Wrapping it Up

It’s the most wonderful and the busiest time of the year. If I have to go to one more Christmas concert, Christmas party, or Christmas parade I’ll go nuts. I’d just like to decorate my house and yard and stay home listening to Christmas music while I bake goodies for my neighbors and wrap presents for a change.

Speaking of wrapping, this year I thought I’d be all fancy and match my packages to my designer tree. Ha! I found a roll of silver and white paper and a roll of blush (not pink) paper with some subtle glitter on it that matched my tree decorations and bought some fancy ribbons and started wrapping. I learned a couple of things. First, I learned that just because they sell it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. I couldn’t get my tape to stick to my glittery paper, so I tried packing tape and it still didn’t work. Second, I learned that all those pretty ribbons used to have a purpose - tying packages shut before the invention of tape. Third I learned that taping a present shut is a lot faster and more efficient than tying it shut. Fourth, I learned that I don’t have the patience for this and next year everything goes in gift bags. It’s greener anyway. They are reusable and I save some trees.

Last post I talked about using ribbon and picks to decorate your tree. This post I’ll just wrap this up and talk about how to use ribbon and picks in other places. I put some garland on my banister and then dressed it up with some ribbon, just tucking it in here and there, then tucked in some poinsettia picks. Easy peasy. Took me a matter of minutes. Those branches hold it tight.

Then I decided that my garland on my fireplace was lacking something so I added some of the same ribbon and poinsettias to the garland on my fireplace. It was just what it needed. (Santa needed a poinsettia too.)

Finally, after all that, my coffee table looked a little out of place and I needed a place to display the crystal nativity I got while I lived in Germany so I put it there with some Ivy and candles and of course a poinsettia pick.

Of course my kids insisted I display my Santa collection, my other nativities and my advent calendars in my family room. I guess as long as I have kids I’ll have to put out the advent calendars. Now I can just relax and enjoy the season. Except for those pesky parties.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It’s that time of year again. Time to drag the tree out of the basement and the yard decorations out of the attic. Didn’t I just put them away last month? Since Christmas is almost upon us, I thought I would focus the next couple of weeks on some fun Christmas decor.

This year I get to do something I’ve never been able to do before - decorate my mantel for Christmas. I had a fireplace one other time, but it was in the basement, and I did do a little something, but what’s the fun in decorating something that I only see when on my way to the dungeon to do laundry? So this is what I came up with this year:

My Fireplace Mantel Decor - Christmas 2021

I accidentally came across the print by Beverly Gurganus a couple of years ago and fell in love with it so I bought it and it’s been packed away in a closet ever since. Then I was in Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and they had the canvas for $20 and it’s like they were made for each other. A leafy garland, throw in some gold and pearl picks, add a couple pine cones and some gold candlesticks for balance and it’s a mantel fit for a king - pun intended. Oh, and if you zoom in you can see the little wooden sign by the candles that I got for $2 at a yard sale this summer, which also just happens to go perfectly with everything else.

As for the other garland, I’ll let you all in on a secret. This is two 9’ pieces of lighted garland I got from Hobby Lobby for $10 each. Now, I could have spent $30-$40 each on 3 6ft lengths with pine cones and berries already attached, but they wouldn’t have had lights and I would have spent a lot more money. By buying the cheaper garland and then spending another $10 or so on some picks that I then added to the garland I got the whole thing for around $30 and I was able to customize it. If I want to add something different to it next year, I can give it a whole new look for just a few dollars. The trees I’ve had for decades. I’ve really wanted some lanterns for my fireplace but I have yet to find some I love that I want to pay for, so in the meantime, the trees are filling that spot. Maybe by next year I will have lanterns to put there.

Now for fun, let’s look at some other Christmas mantel ideas. Maybe you’ll be inspired. Here’s a Glam style mantel:

Image found on www.settingforfour.com

And here’s one that’s Farmhouse style:

Image found on www.wilshirecollections.com

Are you looking for something simple and more modern? I love this asymmetrical one:

Image found at https//mirandaschroeder.com

Maybe Coastal is more your style? Wouldn’t we all like to spend Christmas at the beach?

Image found at www.sandandsisal.com

Or you just want to go traditional red and green. Here’s a really cute idea:

Image found on www.grandinroad.com

Maybe you want something a little different and non-traditional. Here’s an affordable, simple idea that uses eucalyptus garland:

Image found on Pinterest

No matter what your style, there are hundreds of ideas out there. Just search on Pinterest and you’ll find plenty of inspiration. And next to a Christmas tree, there’s nothing cozier than a fireplace decorated for the holidays. Happy Decorating!