Monday, December 17, 2012

OMG The Full Monty...er Mantel!

My Mantel has became its own Country! I think this is the best yet! I don't mean to toot my own horn, but when you see this in person, it is Jaw Drop'n! One of my Friends called it "The Full Monty"! I love that! The colors of Red, Green and Gold will always stay, but each year I try and come up with a new design and I always add something new to it, weather it's a new ornament or Like this year the bow in the middle with the tall glass vase holding the fresh greens and berries.
I start by going to Lowes or Home Depot to get all their free Christmas tree trimmings, I mean I fill up the back of The Hearse (my beach car) with all I can haul. When I get home I spread out an old sheet and start going through the branches with the help of my big ol Black Cat Skooter. I put all the things that are what I call a "given" on the mantel, the lamps, reindeer and candles etc.Then I start adding all the greenery.

I wire together a big side arch that I attach to the mantel on a hidden nail on the back, this curves down all the way to the hearth.

I then start by adding the red lights and all the red berries and I start with the garlands. This year my change up was the tall glass vase filled with spiked seeds from our Sweet Gum Tree, added in the greenery and berries, and this gave me the height I wanted. for the center. (sorry this pic is a little blurry) You can see the Reindeer and the red mercury glass candle holders.


As you enlarge these pictures you can see all the garlands, ornaments, gold grapes, gold glitter tingting, gold glitter mesh ( that I cut into 2 foot pieces, and just tuck in each end to give the illusion of it running through the greenery), ribbons and cute Nordic Snowmen that I've added to the design. Hang a couple of ornaments on ribbons to balance it all out and Voila! My 2012 Christmas Mantel!!
The party is going on, and every one wants to be taking a picture at the Mantel or of the Mantel! It's a Hit!






Still Putting Up Christmas!

I have finally finished all my decorating for Christmas! Whew, I don't know, but for some reason, this year seems to have taken such a long time to get things done, Could Age have anything to do with it? I don't know! But all my friends have had the same problem, just trying to get into the swing of things.
I have the Kitchen Cabinets all decorated in Copper Glitter, which by the way has left me sparkly! Even after a shower I'm still covered in glitter!






I  have this section of my Kitchen a little more formal looking, it goes from Copper Glitter on the left, to Gold and White on the right, this is the end next to my Living Room. Don't you just love my Copper Angel!

The Chest in my Family Room next to the Fireplace has an Angel that was my Moms, you can also see the Christmas Pillow I made from a burlap print and just added all the trims and fringes and red sequins. The Christmas Stocking was sent to me from a friend that I made on the internet in one of my garden groups, she lives in England. I couldn't believe when I received such a sweet present from her, and it matches my pillow perfectly!

I have posted a rather unflattering view of my Dining Room, just so you could see the walls lined with the bags of Ornaments I will give out to all the Women at our Christmas Party, this year I will give out 42 bags, and each holds at least 3 to 4 ornaments. If I know the girl really well the ornaments will coordinate with her decor, and all my Jewish friends get White, Silver and Blue Ornaments.




This is "The 13th Annual Christmas Party" well known around our Beaches Community.
Looking forward to the Party, this really gets the Christmas Season kicked off!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Let the Holidays Begin! Fa la la la la

Things are really buzz'n! Everyone is busy getting up the decorations, and I am no different! Have our 13th Annual Christmas Party coming up, so I'm so busy getting the house ready, hopefully I will be finished with the inside by the weekend, and then we can turn or attention to the outside lights.



Started on the tree! I call it the Mother of All Trees! It is such a kick-ass sturdy tree, it has to be, to hold all the gazillion ornaments I put on every year! I have every ornament that was given to me or that I've made since I was 22 years old!


This tree is a very wide tree and to fit into this space I have to turn all the branches down, and really mash the ones in the back so I can smuch it up to the wall, I do this for walk around space. I start out with my lights and then the garland. This garland is over 30 years old, each year I take and roll it on a wrapping paper tube and this keeps is looking new.






I start by adding all my huge ornaments, they measure for 8 to 9 inches across, then I'm off to the races!








Skooter my Black Cat, sits and watches me the whole time, I will get the Angel on the top as soon as it is unpacked. I don't think there is one inch left on the tree to put even one more ornament!



I add my collection of Christmas Boxes to the tree, I don't put presents under the tree until it's about a week before, then I pack all these boxes away.



Finished up the window ledge in the dining room, now on the the kitchen!



I love this Della Robbia Paper Mache Santa that I found a few years ago at Goodwill!! He is perfect in my Kitchen. I am on to other rooms and will post those pictures later! Have fun decorating your Home for the Holidays! Merry Christmas!