Welcome to the 2nd annual Holiday Home link party! I’m covering mantels this year and I’m SO happy you stopped by! Don’t forget that next week, my friends, Kate and Sarah will also be hosting Holiday link parties. Kate’s up next Monday, sharing Holiday crafts and Sarah will be showing off her Christmas tree on Wednesday, the 14th, and you are all invited to link up as well, to show off your Holiday home!
This year, I helped my sister do a little decorating at her house. It’s driving her crazy not to do the total explosion of Christmas that she normally does, but that will have to wait til next year. She’s getting ready for a party this weekend at her house, so getting the mantel festive and pretty was on the list for us to tackle.
I decided I wanted to do a big white urn with paperwhites and the rest of the inspiration came from her shopping trip to Homegoods for most of the rest of the pretties that made up this mantel decorating. She got 2 large apothocary jars with lids that I filled with pretty shiny silver and mercury glass ornaments. She picked up some silver angels and other mercury glass pieces to fill in all the rest and we were ready to get started. Silver, white and green are our colors on the mantel.
I’d like to show you what a plain fake lighted garland looks like on a mantel without adding anything to it and then what a difference it makes to add fresh greens. I’m a huge fan of cutting the fresh stuff: magnolia, cedar, pine, holly berries, there are so many possibilities growing outside this time of year, so we took advantage of that. We drove around and found plenty of fillers to add the wow factor to this garland, so come along and see how it turned out.
We started with a plain fake lighted garland, which you can find anywhere. I’m sure you’ve got a bunch of these hanging around too. We began adding the larger main pieces to balance things out. The large urn in the middle was a stand in until I could bring over the big urn with paperwhites that have been growing. They aren’t quite ready for their photoshoot, but we do have a couple of blooms popping out.
Here’s the finished mantel, looking all cheery and happy with the addition of my 2 moss wreaths that I made last year, a fake wreath in the middle with silver accents, and the rest of the mantel is glass, silver and mercury glass pieces. Sparkly and shiny, it comes alive with the light of the garland bouncing around all that silver and glass.
See what a difference all the fresh magnolia makes. I’ll show you some closer shots too.
All you have to do is cut and poke these in place. The fake garland holds everything together just fine. Cut and poke! Easy peasy. Those are the two moss wreaths I made a couple of years ago.
You can see the 3 fresh greens I used on the mantel: magnolia, pine sprays and the softer feathery cedar, all found nearby. These textures add so much to a mantel and fake garland. The fake is just a good base to start with.
I added this vintagey glittery Merry Christmas that I picked up at a thriftstore a couple of years ago. Wonderful greeting for guests.
Glass, silver and mixed greens, it’s a great combo this time of year.
The paperwhites should all be blooming in a few more days. I added these sparkly tiny mercury glass ornaments to the base and love the effect. My sis found these at Homegoods too. They are so cute!
Here’s the view from the side of the mantel looking over to the huge white and silver tree we put up also. I’ll show you that in another post.
Right side of the mantel. You can see the large glass lidded jars are full of pretty and sparkly ornaments too. I love the simplicity of just piling in ornaments in glass or a beautiful bowl. We also wired on some silver ornaments to the garland too for a bit more sparkle and shine.
Mercury glass is so pretty and appealing and I have fallen for it big time, as has my sister.
Paperwhite blooms are just coming out.
I added my large hurricane to the coffee table with some additional huge mercury glass balls.
In the foyer coming in the door, we placed my tall prelit tree that I got from Ballards two years ago, full of the multi-colored ornaments I used last year. I love this happy colorful tree! That Saturday Evening post print of my sister’s really adds to the spirit of Santa.
Her family room console table holds a bit more sparkle and shine on burlap. Just a little more Christmas!
Thank you so much for stopping by the mantel party and I hope you got some inspiration this year from my sister’s mantel. We sure had fun putting it together and I think it turned out spectacular!
Feel free to link up YOUR mantel too! The more the merrier. Isn’t it fun to hop around blogland and see all the beautiful Christmas decorating that is going on now? That’s the fun of blogland, all the inspiration.
You can use the button to link back or a simple text link will do, but please do link back on your mantel post, so that everyone can find the party too!
