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Whimsical Christmas Mantel Decor

December 5, 2011 By Amy @ Positively Splendid

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Take a whimsical detour from traditional holiday decor this year and try a new, whimsical approach! My whimsical Christmas mantel is brimming with fun DIY details to inspire you. 

I love all of the whimsical details in this fun Christmas mantel as Positively Splendid!

 
 
I am so, so excited about how our Christmas mantel turned out! Most of my Christmas decor is the traditional red, green and gold, but this year I wanted to change things up in our living room with something totally different. 
 
Y’all know I’m a girl who loves lots and lots of color, and this display is proof positive of that! My goal was to create something bright and fun that would absolutely delight my children and convey the childlike wonder of Christmas.
 
 I have been dreaming for years of having silhouettes hanging over our mantel for the holidays, and this year was the year to make that happen! I used my tutorial for creating silhouettes with Photoshop Elements to turn profile photos of each child into jpeg images, and I then printed each out as an 8×10 and matted and framed them in $5 frames from Walmart. Because I printed the photos with supplies I already had on hand, this artwork only set me back $20!
 
 
 
I love the way my Rolled Crepe Paper Rosette Tree accents everything so nicely and really draws in the eye. I found the candy cane and wrapped candy ornaments (in just the colors I needed!) at Target for $2 each. 
 
 
I hadn’t planned initially to display the Photo Christmas List Ornaments I made for each child on the mantel, but when everything started to come together, I knew they would be perfect placed above each child’s stocking. I love that they mimic the look of stocking holders, but that I’ll be able to switch them out each year! 
 
I purchased this lollipop ornament from Target for $2, and I accented everything with red ornaments I had in my stash of Christmas decor.
 
Here are all of our stockings all lined up in a nice little row! These were indeed a labor of love, but I am thrilled with the end result. (Head over to my Whimsical Christmas Stocking tutorial to see how I put these together.)
 
 
 
I tucked a little sprig of glittery greenery in each stocking for good measure. (I posted some stocking-hanging tips last week.)
 
I knew I wanted a garland in lime green and turquoise to go behind the stockings, and I had initially planned to make one with tissue paper pom poms until I had the idea to use feather boas purchased from Joann. I simply twisted the two together (purchased with 40% off coupons for $4 each) and hung them on the mantel, flanking either end with a red houndstooth bow.
 
 
 
 

Brightly colored ornaments placed in a large jar and a ribbon-wrapped pillar candle round out the display.

 

Even if your home doesn’t have a mantel, you can still create a similar display on a bookshelf, a hutch, a piano top, a console table, or just about any other flat surface. Your creativity is the only limit!
Wanting even more mantel inspiration? Be sure to check out my Red, Gold and Lime Christmas Mantel.

Amy @ Positively Splendid
Amy @ Positively Splendid

Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.

EVEN MORE GREAT IDEAS JUST FOR YOU!

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Filed Under: Christmas, Christmas, Crafts, Holiday, Holiday Crafts, Home Decor Crafts, Home Decor Crafts, Mantels and Tablescapes, Positively Handmade, Positively Home & Garden, Positively Seasons Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas Decor, Christmas Ornaments, Mantel Decor, Silhouettes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katie says

    December 5, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    OMG! I’m loving your mantel… super jealous that I don’t have a mantel at this time of year!

  2. Blessed says

    December 5, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    I love your bright mantle! Those stockings are wonderful – our stockings were all hand-knitted by my grandmother who passed away less than a year after she finished my baby’s stocking so they are precious to me and we won’t be replacing them but I might have to make some like yours to decorate with sometime when we have more spaces to decorate!

  3. Amanda @ Serenity Now says

    December 5, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    Amy, your mantel is stunning!! I love the pops of color and the fun little ornaments. Just beautiful. Pinned this. 🙂

  4. CreativeChaos says

    December 5, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    You are awesome! I love the color choices!

  5. Amy at Ameroonie Designs says

    December 5, 2011 at 3:22 pm

    Absolutely darling Amy! I love the bright colors and the fun look of the whole display. And way to rock the stockings! I love them. 🙂
    xoxo,
    Amy

  6. Jeni says

    December 5, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    So great! I have a bunch of small glass ball ornaments that I haven’t put up for years (from our pre-kid days). I am going to find a great glass jar and put them out today! Thanks for the inspiration!

  7. FancieStrands says

    December 5, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    FABULOUS! The stockings are the best.

  8. Jen-CraftOManiac says

    December 5, 2011 at 5:30 pm

    SOOOOOO darn cute, I ADORE IT!!! WINKS, jen

  9. Lookiewhatidid says

    December 5, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    One of the prettiest mantels…I love it…just shared it on facebook. Beautiful!!!!!

  10. Debbie Faber says

    December 5, 2011 at 5:55 pm

    That is a very classical and fun presentation…I give it an 11 out of ten!

  11. Amanda K @ Every Creative Endeavor says

    December 5, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Darling! I love your stockings! So cute!

  12. Maria says

    December 6, 2011 at 3:38 am

    This is adorable! I love the whimsical look, it kind of reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for some reason! Really cute!

