This week, I’ll be sharing several homemade Christmas ideas with you! I have been a busy Christmas beaver this past weekend, and I’m excited to show off my Christmas decorations. Today, I wanted to share my Christmas mantel and remind you of my mantel link party coming up this Thursday, 12/8. If you haven’t started your mantel yet, get cracking!
I love the way my mantel turned out this year! I was a little nervous beginning because I really had no clear vision, but things just came together. I decided to leave the book pages that I used for my Halloween mantel background and then stole my foam board chalkboard from the master bedroom as the main focal point. Using upholstery tacks and white grosgrain ribbon, I secured three dollar store wreaths (purchased a few years ago for my coastal Christmas bathroom) to the board. I have the worst handwriting on the planet, so I did my best with the “peace on earth” :).
The vintage-inspired Christmas invite was a $.50 find four years ago at a store I love to stalk called Gabriel Brothers. If you have one near you, you’re lucky and you should be stalking it as well!
I picked the Christmas trees up at the Christmas Tree Shop. They were $3 or $4 each, and I can’t remember where the reindeer came from. My paperwhites (which smell awful by the way) bloomed just in time! The mantel seemed to be missing something, so I dug two up out of their original container and transplanted them into little buckets. Â They are so beautiful….and stinky.
The stocking holders are from Pottery Barn. The picture mats were originally red. so I recovered them in book pages to match my book page background and complement the overall theme.
My stockings were an incredibly easy DIY project! To make the stockings, I used four dollar store white stockings, some white decorative ribbon and trim, and a dollar store pillow case. I cut the end off of the pillow case and created a ruffle on my stocking by folding and gluing into place. To hide the rough edge, I glued a strip of ruffly ribbon over the seam.
For the middle stockings, I used decorative trim purchased at Joann’s and on the last stocking (Matt’s) I just used the pillow case and some white grosgrain ribbon. I knew he wouldn’t appreciate a white ruffle on his stocking, so I tried to accommodate his manliness ;).
One more look at the entire mantel before I sign off!
I hope to see your mantels linked up here on Thursday!
Lynda says
Beautifully done Beth!! Sorry I missed your party – But going to go peak around at what else you’ve been up to! Busy beaver in deed!! Thanks for sharing!!
xo Lynda
Maggie @ Black & White {Side by Side} says
This is beautiful!!! I love the layered wreaths over your chalkboard. We have a Gabes too and I love it 🙂 I’m featuring you Christmas Mantel Link Party on my blog today. You have some talented readers!!! Everything is so beautiful & creative.
Twylene says
Looks beautiful, Beth! You’ve talked about Christmas Tree Shops for awhile and I finally was in one last night. Loved it! I didn’t have enough time (or funds :)) for the bargains I caught sight of – what a great store!
Heather @The ReStyle Group says
Very nicely done. I really like the ‘Peace on Earth’ inside the wreaths on the chalkboard. Sweet, simple and vintage {my fave combo}! Merry Christmas.
carmel says
Your mantel looks great!! I’m in love with that chalkboard and your writing is not terrible. Mine is! I actually used alphabet stencils and filled in with chalk on my mantel- worked like a charm! I linked up mine at Tutes and Tips – should I link it again on Thursday?
the cape on the corner says
wow-that invite is awesome. love the mantel, and looking forward to linking on thursday…with my sad, sad hall table acting as mantle, lol.
Kristin says
Very beautiful! Those stockings are my favorite. Great job!
CAS says
Love your mantel! The large framed chalkboard is wonderful — so clever! I haven’t seen the white stockings at The Dollar Tree, but I’ll be looking — so, so cute!
Thanks so much for hosting this fab party!
CAS
Southern Fried Gal says
Oh. My. Word. This is gorgeous! I love every little detail – even the stinky paperwhites. Haha. I had to go fake on those a few years ago. I can’t believe how easy the stocking project is. Brilliant! Excited about the party.
Debbie@refreshrestyle says
very beautiful…love the gold frame!
Debbie
Amy @ Positively Splendid says
Love it, Beth! The vintage sign is beautiful. So excited for the mantel party this week!
Jessie says
It’s gorgeous, Beth! Love those white stockings. And so sweet of you to think of your husband’s manliness:) I’m sure he appreciates it!
Angela (Cottage Magpie) says
Looks great! I love the glow from the mini christmas tree forms. So pretty!
~Angela~
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says
Beth, it’s beautiful! Love the big gold chalkboard frame and the black wreaths. It’s very elegant & fun. I’ll come back & link up to your party on Thurs. too.
Carrie ~ The Corson Cottage says
I love your mantel it looks great! I wish I had a mantel to dress up for the holidays:(
Kathy Saldana says
Bought the same stockings, working on mine tomorrow…have similar trees on my mantel also…would love the big chalk board….looks really festive!
Ashley | Domestic Fashionista says
Your mantel is lovely! I really really really love the chalkboard and wreaths. So beautiful! Looking forward to linking up…and yay, I can comment today! 🙂
Kariann says
Your mantel is outrageously gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing.
Elaine says
I love it! So serene and calm. Gorgeous. I just put my own mantel up on my blog today! See you at the link party 🙂
Jessica says
I love it! It makes me want to do mine over again. Your stockings came out gorgeous – I will definitely remember that for next year.
I am *SO* ready for the mantel link party!
Rosanna says
Absolutely beautiful!
Kim @ Sand & Sisal says
Clean lines, simple, nice textures, and perfectly pretty! LOVE IT!!!
Gloria @Potentially Beautiful says
Beautiful! I am revamping some Dollar Store stockings too. Hopefully will finish them up this week. I’m so behind.
The enchanted home says
Absolutely perfectly beautiful!! What gorgeous pictures and a beautiful room!
Traci says
I love the simplicity of your mantle, it lets all the decorations have a moment of their own. The holiday invitation is charming, like the whole mantle.
Traci
Michelle Gallimore says
Gorgeous!! I love the gold frame and chalk board idea. beautiful.
Marianne@Songbird says
It is looking beautiful! Stinky paperwhites and all. My mantel will go up in a few hours, so I am right on time this year too.
Love the rufflelessness of the manly stocking 🙂
ritajoy says
It’s beautiful! And your paperwhite “they smell awful” comment made me laugh!…I love honesty. I had no idea that those beautiful things smelled bad!:)
Kathryn says
Simple. Beautiful. Elegant. It is just gorgeous Beth! I love the wreaths and the reindeer! Can’t wait for the party tomorrow!
Laura Putnam says
Beth – I think that is your best mantel yet! Take care, Laura
Katy says
Love the stockings, dearie. Working on some white stockings myself! 🙂 Merry Christmas!
kacey @ shes.no.martha says
so pretty and SIMPLE! I need to get my buns in gear and complete mine. It just feels “off.”
Vanessa says
Hi, Beth
It’s just lovely. I love the vintage look and feel. So lovely thanks for sharing your ideas.
Vanessa
Jenny says
I love it. It’s so pretty and relaxing. I like how you did the stockings. I want new stockings this year, but haven’t started them yet.
Jessica@fourgenerationsoneroof says
Good tip on the stockings! The deer look great with your smelly flowers 🙂
Rachelle @ Fingerprints on the Fridge says
I love it! It’s so pretty. I love gold colors at Christmas 🙂
I had to smile because I put a peace on earth sign up on our mantel this year and last year you and I had a similar theme as well. Remember? It’s true great minds think alike girl! 🙂 knuckle bump.
xo