A Christmas Mantel from Christmas Past

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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Ohhh my goodness...here we are with just 26 days until Christmas! The Christmas decorating marathon is about to begin at my place. I don't know about you...but it's always difficult for me to get my Christmas decorating done and blog at the same time. Yes...I'm old and I'm slow! Hehe! Anyway, I will be taking a little blogging break this week. In the meantime, I thought I would revisit a few posts from Christmas Past! I hope you enjoy!
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Christmas Past
December 6, 2009

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My Faux Fireplace Project

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Well my friends, I have posted about my faux fireplace project on Met Monday's for about three weeks now. I know that many of you have already seen the post that I am sharing today, however I thought it befitting to share it again for Met Monday...as the finale...so to speak!

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If you are interested in seeing how my faux fireplace evolved you can...

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Click HERE to see Part I

Click HERE to see Part II

and you can click HERE to see Part III

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and now...for the finale...

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A Christmas Mantel*

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Christmas 2009 at Happy To Design

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Hello my friends! It's time to let the Christmas decorating begin!
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The Christmas decorating has just begun at my house! I love Christmas...it's my favorite holiday of the year!!! I just can't wait to dig into all my boxes and start decorating! Ohhh boy...there is sooo much...it's almost overwhelming! I mean...what to put where? Hehe!
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*Brand New Faux Fireplace

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One of the things that I have been most excited about this year...as far as Christmas decorating goes...is being able to decorate my brand new faux fireplace mantel! I just finished the faux fireplace project this past month and I've just been "bitin' at the bit" to decorate it for Christmas! Hehe!

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A Christmas Mantel

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Ta Da!!! And...here it is...in all of its Christmasy glory!
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Creamy White and Gold Elegance

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As you can see...my living room is done in shades of olive green and deep reds with accents of gold. I really do love these deep, rich colors and they are very conducive for Christmas decor! Because of the deep shades of red and olive green...I thought it would be pretty to use a soft creamy white and gold for the Christmas decor in this room!
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A Christmas Mantel

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The mantel was my beginning point and primary focus for the living room!
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The "How To's" of Layering the Mantel's Decor.

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1. I placed a pine garland with white lights entertwined throughout the garland on top of the mantel allowing about 2 ft. to hang over each end.
2. Gold ribbon with flocked white trees was entertwined amongst the garland. I found this pretty ribbon for just a dollar at Dollar Tree.
3. Gold reindeer were placed at each end of the mantel. These pretty reindeer were 50% off at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago for $12 ea. Oooh...I just love the pretty filigree cut-work in the sides of the reindeer!!!
4. After placing the reindeer on the mantel...I decided it needed more so I "shopped" my house! Hehe! I found three chunky gold candleholders...and a decorative gold finial. I placed them behind the reindeer and it was just what it needed...lots of "layering" going on here!
5. For the centerpiece, I used a frenchy looking "Noel" sign that I purchased last year at Hobby Lobby's after Christmas sale...it was 90% off and only $4. It's a sizable piece standing 12 in. tall...just perfect for the mantel centerpiece!

6. Then I just scattered a myriad of gold ornaments throughout the Christmas mantel vignette.

7. Last but not least...I added a few creamy white poinsettias to the mix. The poinsettias brought in the creamy white that I had envisioned for the mantel vignette.
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And...Voila!!! An elegant gold and white mantel!
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A Christmas Mantel "All Aglow"!

* The next few photos are "night shots". This mantel really is soooo pretty at night with the Christmas lights that are entertwined throughout the garland turned on!
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I didn't have much success with getting good night photos. I'm not sure how that is done?
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Decorating the Hearth

* Honestly...I have changed the decor of the hearth several times...this is what I ended up with and I'm still "tweaking" it! Hehe!
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Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

You know...with all the fun of Christmas...the decorating, the gift exchanging, etc., the real reason for the season is Jesus!!! I love it all but I fear that our world has taken this momentous occasion...when we celebrate the birth of our dear Savior...and so commercialized it! My desire is to celebrate Jesus' birth and to bring Him glory in all that I do!!!

Do you see this very large, thick book (underneath the candles)? It is a very, very old family Bible that belonged to my husband's family! The first recordings of family births, baptisms, and deaths upon the old pages were made in the mid 1800's. This is truly a family heirloom...a treasure!!! I wanted to place it on the fireplace hearth...for Jesus is the reason that we celebrate Christmas in our home!!!
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On top of the old family Bible...I placed an old french table tray filled with gold and creamy white candles...a few little pearl berries can be seen twirling around the candles.
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My little french girl bust has also joined the hearth's decor...ahhh, so serene!

