quniby cottage christmas mantel

hey y'all! i'm joining the mantel party over at the lettered cottage today.

there will be no lack of creativity so go over and have a look if you are

needing some inspiration for your own christmas mantel.

i kept it pretty simple this year. no garland or lights, just a

few things gathered from around the house.

on each end i have a small frazier fur (fake) wrapped in burlap and

tied with some of my favorite ribbon.

i threw a couple of empty white frames i had laying around, along with a lone

white candle, next to one fake frazier fur.

i once swore, by the way, that a fake christmas tree would never

cross the threshold of any home in which i lived. never say never, right?

that changed this year. not only are these little cuties on the mantel

fake but our tree is fake. i think it pains pastor j more than me. like me, he loves

the scent of a freshly cut tree.

anyway, more on that later! back to the topic at hand. . .

on the other end three more candles, all wrapped in burlap and twine

to add a bit more texture and interest, along with a more natural

feel.

the candle holder i picked up from ikea when

i went for my butcher block. it was shiny and white so i

distressed it, of course, and rubbed my fave walnut

stain over the whole thing.

much better.

i picked up the letters for the JOY sign at hobby lobby for pennies

on the dollar, painted and distressed them, and hot glued

them to some jute.

beneath the mirror. . . three simple, tattered, green books.

i have two more stockings to replace (how do stockings disappear over

the course of the 11 months they sit in a plastic bin

in the attic?) and then it'll be done.



also, i painted the back door black. did you notice?

it makes such a difference! the interior of all our exterior doors

are now black and now i am seriously thinking

about painting all my interior doors black. too much? :)

enjoy the mantel party! check in periodically for all the new links, you are sure

to see lot's of amazing ideas!