Monday, November 24, 2008

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas?!

Welcome to my mantle! It's all dressed up for Christmas!
(and SITStas -- Welcome to The Blessed Nest! :) I'm so happy that you came for a visit!)
I was super inspired by the Nester's garland tutorial, and here's my version!


I began with 2 el-cheapo 9ft. garlands from Walmart ($4 each). I laid them one on top of the other and intertwined some of the "branches" every couple of feet. This was the main part of my garland. Then I added in other greenery that I already had (I cut up fake stuff and stuck it in there!) to fill it out. Add white lights, more greenery, green berries, pinecones from the yard, and leftover ribbon, and you get a gorgeous-looks more expensive than $8-fabulous-Christmas garland!!

I took these pics on 2 different days, so you'll notice some subtle changes :).
I LOVE these pretty "mercury glass" trees from Michael's! On sale right now, girls!!
I added a few of my vintage ornaments to the mantle as well!

Ok, here's with the bow added :) It matches the ribbon on our family room tree! And it fills out the ends of the garland.
In case you were wondering, I used those 3m Command hooks on top of the mantle to hold it up! Wind a "branch" around it, and you're good to go! Easy-peasy (and it's held for days so far!).









I had originally had a silver Santa plate in the center. It looked good, but even though I collect Santa's, I didn't want anyone to think that it looked like we were honoring Santa as the focus of the season! So the Santa plate got moved to a side table, and I'm planning to get something else for the center. Maybe paperwhites?

Ignore the cord and fabric tacked above one window...you still love me anyway, right? ;)


I just love how this project turned out! Thanks again, Nester, for the inspiration! I'll show you all a bit more of my Christmas decorating tomm.!!
Also, I'm so excited to be one of the Saucy Blogs of the Week over at Secrets In The Sauce (SITS)!!! Thanks you gals :) Woot, woot!!
Have a wonderful, wonderful day!


84 comments:

Knit Purl Gurl said...

Absolutely beautiful and elegant!

Tina said...

Oh this is so lovely. Looks like the pages of a magazing. Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing it.
T

Kristen said...

Just beautiful. I'm glad that it turned out so well. I'm going to have to try my hand at something like this for my mantle when we get home from our Thanksgiving travels. I can't wait!!!

FROGGITY! said...

Hey! Here from SITS! LOVE your blog. Congrats on being saucy!! And my my this is gorgeous decor! Cheers!

Stacey said...

Perfect!

Kelley with Amy's Angels said...

Oh my word! That is BEAUTIFUL! Can you come to my house and put your touch on my ordinary holiday stuff?

Stopping over from SITS. Congrats on being a Saucy Blog! : )

Anonymous said...

You did great! I love the ornaments too.

I haven't even thought about decorating for Christmas yet.

Shell in your Pocket said...

I just love your "garland"...beautiful! The touch of "silver" is so elegant!
-sandy toes

BlueCastle said...

Your garland is beautiful! Love it.

Tracy said...

It's just beautiful ...

Glitter & Bliss said...

OK... I think we have the same look going....Simple. I absolutely love it!!!

Gaspegirl said...

The garland looks great! I can't wait to see what else you do ;)

Make it a great day!

Liz Harrell said...

This looks really really beautiful!

Barb @ The Everyday Home said...

This is indeed beautiful! I need posts like this to get me in the spirit to decorate. Or I need to go out my Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas cd. :-) I usually start with mantle for some reason. It usually sets the tone for the rest of the house. This is lovely...and I also like the mercury trees. Don't tempt me......must....not...spend....money..... :-)
Blessings, Barb Garrett
www.gritsglamour.blogspot.com

Rae said...

So beautiful! I too am following the Nester's tutorial and will hopefully have mine done later today. I'm doubly inspired by the two of you!!

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

Looks gorgeous! Did you put nails into your mantle? That's the part I'm nervous about! Don't know if hubby will go for that!

Unknown said...

Beautiful. It looks really beautiful at night. :-)

Lesley said...

Soooo glad that you are saucy this week...otherwise..I don't know if I would have found you...and I love your inspirations...just what I needed....

Shannon said...

It looks great! I love the trees!

Stacey said...

