O Holy Night Mantel

The shopping, cleaning and wrapping are done.  The cooking has been started and Christmas is almost here!  So, as promised, I'll share the remainder of the decorating I did with the thrift store finds I shared with you HERE along with some other things I found along the way.

For the past several years, I've used mini lights and other glittery things for decorating my mantel.  This year I decided I wanted to go with something less glitzy and use things to represent the real reason for our Christmas celebrations. 

The beauitful porcelain nativity set was found back in the summer.  The pieces are from the 1984 Avon collectibles set.  (I found one piece alone valued at $8.00.  I paid $7.50 for the entire set!).  I've used the wooden nativity for over 25 years and it was the perfect size for my "new" porcelain figures. 

You may remember these candlesticks from my fall mantel.

Well, they look a little different now.  You see, I accidentally knocked two of them over on my ceramic tile floor and they broke!  Luckily the breaks were where sections joined together so I used my trusty E6000 glue and put them back together.  Then I applied two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White and you can't tell they were ever broken.

This hand crafted wooden angel that I found during my great Christmas treasure find I shared with you earlier was really what guided me to go with the nativity theme.  I knew it needed to go with my nativity scene and my mantel was the perfect spot for her.

And here she is after being painted with Chalk Paint in Pure White.  I tried not to fill in the grooves which gave more definition to the design and I slightly distressed her with sand paper after applying clear wax.

This little silver tree topper was about to find a new purpose.

I broke off the metal spiral that was supposed to go on the top of a tree, ran a piece of clear monofilament line through the top and hung it above the mantel.

The stocking holders started off as heavy but plain brass holders with a flat area on each top.  I picked them up for $1.00 each at one of the thrift shops I frequent.  I didn't like the way the brass stood out in the color scheme so I painted them with a thin coat of Pure White Chalk Paint.  The little trees were picked up at JoAnn Fabrics at 40% off.  The stockings were my only splurge because my old ones just didn't fit in with the rest of the mantel.  But they, too, were on sale for 1/2 price at Hobby Lobby.

I'm fortunate to have two large cedar trees in my yard so I took branches and filled in the bare spots on the mantel.  I had one more idea for a finishing touch but I ran out of time.  Hopefully I can do it next year and I'll share it with you then!  I love the simple, peaceful feel of my mantel and can't wait to fill the stockings with goodies for my family.

Merry Christmas everyone!  Enjoy the time with your family and friends.  Hold them close, make new memories and remember the true meaning of Christmas.