It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

I've been working on our Christmas mantel the last few days. Do you have a color scheme you like for your tree or throughout your house? I love adding elements of nature all year round in our home and use them during the holiday season, too. I'm drawn to anything that shimmers, so my Christmas color scheme is mostly golds and silvers with a little green or turquoise thrown in here and there. I guess it's kind of a subtle, rustic glam!

Last week I was out shopping and stopped into Hobby Lobby. Found this platinum Christmas tree and the glittery bird half price! Brought them home and placed them on our mantle (which was already empty, since I had cleared it off for our painter on Monday). Then, I printed off this free O Holy Night printable and framed it. As soon as that was on the mantel, I could just envision having a big empty frame with a wreath in it as the focal point. Wish I would have thought of that while I was at Hobby Lobby, but I didn't. Last night though, I remembered some collage frames of Shimmer and Shine that I used to have in my office. They are stored in our basement, so down I went this morning to get one... I knew it would be the perfect size and have some of the ornate-ness I was picturing!

Added a few mercury glass cups, I had admired at a favorite local shop and picked up over the weekend, and a pinecone wreath I got on sale at our local antique store... and TA-DA!!!

I love it when a vision becomes reality! I'm still planning to add some sprigs of holly or evergreen to the mercury glass, and we have to hang our stockings too, but I couldn't wait to share our mantel with you.

I hope it gives you some ideas for decorating in your home this season...

p.s. After school today, Shimmer and Shine picked a book from their remaining pile and it turned out to be this Look and Find Night Before Christmas activity book.

They spent a good 45 minutes searching out the hidden characters together, while I made some yummy chicken pot pie soup for dinner.