• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

December 6, 2011

Heather’s Mantel~ Christmas Blogger Block Party 2011

mantel-2011-square-1
How exciting! The Christmas Blogger Block Party is underway and we hope you all are enjoying sharing your fabulous holiday décor and projects as much as we are! We’ve had so much fun seeing everyone’s Holiday Copycat Challenges over at Debbie’s and today we are thrilled to be linking our mantels over at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia.  
I will be sharing mine this morning and Vanessa will be sharing her TWO mantels this afternoon! Two posts in one day..whew!
I had so much fun decorating my mantel this year.  I wanted to go in a completely different direction from last year, using a soothing and crisp color palette.  I settled on white and green with touches of silver and gold!
I am so pleased with how it all came together.
DSC_0632_edited-2
My brick fireplace and oak mantel have always been a challenge for me.  Ideally I would have painted it white, but with all of the other projects going on around here it just wasn’t in the cards before Christmas.  I did repaint my fireplace screen a creamy white and feel it really brightened up the brick.
I took an old black frame I had and painted it silver and layered it behind my gold mirror.
mantel 2011-1
I made faux metal letters to spell JOY and hung them over the mirror with tiny silver tinsel.  I reused some garland I had that is very realistic and strung white lights through it. 
One of the few purchases I made this season were white vases from Ikea.  I love Ikea because they are so inexpensive and I knew they would have lots of crisp white simple pieces for my green and white theme.  
Vanessa also found these gorgeous white stockings with silver beaded snowflakes for me, I was so excited to have new stockings!
DSC_0642_edited-2
On one side I placed a tall white vase with one sprig of faux evergreen.  I piled a galvanized bucket with green ornaments I already owned.  I recycled a green wine bottle, wrapping it in layers of white and green ribbon and placing a tall white taper in it.  
I filled a pretty lacy white flowerpot with some green berries from the Dollar Tree and I glued two glittered stars from the Dollar Tree back to back and tucked it into the corner.
mantel 2011-2   DSC_0654_edited-1
On the other side I placed a small little green potted topiary in another little footed white flowerpot from Ikea and added an additional wine bottle to mirror to add symmetry with the other side. 
 I took an old copper rusted lantern and painted it white.  I filled it with green mirrored and glittered ornaments.  I found this pretty little live Christmas tree at Big Lots and I love the addition of some real greenery to the mantel.
DSC_0595_edited-1
I think in spite of the brick I was able to create a light bright and crisp mantel this year!
So are you ready to share your mantels at the Christmas Blogger Block Party? Head on over to Kristin’s to link your mantel up! Be sure to head back over here this afternoon to see Vanessa’s mantels and join us tomorrow for the Porches and Doors party here At The Picket Fence and at Judy’s at DIY By Design for the Banister party!
We also wanted to remind you that each party will be having FABULOUS giveaways sponsored by some of the most amazing online stores and websites!
sponsorgraphicfinal
We can’t wait to share the AMAZING giveaways…yes we said GIVEAWAYS (PLURAL!!) that we will be having at both parties here At The Picket Fence! 
Are you enjoying the Christmas Blogger Block Party? We sure hope so! We appreciate all of your participation and we look forward to partying with you all week! See you back here soon…At The Picket Fence!
signature
This post is partying at:



From My Front Porch To Yours: 2011 Holiday Mantel Party
Home Stories A to Z: Christmas Mantel Link Party
Funky Junk Interiors: SNS Mantels and Stockings Party

46 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Decorating, Good Ideas, Holiday Blogger Block Party, Holidays

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Citrus and Evergreen~A Christmas Copycat
Next Post: Two Mantels…One Meaning~ Vanessa’s Turn! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    I LOVE it Heather! I love all the white and green together, and JOY looks perfect on your mirror!! Martina

    Reply
  2. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    Looks beautiful! I love the green bottles too! Have a great day, I am still bopping around the holiday copy cat challenge party…WOW, what fun!

    Reply
  3. Pattie says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    Heather, I love it… The color green you picked is perfect….Happy Holiday from me to you !

