Our Christmas Mantel and Hearth

Just a week from today Santa may be coming down our chimney. 

The mantel is dressed for his arrival with lanterns and red candles so he can see his way down the chimney. 

The hearth is shinning bright for Santa too. Two small twinkling trees sparkle on each side of the fireplace.

The tree on the left side is trimmed with Old World ornaments that haven't been out of the box in years. Bird girl is always on our hearth and for Christmas, she holds two red shiny balls. 

The tree is secured to the brick fireplace with fishing line and a brick clip. A clip was also used for hanging the wreath over the mantel. 

I used only the smallest of our Old World ornaments for this tree. Most date back to the 80's when we lived in Southeast Missouri. The tree topper is new. 

I added a few snowflakes to the tree. 

The tree on the right side of the fireplace is trimmed with mini Shiny Bright ornaments and garland by Christopher Radko.

Thanks for stopping in to see our Christmas mantel and hearth - Judy.

Linking to these fabulous parties:

Met Monday @ BNOTP

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog
The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict
The Scoop @ Worthington Court
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening
Share Your Style Link Party @21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening
Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening
Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday
Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Light the Fire - Baby It's Cold Outside

The temperature today in my area of Kentucky is 21 degrees. Time to light a fire in the fireplace . . . 

But first, I need to simplify the mantel so no chance of Christmas decor catching on fire. I'm keeping the antique window on the mantel but removing all live cedar clipping and going to a faux wreath on the window.

For this mandel redo, I'm going with phrase "less is more." 

Pottery Barn plaid pillows add to the cozy feel. These pillows can easily be removed when the fire is lit.

From too much, over the top and a possible fire hazard.

To keeping it simple and eliminating any chance of a disaster. 

Thanks for stopping in for Light the Fire - Baby It's Cold Outside. If you missed my post on white washing the fireplace, click here. 

Joining these fabulous parties.

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life on Sunday evening

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

Fall into Fall@ DIY by Design on Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm
Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme on Wednesday

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings 

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wed. evenings
Thoughts of Home on Thursday @ White Spray Paint

Favorite Things Thursday @ Katherine's Corner

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Friday morning

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home 

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

A Christmas Mantel With An Antique Window and Lots of Ornaments

I wasn't going to decorate my mantel until after Thanksgiving this year but decided at the last minute to get it done before family members arrived.  

I was thinking that if the mantel was ready, our guests might want to take some family pics. I was right, they did take several pics with the mantel as a backdrop. 

The antique window was recently purchased at an antique mall then painted and the window panes sprayed with snow.  I made a swag for the window from fresh cedar, berry picks, sprayed pinecones plus a bow. 

Many of our glass ornaments are special and each has a story. I just can't hang them on the tree and risk them falling on our wood floors. I was happy too find the ornament hangers at Hobby Lobby to hold them. If you look close at Raggedy Andy, you can see most of his legs are missing. He had a little accident a few years back so "hanging out" works perfect for him. 

Two garlands were combined then swags were tied into the garland to fill it out. I used staircase lights in the garland plus ornaments and picks. A video from here was my inspiration for the garland. Nothing new was purchased for the garland, I just used what I had. 

I whitewashed the fireplace a few months ago, you can see that DIY here. I'm happy with our Christmas mantel against the whitewashed brick. 

Thanks for stopping by to see my Christmas Mantel - Judy. 

Linking to these great parties:

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life on Sunday evening

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

Fall into Fall@ DIY by Design on Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm
Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme on Wednesday

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings 

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wed. evenings
Thoughts of Home on Thursday @ White Spray Paint

Favorite Things Thursday @ Katherine's Corner

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home 

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Nutcrackers Marching on the Mantel

The Christmas Mantel is full of nuts, nutcrackers that is! Each of the nutcrackers on the mantel represent a trip to see The Nutcracker Ballet in St. Louis or Kansas City. 

We enjoy trips to see the Nutcracker and make it a family Christmas experience. We have missed a few years but always enjoy the ballet each time we have the opportunity to go. 

Pottery Barn Christmas pillows fill the chair next to the mantel. 

My grandsons have shared a little time with Santa at the Annual Women's Club Breakfast with Santa.

I chose the Nutcracker theme for my grandsons (and the rest of us) to enjoy for the holidays.  They were eager to help me place them on the mantel and each picked out the two they wanted to use. A few cardinal birds and tiny red lights were added to the small trees at each end of the mantel. A couple cardinals are also resting on the garland to carry on my cardinal Christmas tree theme. Stockings from Pottery Barn hang from reindeer on the mantel.

Click for a link to Decorating the Tree or to The Star on the Tree. 

I can just see the Toy Soldiers marching across the stage in Tchaikovsky's March of the Toy Soldiers. Thanks for stopping by for another day of Life in Kentucky - Judy. 

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Lavendar Cottage

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ StoneGable Blog

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With an E

Tweak It Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Fall into Fall @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

What Is It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Share Your Style Link Party @ The Uptown Acorn

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Favorite Things Thursday @ Katherine's Corner

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home on Thursday

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme 

Feathered Nest Friday @ The French Country Cottage

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Fabulously Creative Friday @ Jennifer Rizzo

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

Weekend Retreat @ AKA Design & Life

The Bouquet of Talent Party @ Life on Lakeshore Drive - Saturday

Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life 

Table It Monday @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Aqua Mantel

Ho, ho, ho, you know how much I love to use aqua in my decorating, so you probably aren't surprised that I'm using aqua on my kitchen mantel for Christmas.

Wow, was I excited when I visited Michael's and they were showing peacock blue glittery pieces! It didn't take me long to gather all the stems and pieces I could and start dreaming about decorating with aqua and peacock blue for Christmas.

Here's a glance at the entire mantel. 

I found some aqua Christmas trees at Hobby Lobby to add to the mantel. The Holiday Village plate is by Peggy Karr Glass and has been around my house for a few years.

I assembled the wreath with additional pieces from Michael's. You can see more pictures of my wreath here.

Here's an evening shot after I added lights and a little additional garland across the back of the mantel.

Be sure to check back later to see my aqua Christmas tablescape - Judy.

Linking to:

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings 
Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wed. evenings

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch on Thursday morning

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Thursday morning

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home 

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Met Monday @ BNOP
Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate and Decorate
The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog