Sadness grips our Nation ... we are Sad !!!

         

 Sadness grips our Nation ...
An unexplained EVIL thing has happened in Newton, Connecticut ... 
 
Our hearts are heavy and we are sad ...
Let us pray for all of those in need.

Audrey Z.  
 

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

I Gotta Create
Semi Homemade Mom
Cozy Little House  Tweak it Tuesday.
 
 Knick of Time Tuesday
Homemaker on a Dime

Debbiedoo's Newbie with a Twist Party
Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence
Funky Junk Interiors SNS

Cardinals Winter Nesting Wreath

 

Do you love Cardinals as much as I do?

When I saw this Winter Wispy Wreath made by Kim at  MadeInADay.com  I knew that it would fit right in with my Christmas decorations. 

I had the wispy grapevine wreath, although it was painted apple green, but just a little white paint solved that problem. 

I added a few twigs at the bottom to get the branched out look.

The six Cardinals came from Dollar General ... total cost of $3.00. The rest of the stuff, I already had. 

 

I painted this old mirror frame and it looks great hanging inside it in my Entry.

I added a garland of berries around the inside edge and made a small nest. Kim had some pretty golden berries around her nest. I had planned to just leave those off, but when I went to town today, I noticed the wild Chinaberry trees were loaded with these golden berries, so I stopped by the side of the road and picked a few. They are a little swiveled, but look pretty natural for this wreath.



Chinaberries have a rather large seed with a hole through the middle. As kids, we would let the berries dry; remove the skin and string the seeds and make a necklace and bracelet out of them. 

 

Kim's is more open and "wispy", which looks much better. I like the open wispy look.

 I did not have the tiny pine cones, so just added some round seed pods. 

 

Very easy to make and did not cost much.

Thanks to Kim for letting me copy-cat her. Hope you will visit her ... she has some great craft ideas. 

Hope you enjoyed the wispy winter wreaths.

Christmas Blessings. 
Audrey Z.

 

Linking to:   
Clever Chicks Blog Hop #13

The Space Between
(a Crafty Christmas Link Party)
MadeinaDay Made U Look Linky #54
Debbiedoo's  

Christmas Tree and Antique Ornaments

Happy Christmas ...

 

It will be awhile before I get my Christmas tree up this year, so thought I could show you a few shots of last years. 

 

I have been collecting Christmas ornaments forever, so have way too many for one tree, but I try to put all of them on ... no, just kidding ... I could never get all of them on this little tree. I have had trees that would hold all of them and I loved it ... way too much work now. 
 
 This is actually a tree-topper but I love her down low where I can see her better. I think I have three of these, but not all in wonderful condition. Spun angel hair and usually made from a kit. 

I  have stopped putting the really old and rare ornaments on because two or three got broken the last time I put them on the tree. 
 
I added German ice to these red berries and poke them in the branches to add glitter and loosen up the shape.  I took a garland of pip berries apart and also poke them in the branches for a looser look. 
 
Wax  boots ...wax ornaments did not last long because the kids would chew them or they would get hot and loose their shape. I do have some that survived.
   

Love Santa ornaments and pine cones are just so perfect on the tree.   

Some of my Santa collection are on the bookshelves behind the tree.

  

A vintage piñata ... not cute, but just had to have him.

  
Coffee table display. The clear ornament is displayed on a grouping of vintage door knobs.

Love the glow of the candle on the snow in this vintage milk bottle.

Hope you enjoyed ... 

Linking to:  
Cozy Little House

I Gotta Create

Knick of Time
Savvy Southern Style