    Reply
  4. CAS says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    It’s beautiful, Heather! I love those shades of green, & mixed with with, gold & silver…..yummy!
    CAS

    Reply
  5. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Heather, your mantel looks great! I love that green!! It looks really fresh against the white and silver. Very pretty!

    Reply
  6. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    Beautiful, Heather! I love your green and white combo and think you did a great job of keeping it light. Love the different containers you used and how you set everything up.

    Reply
  7. Gail says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:46 PM

    Heather, your mantel looks beautiful and you definitely achieved the look you were going for. I love it!

    Reply
  8. Vicki @ CurlyWillow says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    Beautiful Mantel Heather! I went super simple this year too! And just got it done last night. Can’t wait to see Vanessa’s post this afternoon. Have a great, great day!

    Reply
  9. Maria Elena says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    Oh, Heather, it is gorgeous! Green is my all time favorite color so I am just loving your mantle! Great inspiration!

    Reply
  10. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Your mantel looks beautiful, Heather! The green and white look fabulous together! Has a French Bistro look to it.

    Reply
  11. Carmel @ Our Fifth House says

    December 6, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    It all looks beautiful! I love the fire screen!

    Reply
  12. The Yellow Cape Cod says

    December 6, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    This is my favorite mantel project of 2011. Absolutely gorgeous.

    Reply
  13. Gina says

    December 6, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    I love it! The green & white are just perfect.

    Reply
  14. Shelia says

    December 6, 2011 at 2:39 PM

    Oh, my goodness, Heather! Your mantel is so beautiful, shiny and bright! I love your fireplace screen too! JOY to you! 🙂
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  15. Sarah says

    December 6, 2011 at 2:46 PM

    Very pretty-I especially like the balls in the lantern.

    Reply
  16. Betsy@ coastal-colors says

    December 6, 2011 at 2:53 PM

    This is so pretty! I love the use of green and white. It really lightened up your brick! I love Ikea too. They have the best prices and lots of white accessories. Your mantel is so chic!

    Reply
  17. Bethany @ 3SonsPlus1...and... says

    December 6, 2011 at 3:00 PM

    Very pretty and festive! Love the colors you chose!

    Reply
  18. Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    December 6, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    Just really beautiful…love it all…so fresh…the green is lovely.

    I have a question for you…on your fireplace screen…did you paint it and if so, what kind of paint did you use? There is one at the antique store that I have walked by, stopped and considered at least 100 times and it is black…I love your white one and I think white would look great in my family room too.

    Thank you to you and Vanessa for sharing and for hosting this very fun Christmas Block Party!

    Kristine

    Reply
  19. Cottage and Broome says

    December 6, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    Love the mantel so beautiful, the colors are great. I’m your newest follower, please stop by when you get a chance. Laura Cottage and Broome

    Reply
  20. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    December 6, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    Your mantel is so pretty! I love the pops of green, so festive! The party is going so great!!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  21. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    December 6, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    What a great color combination Heather. I love the fresh look.

    Reply
  22. michelle says

    December 6, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    It looks so beautiful! I love the greens mixed with the silver and gold, very pretty.
    xoxo

    Reply
  23. FABBY'S LIVING says

    December 6, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    Beautiful Heather and I love the color combination, with the glittery type. I love your JOY in the mirror, so very pretty. Hugs, FABBY

    Reply
  24. Ruby Jean says

    December 6, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    Oh I LOVE the contrast between the White and Apple Green.. Your Fireplace Gate is Gorgeous…

    Reply
  25. Coley says

    December 6, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    What a gorgeous mantel! The colors and textures are gorgeous together!

    Reply
  26. Calypso In The Country says

    December 6, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    That is an absolutely beautiful mantel! I love the green and white.
    -Shelley

    Reply
  27. Shannon@FoxHollowCottage says

    December 6, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    The mantle looks gorgeous. The lime it so vibrant & it has just the right sparkle. My mantle is a pain in the booty too but I didn’t notice anything but how fresh and pretty it looked all dressed up for the holiday!! Merry Christmas.

