My Christmas Mantel

 Christmas decorating doesn't come naturally to me, but every year I try a little harder to bring some holiday cheer to the house (and I'm sure everyone's having a harder time getting into the spirit after such horrible news on Friday). 

I have eight days to find that missing stocking. And there are about half a dozen other decorating ideas I've yet to follow through on, but I think I'm at the stage where I feel like I've done my decorating duties. Not that it's not fun, but it does take a decent amount of effort for something that only stays up for a few weeks. 

 Hello, Mr. Winter! Or is that supposed to be Santa in white? I'm not really sure, but I thought he looked cool and he was only $12 at Home Goods. It's kind of dangerous going in there because everything seems like such a good deal. Only, it's not such a good deal if you go in for one little ornament and you come out with a shopping cart full of stuff. Luckily, it was a good month for Bluet & Clover. haha

 I also got some big apothecary jars to fill with painted pinecones and gold ornaments. I figured I can fill them with different seasonal stuff throughout the year so my mantel doesn't feel lonely after the holidays. 

I also figured out how to hang stocking from the mantel without putting a nail in the wood. Stocking clips might be in the Christmas Decorating 101 text book, but I'm pretty new to fireplace mantel decorating. 

I planned to drape some garland over the mantel too, but I already feel like I've done about 80% more than I did last year. I don't want to get too carried away. 

That's my budget wreath for the front door. I used a dollar store wreath form and stuck some clippings from a bush in the front yard in it. It's just missing the final touch, a burlap bow. I'll add that to my to do list today!

And another look at the chair ornament I made with my daughters. The only other ornaments we put on the tree were a bunch of pinecones. Eventually, we'll have a tree full of handmade and collected ornaments. Until then the pinecones are a nice (and cheap) way to decorate it. 

I haven't taken a full length shot of the tree because it's missing a skirt... yet another project or purchase if I don't get around to making it.