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!
Beautiful color scheme – I especially like how you have hung the small wreathes from the sconces. Very creative. I’m going slow with my decorations – so far I only have the main tree up. You’ve inspired me to get started on the mantel today.
Rhoda,
I really appreciate your comment on my blog! Thanks for the help. I’ll do the same, buy at a good price, and do it slowly… I think the point of it is collecting pieces that you like, that reminds you of something special, making “Christmas memories” around your tree. 🙂
Many hugs,
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
So incredibly beautiful! I love all of the ornaments – especially the way you have some hanging from the bead garland. So light and airy!
Looks beautiful, Rhoda! I love the unexpected color of aqua for Christmas. The only thing I’m doing different this year is using silver accents instead of gold. 🙂 And I also didn’t get out a lot of my decor, I’m just tired of it. Know what I mean?
As usual, Rhoda, it’s lovely! I particularly like your inclusion of the insulators. Reminds me of the old days when phone lines were topped with rows of those. 🙂
Love the blue! It’s so sparkly and festive. I really like that it’s not the typical cliche christmas colors of red and green. Blue is a great alternative…reminds me of snow or something (: It’s beautiful, Rhoda!
Your blue mantle and my blue mantle should get together this Christmas 🙂 Sooooo lovely.
Love it!!! The aqua with whites and greens is outstanding. Enjoy!
xo,
cristin
Rhoda, very pretty colors. Love the aqua garland and the vintage aqua transformers mixed in. You are the second one I have seen using these colors this year and my sister is, too.
All of the aqua bits are gorgeous. I’ve noticed the turquoise/aqua trend for Christmas this year and I love it. I’m going to make sure I have aqua embellishments this year, too.
I am also loving aqua this year. Your mantel looks great and very festive. I am doing a few things different this year in my Christmas decorating, and it feels good to have something fresh and different.
Wow…im really loving the turquoise. I have this color in my bedroom but its so beautiful for Christmas. I just saw an episode of Color Splash and David used Turquoise and Lime green…it looked amazing. Im excited to join your party on the 2nd, although Im just getting started here in New Jersey. Happy Holidays
The architecture of your room is just stunning! I love aqua also!
Oh Rhoda it is gorgeous! That aqua-blue is such a pretty color and you really made it work!!
I’m really loving your mantel. It seems that blue is the “in” color this year to use for Christmas. I know I am on the bandwagon. I love the moss wreaths you made last year. Heck, I love everything about your mantel.
Love the aqua, Rhoda. This could be a feature in Southern Living magazine.
Rhoda, I love the aqua you used in the mantel. Everything is very festive and beautiful.
Happy Holidays,
Sherry
WOW! Love that shade of blue!
You did a great job decorating your mantel and I’m so glad you thought of the idea for the party. You’re such a smarty!!!
Layla 🙂
Hi Rhoda – I love your aqua mantle. I did a decorator tree this year for the first time , in the aqua, gold and white. I made the poufy treetop for the first time too, and used your directions from yours last year. Since the tree sits beside the fireplace the mantle is next. I loved yours using the insualtors. I need to dig some of ours out and try that. Thanks for your super ideas! Love your blog!
Rhoda!
I’m using aquas and turquoise blues along with soft golds and silvered
balls too— this year I suddenly am all agog over sconces-you made a wonderful find in these, and the wreaths hanging from them is genius.
I love your living room- the soft color on the walls is a beautiful background for this lovely “blue’ mantel…..
thanks for inspiring…. waiting to see the kitchen next!