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I also added a couple of tall decorative iron candleholders with white pillar candles...to each side of the hearth. I just wrapped each pillar candle in a pretty creamy white Christmas ribbon...just letting a long length of ribbon hang down in front of the candleholders.
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Well my friends...there is still yet sooo much to do at my place! I guess I better get busy for Christmas will be here before we know it!
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Back to Chrismas Present...hehe!

I am joining these fabulous parties this week...

Metamorphosis Monday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.
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Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.
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Thank you so much, Susan and Marty...for hosting these fabulous parties for all of us to enjoy!
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Well my friends, stay tuned! I will be back with a few more posts from Christmas Past to share with you throughout the week!
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Warmest Wishes!

Sunday Favorites...No. 81

Welcome to the 81st "Sunday Favorites"

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!! For more information on how to republish a past post just click HERE.

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Hello my friends!!!

Welcome to the 81st run of "Sunday Favorites"!!!

I hope that you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! Our kiddos...Darrin and Danielle are here to spend the holiday with us. We had a fabulous Thanksgiving and now we are all just "kickin' back" and enjoying a quiet weekend at home! I hope that you all are enjoying your Thanksgiving holiday as well!!!

Well...now that Thanksgiving is behind us...many are beginning to think about the upcoming Christmas holidays. In fact, while the kids are here I am going to utilize their youth (and strong backs) and have them carry down all the Christmas boxes from upstairs. Starting Monday...Christmas decorating will begin at our place! Soooo...this week for Sunday Favorites...I thought I would share a few snippets from Christmas 2009. I hope you enjoy!

I am also joining in with The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday party today! Please go over and see what this talented lady has for us today...I know that you'll be glad you did!

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Just a little note: Sunday Favorites Criteria

When I first started the Sunday Favorites meme, my initial thought was to offer a solution for getting a post out on the weekend without having to spend alot of time doing so...weekends are just a busy time for most of us! Copying and pasting a previous post is so quick and easy. Not only is this a quick and easy solution to the busy weekends, but it's also an opportunity to dig back into our blog archives and share a favorite "past" post once again! Many of us spend alot of time and effort creating a post and it just seems a shame that it is viewed only once and then forgotten about!

I would like to reiterate that Sunday Favorites is a meme about sharing or revisiting a post from the PAST!

Thank you!!!

Wishing you all a super Sunday!!!

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Instructions for Participating in Sunday Favorites

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If you are participating in Sunday Favorites, please be sure to add your permalink and not your general blog address.

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Please copy and paste the Sunday Favorites logo button to your Sunday Favorites post or your sidebar so your visitors will know that you are participating. Also...please link back to the host blog, Happy To Design. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful blogs that are participating.

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Please do not add your link below, until your Sunday Favorites post is actually published to your blog.

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Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!

Love ya'll,

Chari

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Sunday Favorites

My favorite post from: November 19, 2009

Seasonal Snippets...*

Ohhh...do you know that we only have 35 days until Christmas? I'm so excited...Christmas is my favorite holiday!!!

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I'm trying to be patient...I mean, we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet! Hehe! So I will leave the dining room, which is presently decorated in all of its Fall finery, alone...until after Thanksgiving! However...I have started a little bit of my Christmas decorating in the living room.

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As many of you know...I just finished putting in a faux fireplace in my living room and I've just been "bitin' at the bit" to decorate that new mantel! Hehe!

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I'm not ready for the "reveal" but I wanted to share just a few "Seasonal Snippets" with you....

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so without further ado...

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Christmas 2009 at Happy To Design!