    Reply
  28. Junebug says

    December 6, 2011 at 6:42 PM

    I love the JOY hanging in front of the mirror. I sure hope you don’t mind but I’m stilling the idea for my mirror, that is if I ever get to decorate for Christmas. Your entire mantel is so pretty.

    Reply
  29. NanaDiana says

    December 6, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    Heather- What a joyful mantle! I love how fresh and crisp and lovely everything looks! You did a marvelous job. xo Diana

    Reply
  30. Jen @ Creating with the J's says

    December 6, 2011 at 7:28 PM

    Beautiful! I have looked at it a couple times now and still can’t decide what my favorite part is.

    Reply
  31. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    December 6, 2011 at 8:02 PM

    Loving all the green and white.

    Reply
  32. Tammy@Beatrice Banks says

    December 6, 2011 at 8:42 PM

    The white and green is just as pretty and crisp as can be! Love it!

    Reply
  33. Christie says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Heather, your mantel looks AWESOME! The colors are great and festive and I love the ‘JOY’ hanging in front of the mirror! The Blog party is so much fun! Thanks for hosting it! Christie

    Reply
  34. Cindy says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    My brick fireplace is a challenge for me too Heather! White, green, silver and gold…oh so pretty!!! Love the JOY hanging on the mirror!

    Reply
  35. debbie refresh restyle says

    December 6, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    Love the layered frame/mirror! Your colors are so beautiful, love the green with the white! You really know how to dress a mantel! Everything looks wonderful!
    Debbie

    Reply
  36. Brandi says

    December 6, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    Heather, your mantle is gorgeous! I absolutely love every single detail! The green and white together is soooooo pretty!
    Could you please come help me decorate my home next?! 🙂

    Reply
  37. Chari at Happy To Design says

    December 6, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    Hi Heather…

    I’m just coming over from Pamela’s mantel party! Ohhh my…I love your color choice…the bright white and bright green is sooo pretty and cheerful! You did a beautiful job, my friend! Thank you so much for sharing your Christmas with us today!

    Warmest Christmas Wishes,
    Chari

    Reply
  38. Debbie says

    December 6, 2011 at 11:44 PM

    Yes you did! I absolutely love it. I wanted to put those very colors in my house more this year, and every time I turned around, I was sticking up red instead.(That’s because I’m so stinking cheap and have a lot of red in good shape.) There’s hope though! I think that gorgeous mantel could lead you right on through the new year, and I intend to try to copy cat it then.

    Reply
  39. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    December 7, 2011 at 12:34 AM

    Beautiful, Heather! The white and lime green are really pretty together.
    xo,
    Sherry

    Reply
  40. Kelly says

    December 7, 2011 at 1:30 AM

    You and your sister have done such a great job on your mantels. I like how you spelled out JOY and then added so many pretty things around it. Love your simple colorscheme too.

    Reply
  41. Judy Bigg says

    December 7, 2011 at 1:43 AM

    Love your green and white together, I used it too on my mantel. Very unique.

    Reply
  42. Sophia's says

    December 7, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    Love your mantel! Gorgeous pictures too. I love the colors… so crisp and clean.

    Kristen

    Reply
  43. jessica says

    December 7, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    Love the look!

    Reply
  44. Lisa @ Shine Your Light says

    December 8, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    Heather your mantle is lovely! Looooove the green and the bottles as candleholders are so fun!

    Reply
  45. Maggie @ Black and White {Side by Side} says

    December 8, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    One of my favorites!!! Linked back to you in a little post on my blog 🙂 https://sidebysideblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-mantel-ideas.html

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 25 Stunning Mantel Decoration Ideas for Christmas says:
    December 2, 2013 at 4:14 PM

    […] Warm & Cozy The green garland really pops out from the gold background. source @ atthepicketfence […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

Grandma’s Banana Bread

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022
  • Vintage Inspired Hot Cocoa Bar November 21, 2022
  • Autumn Home Decor Tour October 7, 2022
  • Built In Shelving Makeover in Family Room August 31, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.

While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.

We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.

If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.

And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence