This year, I wasn’t going to decorate for Christmas until we move in a couple of weeks. Yes, we are moving. I haven’t said much about it because we’ve been waiting and praying and waiting and praying. I’m thrilled with the prospect of moving into a 1950s home that needs updating. There are many projects to share with you. I’m so thankful that I can bring you along on this exciting remodeling/DIY journey! 
Back to Christmas decorating…
When I saw that four of my favorite home decor bloggers – Layla, Sarah, Rhoda and Kate – were hosting a Holiday Home celebration, I couldn’t wait to participate. But I decided that it would be too late because of the moving rig-a-ma-roll…
…Until this morning, when I caved and decided to decorate my mantel for Christmas!
{swoon}
This year, I used everything that I already had on hand. I “shopped” my house and my garage for everything that you see here. I’m literally *in love* with my pine cone and book page wreath. Stay tuned for a wreath tutorial coming in the next few days! Shh…don’t tell, but it cost me less than $10! :)
I love all the neutral colors! I’m considering phasing out the red and going with all neutrals, but I haven’t fully decided yet. My homemade hurricane vases are great for every season – I love them filled up with ornaments!
I strung ornaments {that I got at Walmart last year} on ribbon and taped them {yes, thank you Scotch} to the picture frame. Perfection!
Poofy red stuff that I’ve had forever. I love it!
More fabulous {cheap} ornaments that I hung on my $1.00 yard sale window. This window has been sitting in the garage just begging to be used. I’m excited that I finally found a home for it!
One of my cigar boxes that I snatched up at a yard sale for next to nothing. They are wonderful and SO versatile!
{stockings}
I found these last year at Hobby Lobby for 50% off!
I love Christmas decorations!
{beautimous}
One last peek at my Christmas mantel. I was going to turn on the fireplace for an extra cozy photo, but the pilot light is out and I’m a bit petrified of blowing up the house. So, I’ll just wait till my hubster gets home from work.
Just imagine a beautiful, warm, roaring fire.
What is your favorite color to decorate with at Christmas?
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Myra, so perfect. Looks like it is right out of a magazine!
Merry Christmas!
Shannon´s last [type] ..Kid Kraft 2-in-1 Train & Lego Table 7649
Mwah! Thanks Shan, you’re the sweetest!
I love it! I just cleared off my mantle yesterday and now I have a clean slate! I’d better get movin’! Tonight is house decorating night and I can’t wait to get started! PS. I’m totally using your ornaments on ribbon idea! brilliant!
Donna S´s last [type] ..Craft Night – Coffee Filter Wreath
Thanks Donna!
I hope your decorating is going splendidly!
Beautiful! Just what I needed for a little kick to get mine done today. I too have red, at least for 1 more year, then I might decide to phase it out. Congrats on the move…moving this time of year is crazy-we did it twice! But you have to have a little bit of holiday cheer in the midst of the craziness!
Thanks Rebecca for your sweet comment! I’m not thrilled about moving, but I’m SO excited to be moving into a house that needs some TLC!
It amazes how you can take such random things and turn them into beauty! It is definitely a gift – and one that I don’t have! Beautiful!
Melinda´s last [type] ..Advent For Kids
Awww, thank you Melinda….you are just so kind!
OH my word! It’s GORGEOUS! Ummmm…can you come over and help me please I am so decoratively challenged ugh! Thank you for the up close pictures – I might just try one or two of these things – I have the greenery with a ribbon wrapped on it – but all the hanging bulbs I would never have thought of – it’s beauitful!
Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
Courtney
Courtney(WomenLivingWell)´s last [type] ..Peace On Earth December Challenge – Come Link Up!
Girl, you know I’d LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE to come help you decorate! Oh my word how much fun we would have!
Thanks for your sweet comment!
That looks beautiful!! My mantel will never look that beautiful because we have a large flat screen over ours
Cyndi Spivey´s last [type] ..BlissDom Conference Giveaway!
Thank you Cyndi! You are just so sweet!
You’ve done it again! Absolutely stunning.
