Winter 2013 Mantle

 

Even though winter isn’t officially here yet, this Ohio weather sure seems like old man winter has arrived!

The next picture was taken during the night right outside our kitchen window…quite pretty! We had a couple excited boys since it was announced that school would be canceled for the next day..

For the mantle this year I spent nearly nothing… only a little extra time on creating a few things..

First I went out to my workshop and pinned a few boards together, making a rustic sign…. I painted “Joy to the world” onto it..

I felt very blessed to roam about my gardens snipping at the various evergreens. I had a big pile of white pine, holly and a few other greens that I don’t know the names of on our basement floor…

When hubs came home from work he thought about going rabbit hunting in our basement. ( I was not amused since I always root for the bunnies )

Here are a few of the clippings.

I dug out some green craft wire from storage…

After hanging the sign and making a natural garland complete with pinecones, I set my snow globes on the mantle. You can read about the snow globes here: http://porchswingsnhoneysuckle.blogspot.com/2013/11/christmas-project-1-snow-globes.html

I also dug out the stockings from last year that I made out of an old sweater and hung them up.

 

And here it is…

 

Very simple and best of all, thrifty!

I stuck some gifts in an old barrel…

Now, for my favorite part! I put a string of lights behind the globes and I love the look it gives in the dark!

 

 

Happy Christmas decorating, everyone!

-Mary