Winter Mantel 2012

2012 mantel.....

How do you make a mantel with the TV as the focal point beautiful?

(sigh) I made an attempt to do so while keeping it simple

but sparkly for Christmas.

(I don't like to show off electronics - but this set up is functional)
You can see how I framed in the TV here.

I usually love a natural theme and this may look a little that way, however, the paper whites are fake. Come to think of it...All the greenery is fake. So it's NOT natural, as much as I'd like it to be.

Along the mantel ledge are white twinkle lights, faux snow, a frame covered in moss with a dangly pine cone, faux paper whites, candles, lantern and a barn star. On either end hangs a frosty looking wreath.

(I still need to find our stockings)

Below is a large window that needed a place to safely rest.
Our fireplace isn't working so I placed candles on the window
for a fire flickering sort of ambiance.

Each candle is attached with a hose clamp and a little nail to the wood frame (see how here). They dangle from craft wire. It just worked out that I could place them in the shape of a tree.

The faux trees are from Hobby Lobby. I placed them on top of paint cans and wrapped the bases in a twiggy table runner.
(I cut the runner for this project and now it is falling apart).

If you look close you can see the paint can. I flocked the tree with a light coat of white spray paint - yes, spray paint. Then dropped some "real" faux snow over that. :) This part of the room had plenty of twinkle lights so a little silver bead garland gave the small trees enough shine.

In the corner opposite the big Christmas tree is our pretty bird cage filled with greenery and twinkle lights. The rest of the table runner sits below - looking a lot like kindling. The old fashion Santa is a family decoration that I just inherited from my grandmother. He's really cute.