Christmas Mantel

Let's be honest-- one of the main reasons I was so excited to get my Christmas decor up so early (it was still November, yall!! That's EARLY!!) was so that I could participate in all of the show-off-your-decor blog carnivals. I love gleaning tips and ideas from other bloggers, which means that the mantel you are about to see pictures of today could look totally different in a few days- after I get done stealing ideas from everyone else! 

So today I'm linking up with The Lettered Cottage to show off my holiday mantel decorations!

Perhaps I should start with a disclaimer: Last year, I discovered Pinterest. Right before Christmas. Therefore I made every cheap/free/easy Pinterest Christmas craft that ever existed and then invented a few more besides. So if my mantel looks like it was decorated by a three-year-old with a gluegun who raided her garage and then Michael's and Goodwill...well, that would be a fair observation. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the finished product. Not too fussy, not too store-bought...yup, suits me just fine!

The "Merry Christmas" sign, stockings, stocking holders, and angel are all store-bought things I've had for years. Sorry for the awkward angle-- the layout of our living room makes it hard to get a shot of the whole thing. Or it could be the photographer. Either way.

These are a few of my Book Trees...I made a veritable forest of these last year. Yeah. Pinterest craft gone wild. But I love them!

The Book Trees are hanging out in front of my famous Stick Tree I made last year. Maybe it's not famous to you...but it was my very first craft I invented all on my own AND made a tutorial for, so...famous in my heart. Plus, I like it. I like trees in general. Christmas trees. Oak trees. Dogwood trees. Palm trees. Whatever. Trees. Yay.

OH LOOK, MORE TREES!! I know, you're shocked. These I made last year, too. They involved a sewing machine, which makes me a totally legit crafter. The tree stumps are little wooden sewing thread spool thingies...aren't they cute?! Love these trees.

These trees live in front of a mirror. And then I discovered that I could focus on myself in the mirror instead of on the trees, and you wouldn't even believe how much fun I had doing that. A professional photographer I am not. Easily entertained? Probably yes.

So that's my mantel this year! I currently like it, but can almost guarantee that there'll be changes as the season progresses. As the blog carnivals roll on. As I perfect my new woodburning hobby. As the Pinterest moves me.

In case you're curious, this is what my mantel (and the rest of the house) looked like last year. Now go join in on the fun and show me YOUR mantel! Quid pro quo, right? Happy Tuesday!