I’ll also be linking up to my friend, Beth’s mantel party on Thursday! Stop by and get in on her party too!
Also, Julia from Hooked on Houses is having her annual Christmas tour, so I’m joining her too.
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
I’m so excited to see all the decorating! I love your paperwhites! I planted some amaryllis bulbs, but they aren’t blooming yet.
Thanks for hosting Rhoda!
Happy Holidays!
~Liz
Erin @ His & Hers says
Your mantel is looking so festive! I love your color scheme. Thanks for hosting! Merry Christmas! 🙂
nest of posies says
hello rhoda!
your sister’s mantel is so pretty. i love how you added all of the ornaments in the garland & the glassware. so festive. these parties are always so fun. they are one of my favorites to go through & visit.
thanks for hosting. have a super day.
kellie
Pat@BPM says
This is gorgeous Rhoda!
I added a link from the hearth room which has a sort of rustic vignette on the mantel.
Laura Putnam says
Rhoda,
Rhoda,
All linked and linked back – even if it is really early for me! Ha!
Love how you showed the garland in its plain state and then to see how pretty it became. Everything is really lovely – I love the color palette.
Thanks for hosting, excited to be here for the mantel party this year.
Take care, Laura
debbie says
Thanks for hosting Rhoda. What a gorgeous Mantel. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Cindy says
Gorgeous mantle! Love your soft colors and shimmer of silver! Merry Christmas!
Marlee says
Rhoda, you and your sis have outdone yourselves again! I love it all especially the touches of mercury glass. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Sarah Macklem says
Thanks for hosting the party, Rhoda. The mantle you created is absolutely gorgeous. The addition of the magnolia is fantastic! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
~Sarah
http://www.theyellowcapecod.com/
Laura @ The Steen Style says
Gorgeous mantel!! I love the mercury glass accents and the real greens. So pretty! Thank you for hosting the party. Merry Christmas!
Marianne@Songbird says
I love the combination of your silver and the greens on that wonderful white base. It looks very classy and stylish. Love the look.
Thank you for the party!
Have a wonderful Christmas time with your loved ones.
Marianne
Lisa~ says
Love the mantle! It’s beautiful. Thanks for hosting this link party. I’ve been looking forward to it all week. There’s nothing like a gorgeous Christmas mantle to make the holidays sparkle. Lisa~
Diane@InMyOwnStyle says
Hi Rhoda-
I enjoy seeing all the festive decorating going on here. It is so inspiring. Silver seems to be popular and I know why – it gleams and looks so festive. I linked up my faux mantel since the real one has a flat screen TV above it and it isn’t very pretty. I used the top of my piano as my mantel decorating space. I hope this is OK to still link up.
I love how you did your sister’s mantel. She must love when you come over 🙂 I think the little silver mercury ornaments in the paperwhites are so cute. I have a few of them and this is a great idea on how to use them. Thanks for hosting the linkup.
I hope you have a very happy holiday season.
My best- Diane
Carrie ~ The Corson Cottage says
Your paperwhites are beautiful. I love a fresh natural holiday! Your mercury glass is stunning! Happy Holidays! Thanks for hosting.
janet metzger says
Happy Holidays Rhoda!!
Your sister’s mantel is just beautiful!!!!
Well done ladies.
janet xox
Kathryn Dillon says
Rhoda,
I love the silver, white & green combination! It’s fresh & festive. The natural greenery is a wonderful idea to add to the artificial. I think I’ll go on a neighborhood hunt for some…..after the rain stops! Hope you enjoyed your birthday yesterday & the Christmas House.
Kathryn
Mr. Goodwill Hunting says
Rhoda,
Your mantel is so natural and I love it. I have been struggling to do something with mine. I am going to go throw the links and see what is up with everyone’s mantel.
Thanks for coming and supporting and Saturday.
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Erin @ Two Story Cottage says
I am so happy that you got to do a mantel this year! It is gorgeous too. Love that you showed the before & after with the greenery. My sister & I get along well but I’m not sure if we’d be on the same page with a mantel or not. Hmmm….
Kim @ Sand & Sisal says
Rhoda, the mantel turned out lovely! I love the clean green & white color scheme and all the twinkle and glitz is of the glass and silver is oh so classy. Thank you for hosting!