Deck the Halls Blog Hop - Christmas Vignette

I grew up in Ohio, I remember curling up in front of the fireplace with a good book. It was one of my favorite things to do… ( I WAS *cough* a total nerd:). I have since moved to Florida where fireplaces are scarce, and are not really practical. Well, just because I don’t have a fireplace doesn’t mean I need to miss out on decorating a festive mantle! In lieu of a mantle, I “decked” the shelves!

If you are looking for more seasonal inspiration. Make sure you check some of my favorite blogger buddies, they have plenty of great ideas on how to “deck the halls” this holiday season!

Blank Canvas

I have a floating shelf that is mounted above the television in our living room. It was my perfect canvas to create holiday magic! ( If you are interested to see how I turned an Ikea Shelf into a rustic ledge you should check out this tutorial! )

“Gifts” ie. Cardboard Boxes

When staging a shelf, I always start by placing my largest items. In this case, I used large boxes wrapped as gifts.

Mercury Glass

Next, I wanted to add a new texture and a bit of glam. I used vases from a thrift store, and turned them into mercury glass.

Mercury glass is pretty simple to make! Just use “Looking Glass” spray paint (no other kind will work). Spray it into your container. Next use a spray bottle containing 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water. LIGHTLY spritz the inside of the container with the mixture. Directly after use a hairdryer and dry the inside.If the paint and liquid are settling on the bottom, slowly turn the container as you dry it. It creates this beautiful aged patina on the inside of any glass container!

Greens

A few years ago we upgraded our Christmas tree. Instead of getting rid of the old one, I dismantled it, and now use the greens for decorating.

Grapevine Balls

I wanted to add another texture, and the grapevine balls were the perfect addition! ( you cab get them at a lot of craft stores in the floral department)

Candles and Magnolia Leaves

I next added a few white candles from the Dollar Tree! It added just a little bit of color contrast I was looking for. The finishing touch was adding a few magnolia leaves. I have magnolia leaves as a common theme throughout the rest of my Christmas decor, this tied my mantle in perfectly!

There you have it folks, a quick and easy approach to a rustic “mantle makeover”! A big shout out and “thank you” to our lovely and talented host Jen from House of Wood!