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

The Weekend Project: Do It Yourself Burlap Garland

I have fallen behind in my "The Weekend Projects".  There have been a few projects I have been working on but not really anything blog worthy.  But in an effort to stay on track....here is a project I worked on last week.

Thought it might be some inspiration for those of you who will be decorating for Christmas after Thanksgiving meal or in efforts to avoid Black Friday.  Or who knows, maybe you are like me and already have a tree up.  

{Easy Burlap Garland}

You will need:

A yard or two of burlap (really depends on what you are adorning)

Scissors

Fishing Line (yes you read that right)

Threading Needle

Lay burlap out flat (don't worry about the creases)

Cut burlap in strips.  Mine are roughly 4 inches wide. 

 I did not measure them out.  They are very rustic. 

 I just eyeballed them and went with it.

Thread fishing line through needle and tie several knots to secure line to needle

Then fold your strip of burlap in accordion style and thread your needle through the center.

Once you have threaded all of the burlap you need, cut the fishing line to your desired length.

Tie a loop at each end of fishing line (these will make the garland easy to hang)

I like using fishing line because it has some give to it.  It is clear.  And you can space the burlap out along the line to get the precise look you are wanting.

Secure loops to your tree branches and spread the burlap out

And yes....if you read my blog last year at Christmas time you will note this is the tree that had a section of lights out.  Never did get that fixed and another section went out this year. But the tree is still good....so I just grabbed a few strands and ran them through.  This $70 Target special has been going strong for 8 years now....not gonna let a little light problem get in the way.=)

And, I repurposed the Burlap Christmas Tree Skirt from last year and made garland this year!

So there is my start on Christmas before Thanksgiving!!!!

I can't believe it happened.

Thanksgiving is MY MOST FAVORITE holiday ever

and in someways I feel like I have cheated it.

I linked this project up over at Hi Sugar Plum

Do It Yourself: HomeMade Popcorn

What do you do when...

1.  You have no instant popcorn in the pantry

&

2.  You can't find the cord to your popcorn popper

.....You improvise

Our kids have been really sick.  There are some yucky, nasty viruses out there right now.  We have taken it slow and they have not eaten much lately.  Their one request the other night was popcorn, hot chocolate and The Polar Express.  These kids love Christmas 

{but then again.... who doesn't?}

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So here is how I made 

Do It Yourself: Homemade Popcorn

4 T of canola oil into a large pot

1 cup of kernels

pinch of sea salt

Pour canola oil into large pot.

Pour kernels into large pot.  It is important that the oil be COLD when you add the kernels.  Make sure all kernels are laying against the bottom of the pan and not piled on top of one another.

Turn stove on medium. 

Grab a lid.  When those kernels start popping you are gonna need something to keep them contained.

You may have to move the pot back and forth on the stove top to ensure that you evenly distribute heat and get all of the kernels popped.

Just like instant....when the kernels slow in popping....you are done.

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They did enjoy hot chocolate {but it was instant}.  

And The Polar Express....they loved it like it was the first time they had seen it!

Have you entered for a chance to win the November Giveaway?

Click on this post to enter.

You have until Friday.

Easy Burlap Christmas Tree Skirt

We have a slim line tree who's home is right beside our patio door.

With 2 little ones and 2 huge dogs, someone is always running in and out.

I needed a tree skirt that could get "messed up"

or a better way to put it....

kid and dog friendly"

So I made this 

Easy Burlap Christmas Tree Skirt

My Favorite Aspects of this skirt....

Less than 30 minutes to make (perfect naptime project)

Less than 10 dollars to make 

If it gets messed up....OH WELL (I can whip out another one)

Kid Friendly

Dog Friendly

HAPPY MOMMY!

You will need:

A long piece of burlap (will really depend on how big of a skirt you need to make)

Scissors

Yarn

Floral Wire (because I did not have a knitting needle)

Cut a super long piece of yarn and tie it to a piece of floral wire

Then start sewing

It does not have to be perfect to be beautiful

"The Nester"

Yours should look like this.

I promise this is not a long project

When you get to the end start cinching it up 

by pulling the string taught through the fabric

Should look nice and tight when you have fully cinched the fabric

Take it over to your tree and start positioning

I tied a knot at the both ends of the burlap string

Then I just fluffed the burlap a bit and made it look nice

View from the top

Yes some of my lights are out.

Gotta get the hubby to find the blown fuse

View from the bottom

Nice, tidy, pretty

and most importantly....

Part of our KID FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS!