I’mmmmm dreaming of a bluuuuue Christmas.
OK, not really that kind of blue. I don’t want to feel blue, but with bringing some aqua blue into the living room this year, it only seemed fitting that I should add some pretty blue to the mantel for Christmas as well.
And I kept it much simpler than year’s past. I found 2 aqua mercury glass balls and figured out a way to make them a focal point and they were a fun find. Also picked up a $5 roll of blue and white ribbon from Old Time Pottery, so those were the only additions. The rest of the blues were things I picked up last year in the after Christmas sales. I love to open my bins and find stuff from the previous year that I promptly forgot about!And here we have the aqua mantel. I’m really diggin’ it a lot. I used a simple icey garland with pinecones that I found last year and reinvented the Target wreath that I found several years ago. It has a really natural feel and I can use it anywhere. Simple, but elegant. That’s what I was going for this year.I hung up the old gold picture frame that gets a lot of use around here, added the Target wreath in the middle. With the addition of a few small blue balls, it pops now. I think I found those aqua beads at Target last year and they were perfect for what I had in mind. I just draped them and added a few ornaments in strategic spots.
I thought the blue insulators would fit right into my scheme too and they look so pretty with the lights shining next to them.I love these pretty blue mercury glass ornaments (from Hob Lob). They were perfect for what I had in mind! Did you know you can’t take a pic of these without getting your own reflection? The 2 wreaths that I made last year out of moss collected from our woods are hanging from the iron sconces (which were yardsale finds last year). I looped the ribbon around them and that was it. These 2 clear glass candlesticks are from Pottery Barn, but you can bet I didn’t buy them from the store. Yep, yardsale finds for $1 each. Perfect for showcasing my new glass orbs.Simple. Pretty. Elegant. Blue.
Check!Here you can see my homemade moss wreaths. I love their natural green and brown hues and simply added a blue bell from each for some sparkle and shine. The snowflake ribbon adds some glimmer too.That aqua bowl was a yardsale find too and I loved bringing in all these pretty shades of blue for my mantel. The white pattern in the middle reminds me of snowflakes.
Draped beads and a few ornaments keep it simple.
These are so shimmery and glimmery, love that! As much as I love natural things for Christmas, I can never resist some sparkle and shine too.You can see the pretty snowflake ribbon here.So, that’s my mantel this year! I really love the blue accents in here and how it adds some nice cheer. Thanks so much for stopping by to see my mantel this year!It’s always fun to change things up and come up with new ideas.A glass cloche from Willow House sits on top of my pottery bowl. I love adding shiny baubles in bowls this time of year too.Pile them in a bowl and cover with glass. Instant elegance!
Are you doing anything different this year?
Don’t forget to stop by Layla’s Mantel party and link up your mantel too.
NOTE: She’s putting up her linky post at 12 Noon Central today. It’s so much fun to see what everyone does. Lots of inspiration out there! Just click the pic to go on over!
My vignette party will be coming up this Thursday, December 2nd, so I hope you’re getting ready to join me and the Linky too.
A vignette can be anything: table top, foyer, buffet, sofa table, coffee table, shelves, so many places to do fun vignettes, one of my favorite things to do. I’ll be sharing my kitchen!
The winner of the $50 Chantelle Nicole jewelry giveaway is lucky #44, Sylvia, who said this:
Love the little gems necklace. It would be a perfect gift for a dear friend.
I’ve emailed Sylvia already, congrats!
Mel says
So pretty and sparkly and shiny 🙂 It’s really lovely.
Judy Clark says
Rho:
Beautiful as always.
Merry Christmas,
Judy
Simple Daisy says
OOh….I love the aqua blues on the mantel!! My favorite color:)
I did turquoise on mine~
Makes me super happy!
Madigan at madiganmade says
Just lovely details! That blue bowl is gorgeous… and the insulator cap looks perfect up there (I love those!).
Carol@SofasandSage says
Hi Rhoda, it looks so pretty — I’m in love with the wreath inside the frame. I tried decorating my mantel last night but I feel so lousy with a cold — I should just fly you up to do mine this year!
Rene says
Your mantle is so fresh looking Rhoda. Nest time I see those insulators in the antique mall, I’m going to grab them. Love the moss wreaths you made.
-Rene
Pat@Back Porch Musings says
It’s beautiful Rhoda! I love that color. The glass candlesticks are fabulous. Everything looks wonderful with your new look in the living room.
I did a wreath in a frame again this year too. Mine is on the stairway going upstairs. Still working on the living room, so will save that for the living room post.
I have my mantel post up too. I decided to feature all our mantels here at home. Each one different, some faux some real.
Ricki Jill Treleaven says
How pretty, Rhoda! I love the way the turquoise color blends with your pretty cache pots on your planter and your coffee table. Very pretty! My mantle will be a challenge because I will have to decorate around (or maybe I should say under) a big ugly TV!!!
Heidi Milton says
Love the orbs on the the glass candlesticks– very clean look! BEautiful job, Rhoda, as always. 🙂
Mom on the Run says
I love it! My husband collected those insulators when he was a kid so we have a bunch….what a great idea. I impulsively bought a big container of plastic bulbs in that color at Garden Ridge about two months ago just because they were so pretty. Now I’m inspired!
susie harris says
Adore your aqua! It’s the hot color this year 🙂 Your living room is just stunning! During my visit there I could not get over all of the wonderful light that poured in. We could use some of that sunlight down here today. Thank goodness I took my photo’s a few days ago…..just in case. So glad that I did. Cant wait to spend the day visiting with everyone. Beautiful Rhoda and cant wait to link up with your party as well on Thursday.
Adrienne says
Beautiful! And so simple. Thanks for sharing this gorgeous mantel. I’m knee-deep in Christmas boxes but haven’t made a lot of progress with my decorating yet. Grandkids over during their Thanksgiving break and a busy chaplain ministry schedule have kept me from doing much. Soon it will start to look like Christmas around here!
Jane H. says
Absolutely gorgeous! Love using a nontraditional color! Love all the natural elements! It’s so fresh looking! So many exclamation points but it’s really just perfect!
Mary says
Very pretty! I love blue, especially this color blue! I also love the way you used those electrical insulators into this too! It’s very soothing!
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
Very pretty, Rhoda! I love the beaded garland with the ornaments!
Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal says
It’s just beautiful Rhoda! Love the colors you used. I really love the moss wreaths you made last year. How did you keep them looking so good for a year? I wish I had that much moss around but I may just have go buy some. They’re just so pretty.
Sharon says
Your mantel is so lovely. I just love the colors against that white mantel and marble surround!
Cindy @ Custom Comforts says
Everything is beautiful. It is nice to see Christmas displayed in different colors. Very delicate and refreshing.
Cindy
Janell Beals says
Love the blue!! I did blue/turquoise ornaments with a little pink thrown in last year, and was a big fan, but this kids wanted more color. So this year it’s a bit crazy with every holiday color…oh well! They are happy.
Janell
Vicki says
Absolutely beautiful, Rhoda! I’m using silver and sky blue this year, simply because I happened upon an old-fashioned tinsel tree with a color wheel, but I’m still working on the mantle.