}

I can not find these stockings at Pottery Barn any longer.  

If you have any leads on where I could find one, please let me know!

Bad momma!

Step 5: Add your favorite "toppings" to the mantel.

These green and silver magnolias I purchased at Michaels several years ago.

The pine cones came from Hobby Lobby.  I debated spraying them cream and dusting 

their tips with gold glitter but decided against.

Step 6: Add one of your favorite Christmas pieces

I added this framed print from Luke 2.

A special treasure my mom gave me a few years ago.

 And because our first babies were a Vizsla and a Weimeraner.....

They have stockings too.

Theirs hang the opposite direction from ours

but add a sweet pop of red

 There is no way to get around the TV above our fireplace......

Step 7: Turn off the TV

&

Enjoy time with your beautiful family.

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Go over and check out more Christmas Mantel ideas with

TEN JUNE

&

OUR FIFTH HOUSE

Happy 4th of July

My two favorite holidays are

4th of July

&

Thanksgiving

Both have deep American roots.  

I remember the summer I lived in China

and celebrated our country's independence with just a handful of Americans.

I remember the emotion I felt so far away from my homeland.

I remember hearing the Star Spangled Banner that day and tears welling up in my eyes.

I remember how odd it was not to eat BBQ, see fireworks, and no sight of American flags lining the streets.

I hope today you will celebrate BIG and enjoy plenty to 

.

 We are celebrating the 4th with a lot of rain.

Looks like our annual decorating of the wagon will have to wait until the rain is over. 

While our kids were gone last week, I had sometime to put up some festive fun

I finally got to display the copy of the Declaration of Independence 

I bought in Williamsburg several years ago.

I went with pinwheels and accordions for a mantel banner

Shopped my house for some read flowers and put them in a glass vase 

I claimed out of an old barn earlier this week.

I left my starfish wrapped candles up.....

because I long to go to the beach this summer.....

but it is not going to happen (insert sad face)

HaPpPy BiRtHdAy, America!!!!!