Hi Stacey-Love the post- And that color ribbon is so awesome! I found something for you for a "thanks for being my friend" gift:) I was wondering if you would like to get together sometime? Or I could drop it off at your house? This week is a little busy w/ family & my upcoming trunk show at Ornamentea but maybe next week? I think you will really like it!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Shannon @ Silver Trappings said...

I LOVE the way your garland turned out. It is just beautiful. You did a great job!

Shannon

The Nester said...

I LOVE it!!!!

You did a great job girl!

The Nester said...

OH gosh someone asked if you put nails in your mantel!!!

I'm totally gonna take over your blog and tell her YES!!!!

Please, please allow a few tiny nail holes so that you can make your house how YOU want it to look! It is so worth it, I promise you! You will not regret it!

Christy said...

So pretty and I love the garland! The Nester would be proud:)

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

Everyone --

I used 3m Command sticky hooks, and they're holding up great after 4-5 days!

However, I agree with Nester here, and say that if needed, I'd definitely use some small nails to get what I wanted!! Just dab a bit of filler in there after Christmas and use a little brush to dot paint over if it bothers you that much!

I have holes in my walls just from experimenting with hanging things. No biggie! It's just sheetrock & wood gals!! Have some fun & make your house a home! :)

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest

Shanda said...

Love it!! I have been holding out on the Christmas decorations until this next weekend - now I have some great ideas!!

Congrats on being saucy this week too!

Little Birdie Secrets said...

Congrats on being saucy! Great site!

Jules from "The Roost" said...

Gorgeous girl, gorgeous!

Sit A Spell said...

Very pretty! Cord, what cord???

Preston said...

Wow, it sure is beginning to look alot like Christmas and beautifully Christmas, may I add. Congrats on being a saucy blog!

Jenny said...

That is sooooo pretty!!!Happy Turkey Week!!

black betty said...

dat's purdy...

congrats on being SAUCY!!!

April Kennedy said...

Oh...that is beautiful. I can't wait to start decorating for Christmas!

Congrats on being Saucy!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Stacy, it looks gorgeous!! You did a fabulous job making it all full and pretty with all the things you had around the house. I have no idea what mine will look like this year, I mix it up every time. I love yours!

And yes to nails in the mantel. I do it all the time too!

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

I love the green against the white--it is so pretty!

Tiffany said...

That is beautiful! I may have to try something like that for my mantle. Congrats on being featured on SITS this week.

Anonymous said...

It looks magnifique!!! I just recently discovered the Nester's blog....oh my it's delicious!! Check out my post on the curtains, I got it from her!!

Hugs,
LeAnn:)

cherry said...

Congrats on SITS! I was sooo excited when they featured me! You will get tons of bloggy love. I love your mantle...I was just looking at those mercury trees at Michaels...but they only had one left...I am now wishing I had bought it anyways! You are sooo inspiring...love the details of the ornaments sitting there. cherry

CreativeMish said...

Beautiful! I love the silver colors you're using!

WhisperWood Cottage said...

My finger is tired from having to scroll down so far to leave a comment! Looks great, Stacey!

Amy

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Yea for you having it done already. What perfect timing for this SAUCY post!! I still am trying to figure out what to do since I want to hang my stockings, but I love the garland swag look as well. Hmmm....must have stockings. :)

Unknown said...

GORGEOUS. mishelle

Hopechest Bride said...

Beautiful mantle. Love the colors you're using. Congrat's on being "Saucey"..lol.
Lisa

Em said...

How funny, I saw a comment you made somewhere today and thought how cute your little birdy icon was :) and your BLOG! WOW... I'm adding you to my list of must-reads!

Your mantle looks FABULOUS! You did a great job with the garland... I second the idea for paper whites! I am going to try and revive some bulbs from last year, I have kept them in a closet all year.

Thanks for your comment and for stopping by... I hope with some cute accent pieces from Lowes I can get a more modern mantle from the 1960's bones I had to start with!

Sandy said...

Your mantle is inspiring! Love it!

Nancy Rosalina said...

Hi Stacey, that looks beautiful!!! love the bows! Oh, I was wandering about that fabric over that window...LOL Nancy

Katie said...

Okay--I'm so glad you pointed out the pinned up fabric and cord, because I was feeling so lame! I'm glad to see you're human too and not EVERYTHING is so darn cute and perfect! Your mantle looks absolutely beautiful!