  13. Finding Charm says

    December 6, 2011 at 4:04 am

    What a great and fun mantle. I bet the kids love it.

  14. Sara says

    December 6, 2011 at 5:39 am

    Oh my this is fabulous!! This is SO adorable!! Hoping you can link this up at my turquoise lovin’ party going on right now!! (red during the holidays too) http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2011/12/turquoise-lovin-16.html

  15. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    I love your mantle all decked out for Christmas!

  16. rebecca @ beurrista says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    it is, indeed, positively splendid! fun and whimsical, the mantle is amazing. kudos to you for a great job.

  17. Deana says

    December 7, 2011 at 4:23 am

    That is so creative…Love it…found you on little luna party….
    your newest member CountryMomCooks

  18. Tenille says

    December 7, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    I absolutely love this mantel. I love everything about it. The colors, the decor and the stockings are to die for. Thanks for sharing.
    I would love it if you could link this up to our linky party going on right now.

    http://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com/2011/12/link-it-up-wednesday-6.html

  19. The Yellow Cape Cod says

    December 8, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    Wow, the color combination is striking. Everything is gorgeous. Your mantle is right up my alley…

    http://www.theyellowcapecod.com/2011/11/holiday-home-series-our-christmas.html

    Merry Christmas ~Sarah

  20. Ashley | Domestic Fashionista says

    December 8, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    Soooo pretty! I love bright whimsical Christmas decor and you knocked this one out of the parks! And that little rose tree is so sweet…I wouldn’t necesarilly think Christmas but with that little bow it ties in so well! Very inspirational! Visiting via Beth’s party!

  21. Maggie @ Black and White {Side by Side} says

    December 8, 2011 at 5:21 pm

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

  22. Sherika Lovett Alston says

    December 8, 2011 at 7:39 pm

    WOW! Your mantel is awesome! I love every detail!! Your newest fan!

  23. Ashley H says

    December 8, 2011 at 11:44 pm

    I adore bright colors for Christmas decor. I am so jealous of all these mantles. Cannot wait to have my own someday!

  24. thehandcraftedcottage says

    December 9, 2011 at 2:58 am

    I ABSOLUTELY am in love with this!!!! I hope you don’t mind but I’m going to try re-create my own version in purples and golds! I downloaded a trial version of PS (I have never ever used it before) and I can tell you, your tutorial was excellent because I was actually able to do it! The only thing I couldn’t figure out was how to get a circle shape around the silhouette and then the square outer part! I did manage to do something nice, however, with one of the oval shape frames. I can’t wait to pull everything together!!! 🙂

    I hope you consider doing a mantel-scape for after the holiday season too!!! 🙂

  25. Mrs Aussie says

    December 9, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    I just would like to say I love your Christmas mantel, I have added your tutorial to my blog.

    happy holidays

    http://ourlittlenestonthelake.blogspot.com/

  26. Kara @ June & Bear says

    December 9, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    I love this mantel. It’s so fun and Seuss-ian.

  27. Confessions of a Paper-Crafts Chick says

    December 10, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    I luv whimsical and these Christmas stockings are absolutely the cutest I’ve ever seen. Thanks for sharing; I’m looking forward to many more of your fun post.
    Have a wonderful Christmas

    Confessions of a Paper-Crafts Chick

    http://confessionsofapaper-
    craftschick.blogspot.com/

  28. Classy Clutter says

    December 10, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    Totally LOVING your stockings and your mantel!

  29. Jennifer @ Just A Girl says

    December 11, 2011 at 12:33 am

    This is quite possibly the brightest and cutest mantel I have ever seen. I am a traditional red, green and white girl for Christmas, but this seriously made me rethink my theme. I love it!!!

  30. Jamie @ Sew Rockin' says

    December 11, 2011 at 5:28 am

    OMG those stocks are amazingly gorgeous! Ok…Wow!

  31. nest of posies says

    December 11, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    amy – this is down right fabulous!

    beautiful job. and to think you have a new little one….goodness gracious, YOU are supermom!

    xo
    kellie

  32. Nif says

    December 12, 2011 at 11:42 am

    I love your mantel! The colors are so cute and fun. I bet your kids just love it, too! (Santa’s going to enjoy coming down your chimney!)

    I just had to include you in my blog post:

    http://call-me-nif.blogspot.com/2011/12/rustic-christmas-mantel-reveal.html

  33. Jamie @ Sew Rockin' says

    December 17, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    I just wanted to let you know that I featured your stockings yesterday on “You Sew Rock Me Fridays” at my blog Sew Rockin’. Here’s the link: http://www.sewrockin.com/2011/12/16/you-sew-rock-me-fridays-9.

  34. arrielle_p says

    April 18, 2012 at 2:32 am

    What a lovely decorations your mantel have. Really perfect for a holiday. 🙂

    manila condominiums

  35. http://livingatthewhiteheadszoo.blogspot.com/ says

    July 23, 2012 at 1:47 am

    I love every inch of this!

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