A JOYful Christmas Mantel

I hope everyone had a safe and lovely Christmas!A JOYful Christmas Mantel

One of my favorite sayings is “Better late than never.”

Christmas time requires more than what we normally do on a day to day basis.  I apologize for not being able to post these photos before Christmas.

Welcome to our home for Christmas 2012…

A JOYful Christmas Mantel

I got a wild hair and decided to make some new Christmas stockings this year.  I almost bought some burlap stockings but decided denim was more me.

I couldn’t find any online I liked so why not make them?

A JOYful Christmas Mantel

I took my pattern off our old stockings on size.  I figured out how to do a cuff based on the old ones as well, but decided to make them all different.  The red gingham ones are the boys.  The white cuffed ones are the girls.  It took me longer to blanket stitch the loop hangers than it did for me to make all 5 stockings.  I still think it was worth it, though. ;)  I bought the letters/ornaments at Pottery Barn to place on the kid’s packages.  I decided they looked cute on the stockings and wished I would have bought one for me and the mr.  {Thus the 2 stockings without initials on them}

A JOYful Christmas Mantel

I was so excited to find this unique nativity at a holiday bazaar I went to with my Mom.  It’s made out of metal and came with the pretty background.  You can find one of these at EverThineHome.com

A JOYful Christmas Mantel

I channeled a little creativity by covering up some Styrofoam trees {below}.  I used denim scraps left over from making the stockings to ruffle around one of the trees.  It was as simple as using pins and hot glue.  I covered the large tree by wrapping it with red yarn.  The smallest tree was decorated by using kraft wrapping paper.  I used my circle punch and pinned the circles on the tree.

A JOYful Christmas Mantel

The wreath below was also purchased at the Ever Thine Home booth I spoke of earlier.  I love how the leaves are made out of hymns.

A JOYful Christmas Mantel

The JOY letters are the ones I decorated with sweater material at Whatever Craft Weekend.  I changed the embellishments to be more Christmas like.  Thanks to A Cottage Life I used her mini bunting she gave as swag for Whatever Craft Weekend on the O.  On the J I used the same red yarn I used to wrap around the tree and a couple of cute pins JCPenney’s was handing out this year for the Y.  I saved the old window frame I bought at the barn while at Whatever Craft Weekend just for this Christmas mantel.

A JOYful Christmas Mantel

At the last minute I decided to make the lighted garland.  I added red and white tulle to a battery operated led light strand…just tied them on.  I tied a few snowflake ornaments {12 for $1 at Dollar Tree} to complete the look.

A JOYful Christmas Mantel

A JOYful Christmas Mantel

So glad you stopped by! A JOYful Christmas Mantel

Let there be JOY,

Comments

  1. I knew it would be great! I am so glad to see how well the stockings turned out. You can appreciate hand sewing more now that you are doing some yourself! All went together very nicely. Excellent job, Shan, as usual. The trees are really cute. Love you, Mom

    • I am happy with the way the stockings turned out. K said, “Wow, Mom, you made those?” Husband was very impressed which is huge. I’ll have to show you some more photos later. ;) Love you, Mom.

  2. It. Is. Beautiful. Every bit of it. Loved taking a peek into your Christmas home, Shan. Merry Christmas, my friend! xo
    Jennifer {StudioJRU} recently posted..this week in the studio… story of your life.

    • THANK you so much Jennifer! Have you ever thought about going to a blog conference? We need to talk about that. It would be so much to meet up. xo friend. :)

  3. I have a JOY mantel to, we are matching. ;) Love how you were creative and it all came together and looks great! The stockings sure are cute, way to sew those up! Merry Christmas friend!
    ange recently posted..Merry Christmas to you!

    • Ange, great minds think alike! LOVE how we both had JOY mantels! Yours turned out super cute! It always is extra special receiving praise from you talented friend. It’s been a great Christmas except for getting sick. I am considering going to Haven this year! Oh my goodness it would be so great to see you and give ya a big hug. :)

  4. I love that fireplace! These pictures though are making me so sad that Christmas is over!

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