Christmas Mantel ... Joy to the World ... Nativity inspired. HOPE.

Merry Christmas ...

My header picture of a manger scene was just a teaser for my Christmas Mantel decoration.

This very primitive, hand made, wood Nativity set with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in a manger, was on sale at half-price at Finds Thrift store, and just kept jumping out at me ... I passed it by several times and finally just had to have it regardless of how naive it was.

It sat on the mantel for a day or two before I could get a grasp on what to do with it since I would not be dragging out decoration this year ...

Not really well made ... but has "the charm" and I LOVE it.

I added this vintage window with three glass panes ... just perfect for ... 
JOY ... like JOY to the World ...

 hope you enJOY and are blessed and inspired.

I lined the back of the antique window with old flour sack fabric 

and draped a string of lights behind it in the shape of a Christmas tree. The letters are from the Craft store and left natural. 

I just hot-glued them to the old wreaths.

(Some of the pictures were taken before I got the letters up)

My old green sap bucket with the curly willow limbs add height ... rustic wooden star and rusty bells just add to the primitive theme. 

and on the hearth and display shelves ... 

There is always HOPE ....

  

Santa's socks, my vintage bird bath figure and more ... 

our tree is just to the right ... 

Faux boxwood wreath is just perched on the fireplace screen just below the mantel.

 

 The trees are two-part wooden trees and I love how the light reflects off them.

Hope you have a wonderful, happy and 
God Blessed Merry Christmas.

Audrey Z.

Thanks for your visit.

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A Bouquet of Talent Linky Party

 

Vintage Baby Buggy Wheels for Mary and Baby Jesus

Wheels but no Buggy.

 What can I do with these vintage Baby buggy wheels that I just purchased from an Antique store?

 

When I finally got tired of stumbling over them, I picked them up and sat them on top one of my large crocks.

I had been trying to find a place for my Mary and Baby Jesus and said, what better place to hang the  guiding star and this looks like a stable to me.

 

So there is Mary and Baby Jesus and the Camel entered the scene too. He is the Camel for the Wisemen, so we know they are near by. I think Joseph is out tending to the Donkey. 

 

This is one of my favorites decoration this year. 

The top wheel makes a  great canopy.

Hope your Christmas was blessed with happiness and love with family and friends.

May the New Year be the best ever.

Audrey Zumwalt
Timeless Treasures

Linking to:  Knick of Time Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style  

2012 Christmas Mantel Shabby Architectural with Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus

Days are flying by and Christmas is almost here ...

My mantel is done ...  Oh JOY !!! I wanted it simple ...  

... a little shabby ...

with a little bit of architectural interest ...

and still express the 'reason for the season' ...

  
... and here is what I came up with.



 

The two old porch lights were made into lanterns. I purchased them at ReStore Habitat for Humanity for $10.00 each. Originally they were to cover candles, but did not feel that was safe enough, so I relocated the light to the bottom and put in a small candelabra socket. The wall plate was used to make the base. The socket sleeve is covered with scrolly art using Mod Podge. 

 

They are sitting atop two vintage posts, lighting the way for the Christ child.

The short shabby chippy column is one I bought from Shannon at Rusty and Redone last year when I won $20.00 gift certificate at her Etsy Shop in a give-away. 

The middle one was a lamp base and the character in it is so unusual, I just did not have the heart to paint it. The tall one is a piece of porch column and I added a base to it. Original chippy white paint on the two of them.  I painted the lanterns barn red to make them look old.

 
The wreath is decorated with red Cardinals and sitting atop the tallest column, is Mama Cardinal and her babies are nestled in the pip berry garland below. 

Numbers 2 and 5 were cut from a piece of very weathered sign board last year.

The glow of tiny lights underneath the garland of pip berries keeps it soft and simple. 

The chalkboard printable was a free offer from Kellie at Nest of Posies.com. 

Be sure to take a look at her free printables ... they are fantastic. 

I had it enlarged the 11" x 14" and cut down a vintage frame from one I had.

My little angel has worked so hard and is so tuckered out ... she needs a power nap. 
 

Hope you enjoyed our 2012 Christmas mantel with Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus and can feel the Comfort and Joy of this special day.
 

Happy Christmas Blessings

Audrey Z.
Timeless Treasures 

Linking to: My Repurposed Life

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