Congrats on being so Saucy! :)

Pretty Organizer said...

Love the garland. Wishing I had a mantel. Going to use my banister.

Nail holes?? Of course you put holes in your walls... Isn't that what toothpaste is for? To fill them in right before the moving truck heads out of town? The white past kind works the best!

C♥ said...

over from SITS.

LOVE decorating!!!!

Linda Q said...

Oh it is looking so lovely, thanks for sharing. And thanks for the Garland hints, I got to work on mine, so I am off to Walmart after this one!!

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

I love how your garland turned out! Looks so pretty. I'm going to do my decorating this weekend. Thanks for the inspirtation! Congrats on being s SITSTA of the day!

{darlene} said...

That really is beautiful!! You inspire me.

PS I have an award for you on my blog!

Karyn said...

Gorgeous mantle!

Melissa Miller said...

This is gorgeous. Love the softness of the color scheme. :)

angie said...

Everything is so pretty! Just wanted to congrats on your saucy blog!

Megan said...

just beautiful..and peaceful. I'm inspired now!

Screaming Meme said...

You did a fab job! I love it! Screaming Meme

Kimberly said...

Gorgeous! I NEED those mercury glass trees!

Chris said...

I am drooling over that garland! The whole mantle is perfection! Great job!

Stephanie @ BizzieMommy.com said...

Your holiday decorations are awesome. Can you come over a do mine? We are still debating on getting a tree this year, we have a speed racing busy 11 month old who would just love to knock it down again and again and again.

Woman Interrupted said...

Thanks for the compliment on my garland...yours is pretty hot, too!

Love the soft colors of everything adorning your mantle. Somehow my stuff always comes out rustic and fall-colored (year-round.)

Kathi Roach said...

Beautiful!!! I love it!! Also, I love the look of your blog. I think I've stopped by before and said the same thing...but I still like it! :)

The Rambler said...

Visiting one of my Saucy Blog sistahs! :) Great blog and I so wish I had the time to make my home as festive as you have! Really. One day.

Leah said...

Hi! Came by from SITS. Love your decorations!

Unknown said...

Beautiful garland! I can't believe it started out as two $4 garlands from Walmart. You did an awesome job!

MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner said...

Congrats on being saucy, my SITSta! We enjoyed the journey together--my MyBrownBaby was featured last week, too. Love your blog--and your mantle is gorgeous! Hope you're having a fab holiday weekend!

Elaine said...

Hey,I just loved your tutorial on the garland. I was wondering just today what I was going to do on my mantle to give it a nice evergreen look without actually having to use the real greenery. It is next to impossible in our dry dessert air to keep the real stuff looking good the whole season. Yours looked beautiful and lifelike, much more so than many I've seen. Going to give this a try. Thanks.

Our Complete Family said...

It looks great! I just bought some of those command hooks so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they work for me, too!
Happy Christmas season to you~ Les

"Blossom" said...

You did a beautiful job on this garland.
blossom

Tamara said...

This is just gorgeous. I love the palette. And I love those mercury glass trees!

Mom in High Heels said...

How beautiful! I love the colors.

Kristi said...

Looks like pictures from a magazine! Christmas blessings to you and your family!

Denise K. said...

Very pretty! Your mantle looks so festive and elegant! Thanks for sharing your garland success story! It's gorgeous! :-)

Anonymous said...

I think I've already told you, but I'll tell you again- your garland is PERFECTION! Your mantel is PERFECTION!

Erika said...

Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! And I agree, looks like something out of a magazine.

Lisa said...

It looks so wonderful! Your garland is very real looking. I love the mercury glass trees, I went to Michael's in search of them for my mantley too, but they were gone.
:(

CMB said...

Everything is so beautiful...very serene and soothing. Mercury glass is one of my favorites!

Miss G said...

looks great and yea for nail holes wherever we want them! Kelly

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Your garland is lovely and I really appreciate the note about the mercary glass. Just talking to hubby this lunch about my NEED for some!

Lulu and Co. said...

Gosh it is dreamy I love it!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Lovely! It's just perfect for you decor. Loved it!

XO,

Sheila

The Style Sisters said...

So beautiful wow just amazing.

maryanne420 said...

oh my goodness! you did an amazing job, just stunning!

Marci @All Things Wonderful said...

Really Pretty!