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