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Santa Claus is coming to town...
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I started collecting Santa Claus' about three years ago. I haven't gotten very far...I only have three! Hehe! This Santa is one of my favorites! He looks very elegant in his cream colored velvet robes...trimmed with gold...don't you think?
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Ahhh...just look at that sweet face! I love his kind and gentle eyes!!!
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And...where would Santa be without his reindeer? Hehe!
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I recently found this set of reindeer at Hobby Lobby. They were on sale for 50% off...yeehawww! I love the burnished gold and that fabulous filigree cut-work!
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Just a pretty French finial amongst some Christmas berries!
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Shhhh...I'll tell you a little secret! I have even started playing Christmas music already! I especially love listening to all the Christmas songs about the birth of Christ...my favorite!!!
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"NOEL"...french for Christmas! This beautiful "Noel" sign is another Hobby Lobby find. I bought it last year...during their "after Christmas" sale. I could hardly wait to get it out this year and use it! It really is beautiful...I love the french scrolled border! It's a nice sized piece...standing about 12 in. tall...and it's very heavy! If I remember correctly, I only paid $4 for it...it was marked 90% off!!! I love after Christmas sales...that's when I buy all my decorations!!!
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AND...I'm giving you a "sneak peak" at my brand new...decorated for Christmas...mantel!!! Stay tuned for the full reveal! Remember...this is about "Seasonal Snippets" today! wink!
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Joyeux Noel...

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Merry Christmas!!!
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I know...I know...it's a bit early! Hehe! But...it won't be long now...Christmas is drawing near! Have you started your Christmas decorating?

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Well my friends...thank you so much for coming by today! I hope that you enjoyed a few of my "Seasonal Snippets"! Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here...I'd love to visit with you!!!

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Love ya'll,

Chari

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Autumn Pears...A Thanksgiving Table

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Hello my friends...Happy Thanksgiving!
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Today is going to be a very busy day for many of us. Preparations for Thanksgiving are well under way at my place! We will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Friday when my step-children arrive. This year it will just be the four of us, nevertheless I am cooking a turkey with all the fixins'! Mmmm...I can hardly wait! Hehe!
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I have prepared a small, informal table in our dining room. I hope you enjoy!
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Autumn Pears...A Thanksgiving Table

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I have used autumn pears in so much of my autumn decor this year. At the beginning of the season I created a three tiered centerpiece for the dining room table filled with autumn's bounty. I decided to use this centerpiece for our Thanksgiving table and continue the theme of "autumn pears".
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The table is dressed in golden yellow, pear green, and warm browns...the colors of autumn pears!
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The Centerpiece...

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The Centerpiece was created using three tiers of glass pedestal cake plates. A tall, gold pillar candle sits on the top layer...along with a few wood pods and three miniature pumpkins. The middle layer is filled with autumn pears. Autumn berries, woody seed pods, nuts, and two yellow lovebird figurines decorate the bottom layer.
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A few wood acorns and autumn pears are scattered about on the gold table runner. I just love this beautiful gold table runner...it has white vines and leaves embroidered on each end! A pair of vintage Roseville pottery candleholders sit on either side of the three tiered centerpiece.
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The Place Setting...

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The same color theme of golden yellow, pear green, and warm brown form the layers of the "autumn pear" place setting.
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My latest treasure find...salad/dessert plates featuring pears! I found these pretty plates on Ebay...it was love at first sight! The pattern, Golden Pears by Julia Bullimore (1998) are from Crate & Barrel. The set of four plates features a different type of pear on each plate.
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I love this shade of pear green and the gold gilded leaves!
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A white ironstone dinner plate from my every day dishes.
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I found these beautiful leaf plates on sale at JC Penneys at the end of summer. They are the same shade of green as the pear salad/dessert plates. I love the way the leaf plate frames out the place setting! A brown charger plate with embossed autumn leaves on the rim completes the place setting.
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I love how the green, white, and brown colors of the place setting look together!
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A red autumn pear!
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The flatware is called Brahms by Oneida.
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The stemware.
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I layered two dinner napkins. The gold napkin matches the table runner and has the same white vines embroidered on it. The green and tan plaid napkin brings more of an informal feel to the setting! A wood napkin ring with embossed autumn leaves ties nicely in with the charger plate.
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And Voila!!! Autumn Pears...our 2010 Thanksgiving table!
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I am joining Tablescape Thursday this week...
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Hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.

I'm not sure if Susan will be hosting Tablescape Thursday this week due to Thanksgiving....but just in case! Hehe! Thank you, Susan for hosting this fabulous party for all of us to enjoy!

Well my friends, I have sooo much to be thankful for! The Lord is so good to me and my family! As I count my many blessings during this season of thanksgiving...I would just like to say that I count you and your friendship as one of my greatest blessings!!! I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with family...love...peace...and...joy!!!
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Warmest Thanksgiving Wishes...