Hello friends, I’m so excited!  Today we kick off the Holiday Home link parties, and this Tuesday is all about mantels!  My amazingly talented friend Layla is hosting a holiday party ~ she’ll be posting at noon (with a crazy beautiful DIY project), be sure to link up!

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This year, after transforming our living room into the space I’ve envisioned, adding wainscoting, and brightening the space, inspired by gray blues, white, and gold, I’ve decorated our mantel oh so simply, keeping it elegant, but with the most inexpensive decor.   

I believe that it doesn’t take a lot of money or effort to create a beautiful mantel.  Just greenery, some old standbys, plus a favorite color of the moment, and you can create for yourself a gorgeous holiday focal point.  My mantel is a mix of something old, something new, simple ornaments, and a hint of blue. 

The Casbah mirror is a floor sample from Lamps Plus, previously bronze, but I spray painted it a glam gloss white and turned it on its side ~ I mentioned the makeover in this living room post.   For the ‘something old’ I have my standby ornament wreath I’ve had for over five years.  I used it last year in my silver and gold sideboard display, but this year it holds the prominent place on the mantel mirror.   Ornament wreaths never fail ~ I think they are a new classic!

The ‘something new’ pieces are the Pottery Barn quilted lined velvet stockings, which I contemplated making, but with various discounts turned out to be worth the expense for the quality.  I love them!  I had them personalized with my three kids’ names but *sneaky CG*  I blurred their names so (tee hee hee) the mystery of their identity continues . . .  :-)   

The gorgeous blue bottle comes from a Russell & MacKenna giveaway that I won from my friend Sarah’s blog a few months back.   Isn’t it stunning?  Time and again I return to my love of colorful blown glass!

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I’m also big believer in fresh greenery for scent and organic appeal, so I spend a few dollars every season on cedar and fir.  I need that smell!  Often, I clip greens from my own backyard, how cheap is that?   But I always add a little of the faux here and there to give the fresh greenery a boost.  You can see some faux glittery swags on the very ends, slipped in for sparkle and flair. 

On the right side of our mantel is a my old apothecary jar ~ always a faithful servant ~ this vessel never fails to deliver the perfect display time and again. 

I used in the same way in last year’s pink and gold mantel.  This year I’m sticking with a medley of metallics, gold, silver, pewter and bronze, and also a favorite shade of blue. 

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The bowl I found on super clearance at Pier One a year ago for about $10 dollars.  I love its speckled leopard like pattern.  Every once in awhile, I find something cheap and chic that speaks to me ~ that bowl is part of my ‘cheap and chic’ collection! 

In my book, piling different colored ornaments in glass vessels is the best and most inexpensive way to add sparkle to your home during Christmastime.  The triple bead garland cost me $4 bucks at Tar-jay, love!  It’s swaged and attached to the cedar with floral wire. 

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Do you spy a new mirrored gold leaf cocktail table? 

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I saw this end table on One Kings Lane a month ago and had to have it!  Are you signed up to receive emails from them?  Designer goods at clearance prices, what’s not to love?  

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Mixed metallics and shades of blue speak to me this year. 

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What inspires you this season?  Won’t you join in the festivities? 

Link up your mantel to Layla’s party later today!   If you follow me on Twitter, I’ll let you know when the party is live! 

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Greetings friends, happy Monday!  So much preparation for the holidays going on this week, ’tis the season for crafting too!   I like to add a few items to our holiday decor every year, both store bought and handmade.  Over the weekend, I made two of these ‘Peace’ dove ornaments.

Here’s the simple way I created it:

I found a dove illustration on the internet, then snagged the image and copied it on plywood, cutting it out with my jig saw.  You can make anything with a jig saw and some leftover plywood!  Letters, shapes, any kind of image you like!   If you don’t have a jig saw, consider it for a gift from Santa to you!  You’ll love what it can do.

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Congratulations to the following winners of the final three giveaways from last week:

For the two $50 shop credits to Recessionista:

#142 Courtney: "Oh, I’m loving the chunky black bead necklace & earrings or the chunky flower necklace set.  Definitely would get some jewelry."

#255 Teresa N.: "I was having trouble choosing until I saw these: Bandolino Women’s Envigor Peep Toe Pump in Dark Red.  Definitely my favorite!"

For the two $50 shop credits to Oops I Knit It Again:

#50  Ashley S: "l love the boys’ football beanie stocking cap! My best friend is having a baby boy in January"

#207  Sara T: "I would love the pink button hat for my little girl due in a week. Then I would love to give it my photographer friend to use for her newborn sessions!"

Finally, the moment is here!  The winner of the Silhouette craft cutter is . . .

#908:  Emily Parker

"There are endless possibilities with a Silhouette!!  What a dream to own one!!"

Well congratulations Emily, because now you do !

Since today is Cyber Monday, you have only one day to purchase a Silhouette at the biggest discount in its history: 

$100 off today only with the code CENTSATIONAL 

The Silhouette is regularly $299, but today only it is $199 !!

You’ll receive software for Windows XP/Vista AND Mac, two cutting mats, one set of blades, a $10 gift card to the online store PLUS you’ll also get one roll of cream vinyl, one roll of transfer paper, and a home decor CD thrown in for free if you purchase on Cyber Monday before midnight EST with the code CENTSATIONAL .

If you’re thinking about it for you or someone special, today is the day to buy!

Be back soon with more holiday related fun . . .

Congratulations to the winners !!

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Hello!  I finished up another crafty little project yesterday with my Silhouette !  This simple seasonal pillow was created with the use of vinyl cut with my Silhouette and fabric paint.

I created the letters with the Silhouette font tool, then cut them out with the cutter.

I used fabric paint to create the word ‘noel’ with soft green metallic paint.  I use the Tulip and Scribbles Dimensional fabric paints found at Michaels (or other craft stores). 

Then I stitched up a quick pillow cover with the linen fabric. Easy!  You can use this same technique to create pillows with your child’s name, the date you were married, any sentimental word! 

Have you entered the Silhouette giveaway?  There’s still time until the end of today!  I’m announcing the winner first thing tomorrow, but if you’re not the lucky winner, remember Silhouette is having their super Cyber Monday sale tomorrow only!

Enter the code CENTSATIONAL and you’ll get $100 off your purchase of a Silhouette craft cutter (tomorrow only), so tell your honey it’s only $199!  This is the first time they’ve ever been offered at such a discount (regular price is $299), plus Silhouette is throwing in $70 worth of crafting supplies to get you started.

Have you started your holiday mantel?  Layla’s party is Tuesday, so be sure to link up!

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“I know you’ve seen them at Pottery Barn, those adorable book shelves that look like ladders, but they are $299 a unit!  

 

 

When I saw this ladder at the Habitat ReStore for $15 I knew it had the potential to fulfill my ladder shelf dreams.

 

I hauled the old ladder home and transformed it into shelves perfect for my home!  

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