Chic on a Shoestring Decorating: Sprucin' up my Christmas mantel on the cheap...


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Sprucin' up my Christmas mantel on the cheap...

Christmas Mantel


Hey there!  How's the Christmas cheer coming along at your house?  Mine is almost complete... Woo Hoo! 

But... is it ever really complete?  Isn't there always something you can add, move here or there, or maybe it's just my decorating ADD (addictive decorating disorder).

Anywho, it seems like it has taken me an extra long time getting everything set up this year.  I had some run- ins with my decor and lots of my Christmas lights.  Tons of dead lights this year!

When I got my garland out for my fireplace mantel the lights didn't work (Christmas lights 1, Kate 0) and the garland looked like it got hit by a truck.  So scraggely looking even after I fluffed it.  It's only a few years old, I don't know what happened to it, (Ok... maybe I do.  Maybe it was smushed very bad in an over-filled rubbermaid bin with 10 pounds of x-mas stuff on top of it)  but still, I do that every year and it always fluffs right up. 

Here it is after I put new lights on it... so scraggely!  And, it was shedding all kinds of junk that you will notice on my floor... just lovely...



Since the greenery looked extra disgusting this year I had to do something.  This creates a problem because it's still Christmas selling season and I can't stand to pay full price or a measely 20% off for something I know is going to be practically free on December 26th. 

Hobby Lobby has their garland 50% off but the one I picked out is still $70 on sale!  Forgedaboudit!  I always pick out the most expensive stuff... the champagne taste on a beer budget strikes again! 

I decided to get creative and save my scraggely garland.  I went to the floral department which also was 50% off and picked out two large greenery with berry picks. 



They are really big and at 50% off were a steal at $3.50 each!

I took my scraggley garland and put it on my mantel, then I simply stuck in these large pine piks on each end which filled it in.  Filling in only the ends worked very well because there isn't much room to lay anything in front of my mirror but there are lots of room on each side.   
I have a red and white peppermint candy (not candy canes) theme (I know, so creative, right?) going on in my family room for the kids tree so I decided to pick up some of these that were 50% off too...
Christmas Mantel



I added a few of these to my garland and the wreath I hang above it.  They add a nice whimsical touch.
Adding 3 candy picks to the wreath is just enough since there are already berries attached.  I just spaced them equally apart... easy peasy. 

Christmas Mantel


I love the look of chunky candle holders.  I found these earlier this year for 90% off at Hob Lob and had planned on spray painting them ( the flash makes them extra ugly).



I then realized they'd look great on my Christmas mantel!


I also added my silver reindeer which were an after x-mas steal a few years back.

Christmas Mantel

I added some fun stuff at the base of my fireplace this year...  I had some other ideas but have to stick with unbreakables since my boys could accidently crash into any of it at any moment. :)



The lights on this little tree were dead too... Christmas lights 2, Kate 0.

I also added my skinny santa and of course the kiddos Pottery Barn Kids stockings...

christmas santa decoration

The finished product...


Christmas Mantel

How's your Christmas cheer coming along??

Stay tuned for much, much more...

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24 comments :

  1. I love the colors, I love every details of your mantel, very nice.

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  2. What a beautiful mantel! :) Love it! Love your blog.... :)

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  3. Where in the world did you find that adorable sleigh and tree at the base of your fireplace? I'm in LOVE with them!

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  4. I am featuring you on Spunky Junky today! Soo cute I love your mantle;)O

    xo
    Halsey

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  5. Really lovely mantel. I wish I had a mantel!

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  6. hi! how did you get the wreath and ribbon thing to work over your mirror???

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  7. Very cool fix.. I was going to say the pics were on sale too. I too looked at a wreath and it was 50 on sale.. half price.. egads. and the garland the same.. so i'm waiting. Yours turned out quite lovely. I love the candy theme.

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  8. I absolutely love it all. Where did you get that little tree of yours? Did I mention I love it all????

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  9. Your mantle looks great, the lights can sure be frustrating at times:@)

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  10. Love those peppermint picks~ what a festive touch to your garland & wreath!

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  11. I love the way you hung your wreath with a simple ribbon on the mirror! You have all perfect the festive touches. Enjoy!

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  12. I love your mantel and fireplace. Just beautiful and so creative. I'm your newest follower.
    Cindy

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  13. Love your mantel! Mine needed some extra fluffing this year too, but I'm not done yet so I havent' posted it yet. Thank you for making your mantel a part of Seasonal Sundays!

    - The Tablescaper

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  14. Hi Kate,
    Lovely, lovely mantle!! I know what you mean about the lights trying to win the decorating battle!! I had that same fight yesterday...but I came out victorious. :o)
    Happy Holidays!
    Fondly,
    Ann
    @
    The Tattered Tassel

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  15. I think it looks quite lovely! I love your colors too. So festive. You did a great job fixing this and making it altogether better! Give yourself some points!
    Brenda

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  16. Your mantle looks absolutely stunning! I love it!

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  17. You did a beautiful job on your mantel! I love the wreath and HO-HO-HO! Very festive and cheery! ~ Susie

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  18. Gorgeous! I wish I had the eye to put everything together so well(or the desire to shop!). Thanks for the ideas.

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  19. Oh, how pretty. So many things to see and enjoy. I love it all.

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