Christmas Mantel: Joy & Peace!

Yay Mantel Monday, and I actually have a new mantel for you! This year's Christmas mantel is finished and I'm so happy with it! 

I decided to use mostly metallics and whites this year. Of course, my favorite mercury glass Christmas trees made it on my mantel and well as a few other fun accents. The greenery was given to me by a friend and she got it for FREE at Home Depot. According to her, all you have to do is take a trip to the part of the store where they trim the trees and gather up their scraps. Don't you just love freebies?! Plus, the pine smells divine!

In a perfect world, I'd buy new stockings each year to go with the current mantel decor. But, hello, this is real life! So, I just stuck with my standard stockings. They're still pretty, if not metallic!

The mantle clips from Sterling Pear are working like a charm. If you remember, I shared a fun giveaway from Sterling Pear a few weeks ago.

Last week, I went to First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas with a friend of mine. One of the items I scored was this wooden, glittered PEACE sign for $5. Love it!

Are you wondering about the giant JOY? Well, I actually made them for my church's Christmas luncheon. They were part of the stage decor. I got the 28 inch cardboard letters at Joann's. First I painted them white using poster paint, then I used mod podge to apply iridescent white glitter the fronts and sides of each letter. After they were sealed and dry, I attached large snowflake ornaments with hot glue. Fairly easy, but a bit time consuming and VERY messy. So. much. glitter!

Don't forget to come back next Monday for a FUN Christmas Mantel Link Party with 4 of my creative bloggy friends! 

And, of course I'll see you tomorrow with a Christmas craft idea! 

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