Cherie´s last [type] ..Marked with a Seal
Gorgeous! I didn’t realize you were moving, did you sell your home already? We need to catch up girl
~Liz
Liz@HoosierHomemade´s last [type] ..Cupcake Corner- Christmas Cupcakes
Thanks Liz!
We are moving and our house is still on the market. 
Yes, we need to Skype sometime!
i LOVE the use of silvers and golds. your mantel looks gorgeous, even if you will have to take it to down to move. for the time being, it is bringing you joy. i’d say that’s worth it!
You are so right! Thanks for your sweet, encouraging comment!
it looks beautiful!
i’m not sure what is my favorite. i love the ornaments on ribbon, but i think the frames (windows?) help stage the entire setting. (even though they aren’t christmas-ey) i think the frames set the stage for the entire look.
gorgeous.
we live in an 1920′s home…it is so fun to decorate/remodel an older home. but, i like old.
stay warm & dry. we are getting tons of rain in TN too.
That is so pretty! I love it. What a wonderful idea for the ornaments on a ribbon. Im so going to use that
Becca´s last [type] ..Prettify Your Thanksgiving Table in 20 minutes
Lovely! That pinecone wreath is fantastic and good for you for decorating even though there is a move in the near future! It looks great.
Beth@A2Z´s last [type] ..Christmas Family Pictures
Thank you so much Beth!
xoxo
Myra, that is GORGEOUS!! Oh, I sooo wish I had a fireplace just so I could decorate the mantel! I love the neutral colors and all the items that aren’t typical Christmas decorations. Can’t wait for your wreath tutorial!
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Cyber Monday Deals- Up to 80 off at Toys R Us Free Shipping on Select Items
Thanks so much Stephanie!
Okay, so I feel like such a dork for being so busy and not getting back with you about your kitchen. Can we still be friends? {blush} xoxo
We’re decorating in blue, green and silver again this year. These colors appeal to my teens more than the traditional ones, but I still slip in the red and green. I love the window frame with the ribbon/balls hanging from it! Now gotta go clear my mantel!
Oooo, I’m loving all the blues, greens and silvers I’m seeing this year. Totally adore!
This is just gorgeous! Really and truly looks like a magazine cover! I absolutely LOVE the traditional colors….red,green,gold silver…so,so festive! Now I have inspiration for mine. I was already going to have balls on ribbon hanging from a chandelier. I got the idea from a Crate and Barrel catalog, where they were selling expensive “kissing balls.” Couldn’t afford them, so I went to the Dollar Store and they had quite large Christmas balls. Love what you did!
Thank you so much Vieve!
Blessings!
This is just beautiful. I love that you shopped your house. Using the window and picture frame was inspired!
Myra, it’s LOVELY!
Thank you so much Alicia!
xoxo
Myra, I just adore your mantel!! Love that you shopped the house, I did some of that too. Fun to bring all those ordinary elements together for a blingy Christmas look. The window and hanging ornaments IS magical!! Great job, my friend.
Yeah pinecones. Love pinecones, especially pinecone wreaths.
Your mantel turned out lovely I can see why you are so happy with it.
Woot! Thanks Marianne!
How do you hang your stockings from the mantel? It is gorgeous!!
Allison, I have a secret…I just use the wired garland branches to hang the stocking with. Now, it won’t work if you put a bunch of stuff in the stockings, but for “looks” it works just fine.
Myra!
It’s beautiful! I am so glad you decided to do it, so we could enjoy its wonderfulness.
I love the windows and the wreath. Heck, I love the whole “feel” of your mantel. Gaw-gess!
Traci
I love that wreath!!!!! I think everything looks really pretty. I love the ornaments hanging from the ribbons. Great idea!
Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top´s last [type] ..Christmas Treats
Thank you Carmen!
What a great mantel. I really enjoyed looking at it all.
It looks perfect! I love it all and how you shopped the house. The wreath is beautiful!
Debra from Bungalow´s last [type] ..Mantel 2010 Red Christmas
I think shopping the house deserves extra kudos! Love the window with the ornaments – just darling!
Awww, thank you SO much Kristen!
I absolutely love the lantern light thingie.
Your mantel is simply gorgeous and it’s totally OK to decorate even if you are moving soon. We moved into our new house a year ago just seven days before Christmas. I had the previous place decorated and somehow managed to deck the halls in our new place in between unpacking. 
Christmas deserves it! 
arminda´s last [type] ..our christmas mantel
Thank you so much for your encouragement. It’s so hard to know what to do, but I’m thrilled that I decorated.
Where’d you get the Poofy red stuff? Love it! Love the whole thing. BEAUTIFUL!
Alyssa´s last [type] ..Tithing What’s a Christian To Do
Hmm, I think I got it at a junky resale store, but I think craft stores carry something similar.
So creative. I am impressed how this all looks like it belongs together, but if I look at each thing individually I wouldn’t picture it making sense. Very talented!
Sarah´s last [type] ..Sustaining A Simple Lifestyle
Thank you Sarah for your sweet comment.
Um, Jealous.. Love the mantel. Gorgeous. I love the ornaments hanging on the frame. Great idea. I have a few extra frames hanging out I can do that with. Have a great day.
Thanks for your comment Shannon!
Happy December 1st!
I love the “poofy red stuff”! It adds so much color. I really like to accent a lot of our Christmas decorations with gold, too, so I also enjoy the gold touches. Great job!
Rachel T.´s last [type] ..Advent 2010
Thanks for your sweet comment Rachel!
The poofy red stuff is fabulous to decorate with! 
Awwww! It’s beautiful
Angelica´s last [type] ..Yummy Caramel Dipping Sauce
Aww, thanks for your precious comment!
This is GORGEOUS!
I love,love,love that wreath!
Thank you Jen!
Fabulous, Cuz!
Is that the window you got when we went yard sale-ing? Would love to do something like that over ours, but that pukey green paint would look rather hideous shining through a window! Lol
Mandy´s last [type] ..30 Day Giving Challenge- The Wrap-Up
Actually yes, that $1 window!
Lovin’ it!
I hate you. In a good way, I’m just jealous, man you have a gift!!
Cheryl@SomewhatCrunchy´s last [type] ..Woof Woof!
HAHA! Thank you girl! I pretty much adore you.
Love this, Myra! And I too love cigar boxes. I use them all over. I have a stack on my dresser that hold various jewelry pieces, etc.
Teri Lynne Underwood´s last [type] ..Book Review- One in a Million
Thanks TL!
xoxo
Very pretty! I just love your wreath!!
Thanks Michelle!
Absolutely magical…I can’t stop looking at your pictures!! Compliments to you!!
Thank you SO much!
Myra, I adore the wreath and your stockings are so fabulous! Great matle decor!
I have a $200 Giveaway from Fifi Flowers!
Do come and enter!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Karena´s last [type] ..Fifi Flowers Giveaway 200 Value
aww–LOVE the mantle! and, I was CRACKING up about the blowing up thehouse comment. I’d be scared, too.
I can’t wait to decorate – it’ll have to wait till we get home form DISNEY WORLD — our daughter’s cheer team won first place everywhere, and are competing at Nationals next week, but you gave me so many good ideas… and I have a few windows in the garage waiting for some love! LOVE the hanging ornaments- might try that with a few of our “special” ones that I won’t put on our tree this year since we have 2 new, crazy kittens! Only plastic for us this year!
Wendy´s last [type] ..Here We Come- Nationals!
I love, love that pinecone/book page wreath! Good luck with your move and enjoy your bit of Christmas till then!
Sarah
The Thriftress´s last [type] ..Christmas 2010- Family Room Mantel
I love too pinecone/book page wreath. Have a nice Christmas …take care and thanks for sharing with us.
inflatable christmas
Sam Aliie´s last [type] ..Inflatable Christmas
I love how you did some of the balls going down the frame and the others across, little details that add up to lovely! I joined Layla’s mantle party, too! Lezlee