Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Star of Wonder, Star of Light: A Christmastime Mantel


Do you remember my sparkly gold holiday mantel last year?

This...

To see more of my mantel last year, you can visit this post.

I still used the nativity but changed the style to something more fitting to my personality this year...Yay! :)

This year for my fireplace mantel holiday decor I knew I wanted something rustic, earthy, unique, somewhat simple, and raw. I didn't want anything traditional butI wanted the Nativity to take the focus in a new way.




My goal was to use supplies that I already had that could be re-used and re-invented and to use materials from nature.

The natural/recycled elements I used:
-sticks from my backyard
- wood
- a living tree that is potted and will be planted
- twine
- recycled paper stars
- old packaging paper



The Christmas Star is my theme for this decor. I found my inspiration from Pottery Barn. They sell a huge, twine wrapped star with candles in their latest catalog. The very SECOND I saw it I wanted to make one. So I did...the same night. Actually, Chris made one and I supervised. {wink} Poor guy, he always has to put up with my big ideas and I'm constantly in a rush to hurry and get it done because I'm too excited to wait. He did SUCH a great job...love, love that guy.


Here's how we did it:
-Dakotah gathered a supply of sticks from our backyard.
- I picked out the ones with the best character and Chris cut them all the same size.
- We lightly painted the sticks white.
- Using twine, Chris wrapped the ends.
- Chris worked on "my" project...and I watched.
- I impatiently waited
- Chris patiently finished

I used one of my chalkboard placemats that I made awhile ago for the banner. Using chalk ink, I wrote the message. I tied twine around the chalkboard so it could hang.


Chris is tall and can climb up walls (literally) so he hung the sign. We don't own a ladder by the way.


One of my favorite aspects of this decorated mantel are the aqua stars!! GreenPost is truly one of the most fascinating etsy stores I've found in awhile. They make everything using recycled materials. These stars are made from recycled paper, seeds, etc. LOVE them.


The stars are randomly hung.

My little tree is real and if I can keep it alive, it will be planted in our yard soon. I tied branches with twine. I found the origami music stars at Pottery Barn.


A closer look at these adorable origami stars overflowing the vase.

I rolled up old packaging paper and lined it across the mantel before placing the glitter garland over it.



Rustic simplicity...


The fireplace mantel competes with the Christmas tree for attention at Christmastime. I remember all those stories about Santa and magic and soot and magic and touching his nose and magic. I remember wishing I had a chimney for Santa and a mantel to "hang my stockings with care" when I was little. Now the mantel is the ideal little spot to go crazy with decorating.



I want to hear your mantel stories too.
How do you decorate it?
Do you decorate the same or different each year?





This post is linked to: No Minimalist Here Hooked on Houses, Centsational Girl, Somewhat Simple, DIY Showoff, Home for the Holidays, Deck the Halls, Southern Hospitality, DIY Showoff, The Lettered Cottage, Dare To, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, , Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

59 comments:

Reunion Committee said...

oh i just love all of this. Gorgeous! I love the nature ispired elements!
I am finishing up my mantel this week. I have a vision lol I used nature too :)
~Tana

Funky Junk Interiors said...

Soooo cool! The star idea is so pretty! I'm definitely going to make that! LOVE it!!

Donna

Anonymous said...

I love this look...it really keeps the meaning of the season in focus:) Lovely!

Marianne said...

Love that star. And how wonderful that your hubby is so into helping you with your ideas and so good at it too.
Enjoy the season!

Red Couch Recipes said...

Your star and chalboard turned out just beautiful. I too love making sure that I decorate, in some part, to reflect the true meaning of the season. Just beautiful. Joni

Jane said...

Beautiful! I love the twig star...especially since your "boys" all had a hand in creating it. (I love the idea of the chalkboard...may need to incorporate this idea somehow...)

Our mantle is never the same...and I never have a "plan" when I start...it just develops. I am still creating it...so far I'm using greenery, antique spools of all shapes and sizes, and an antique window...we'll see what develops. I'll post a photo when I get the myriad of boxes and tissue put away...
Jane (artfully graced)

Brian and Ashley said...

