I spent the day getting our family room ready for Christmas.  I think I am just about done decorating now.  I only have two more DIY projects left.  One project is an idea I’ve had for a while.  I have never seen anyone else do it and I’m not sure if it is going to work.  Either way, I will post about it.  The other is a wreath I want to make from scraps of this and that I have lying around.  Not sure if that one will turn out either.  Anyway on to my mantle.

     I didn’t have to make anything for this mantle.  I just used some of our family’s Christmas treasures like the snowmen.  The Joy sign was a gift made by my sister-in-law years ago.  The wire mesh star was a thrift store find (fifty cents!) and is usually here.

     I decided to move my little shadow box Santa to the mantle.  And the red star is usually hanging in my craft/laundry room.

     I saved the best for last, our first fire!  This fireplace and mantle were finished just in time for Christmas last year, but just barely (Fireplace Project).  We never did get around to actually using it.  I’ll tell ya, there’s nothing like a real fire on a cold winter’s night.  The smell, the crackle and pop of the wood, the dancing flames just make the family room all the more cozy.  Merry Christmas!