It's so pretty! I really like the music star ornaments and how it is completely focused on Christ. It's beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Your rustic mantel is stunning! I love the star above the manger. I just ordered the same music stars and can't wait to receive them. Hope you'll pop on over and take a peek at my mantel, it's such a fun party!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I absolutely love your star! SO beautiful!

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

LOVE the rustic look!!! The star is amazing! Love the little sheet music stars too! Beautiful job!

Abby Killam said...

this is by FAR my favorite look you have had... it is perfect and mirrors Christ in many ways... simply beautiful, natural and in no need of embellishment. I love it, really.
Our mantle is similar this year... all the focus on my new (and favorite thing) nativity and the very big star... I'll post pics too...
yay for Christmastime...

Sarah said...

So pretty! I love this rustic, simple look. What a unique theme and I love that you incorporated the lyrics in there. So beautiful!

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com said...

Nicely done! I love that you made the nativity and Christ's birth the focal point of the room ~ and your holiday!

Judy@cutest-little-things

MusicalMommy said...

I found you at a linky party. I am so glad I clicked. I thought oh a cute little star out of sticks then I saw... Oh... oh... Big Star out of big sticks. LOVE IT!

Jen said...

Love the nature look!! Love that star!

Catherine @ Cat on a Limb said...

This is so beautiful! I love the natural, rustic look combined with some shine and glitter. I love the star idea and I have plans to make some smaller twig stars for ornaments.

As far as mantels go, I always have my nativity up there (somewhat more protected from the kids), but I like to try to decorate a little bit differently each year.

Raise Them Up said...

That is really pretty!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful job - I love your large star made from small branches, that is a superb idea and completely aligned with the humble simplicity of the season. Totally fabulous!

Kristen said...

WOW! What a difference a year makes! Your mantle is just gorgeous!

caveman said...

I wait a day to post and I am relegated to 20th place. Geez Ms. Lisa, you are a popular girl!

I love this years mantel. It is very beautiful. The fact that you were able to create such beauty, from fallen branches in our yard, blows me away. And I especially love our Christmas tree! What a cool idea to have a live tree that we can can plant together after the holidays!

Julie Bagamary said...

Wow - it is beautiful!

Anonymous said...

You all did a great job!! That looks better than PB.

KarenB said...

I love your change of focus! The star is perfect! He can seriously climb walls? You need to post about that, with photos. Just saying. . .

Holly Lefevre said...

Rustic Simplicity...love this mantle. It speaks to me. I can just see you creating it and the steps. LOVE the star. I used to have a lot of gold, but our decor has turned to a rustic simplicity as well...it makes for a cozy home and holiday.

Victoria said...

Pretty, pretty mantel- love it!

Cortney said...

Just dropped by from Layla's and love that star! I might just have to try making one! I put one of your pictures in my inspiration file! :)

jerriann said...

What a lovely tribute to our Lord. Love everything you did. Very pretty.

Merry Christmas

Simone @ Doberman's by the Sea said...

What a lovely display. I like using natural materials as well. This year my theme is coastal.
The Bavarian Christmas linky party is now open-won’t you come and join us at http://dobermans-by-the-sea.blogspot.com/2010/11/1st-christmas-linky-party-at-dobermans.html and while you are there join the give-a-ways going on.

Becca said...

Love the star! It is amazing what you can do with sticks and twine. You are so creative!

Kristen said...

This is absolutely beautiful! Perfect scale for your room. That star is perfect!

Sarah AKA The Thriftress said...

I love a natural Christmas mantle! The stick star is perfect! I want one!
Sarah

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

Stopping by from the vignette party! :) What a gorgeous theme you have! Love the stars! I love that your dear husband helped you patiently... sounds just like my husband working with my not so patient self! lol

Laura@Developing Designs said...

I concur with everyone, LOVE! You guys as a collective whole did a fantastic job. Enjoy the thoughts of repurposing, reusing and the addition of the natural elements with not being over the top is utter perfection. Happy Holidays.

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

I just love the natural and rustic feel to this. To tell you the truth, it hit me that this reminds me more of Jesus and the manger than any other display. I guess it is the natural simplicity of it! Great job!

Unknown said...

I just LOVE your mantle. The star is sooooo fantastic. I am inspired!!!
My ideas while decorating are very much like your mantle. The great outdoors has alot to offer us. Beautiful items already created for us to use.
Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays.
Michele

Pam Kessler said...

That is brautiful. Love how you used the packing paper on the mantel and that star is gorgeous. It has a great rustic feel that goes so well with the manger theme.

Nancy said...

I love that you don't own a ladder and your husband climbs around =) I saw those origami stars at Pottery barn in a lamp bowl and I thought they were fortune cookies till I got up close.

Unknown said...

Oh I totally have to make a twig star now. That is lovely.

Michelle @ Sweet Something Design said...

I love your star! The mantle looks fantastic! Great job!

Samantha2818 said...

Your mantel looks gorgeous. I love the star - we just made a tree for my daughter using twigs from our garden too. So cheap and so effective.
Well done - I love it!
~Sam

KJ@letsgoflyakite said...

I do recall your mantel last year. I love how you have taken some of the same elements and changed it up. I think many people are going more simple, more natural this year.

MusicalMommy said...

Came back a few times just to stare. But decided to copy you. I copied quite a bit actually. Not for my mantel though, for my empty entryway. Yours is still much nicer. But I still had fun.
Blogged it up so you can see it!
and linked back many times of course.

http://karascreativeplace.blogspot.com/2010/12/star-of-wonder-star-of-sticks.html

{northern cottage} said...

Yum - I love the natural flare even more than the shining of lights and glitz. Makes for a cozy wonderful mantle!

Amy Kinser said...

I absolutely LOVE that star. What a great focal point. Sure gets your attention...in a great way.

Love it all!

Anonymous said...

Your decorations are wonderful--I love the star!

Oona Johnson said...

The star is really great and I love that it was a family effort!

Jenny said...

Such a totally Lisa treatment...old, new, repurposed, texture and most of all...LOVELY!

Roeshel said...

Lisa - it's gorgeous! I love every little detail. I'm definitely making one of those stars. Love the texture, the oragami stars, the little blue paper stars and your overall theme. You did an amazing job! Thank you so much for sharing in the DIY Project Parade! ;)

Happy Holidays!
Roeshel

Lucky Girl said...

I really like how you completely filled the space above your fireplace - Just beautiful!

Catalina said...

That's really cute, so simple yet elegant. I'm your newest followed from Newlywoodwards bthw.

Elizabeth said...

Love it! Such a great focal point for your home! Would love for you to link up to Made with Love Monday at Sew Chatty! http://sewchatty.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

It's all so lovely! I especially like the main star--I have a similar homemade one topping my tree this year. Thanks for sharing!

Leah said...

this is lovely! excellent job!

Maria Babin said...

it's beautiful! i love that you have used your decorating to focus on the nativity scene, but in such a simply gorgeous way! i'd love to have you share this idea on my christmas link party
http://busyasabeeinparis.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-ideas-for-children-des-idees.html
thanks for sharing!
xo,
maria

Jana said...

So cute!! I love it!

Come enter to win a free pair of sandals!!

http://gigglesglitzandglam.blogspot.com/2010/12/sseko-giveaway.html

dec0r8or said...

It's beautiful! I adore that twig star!!

Simply Bungalow said...

Love it all! It looks amazing.
~Heidi

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Lisa, Your mantel is beautiful and I especially love the star you made. I can just see your husband hanging the decorations without a ladder! Thank you for joing my party and sharing your gorgeous mantel.
Hugs,
Sherry

Anonymous said...

i saw those origami stars at PB, is that where you got them? they are cute.