Seasons Greetings Friends,

The holiday is almost here, and I hope you are enjoying all that the season has to offer, from the hot chocolate to gatherings with family and friends and even the harried last-minute shopping trips. I don’t know about you, but I never miss out on that crazy December 24th shopping experience. It’s kind of a tradition. Because even though I am a planner and like to think I am organized, I am also an accomplished procrastinator.

Anyway, I have a question for you. Since it is only a few days until Christmas, it’s safe for me to ask. Because if all of you answer yes and make me feel horribly guilty, I can ignore your answers as it is far too late to do anything about it. Which means I can get back to sipping eggnog in my pajamas at 4:00 pm and reschedule all the fretting for next year.

So the question is, do you send out Christmas cards every year?

I have never been a card sender, and I feel a little guilty every time I receive a card. Not that I want people to stop sending me cards because if you don’t get any cards, that means nobody loves you, and you are a miserable, lonely person. Wait a minute; I think I am projecting into my future self when I live alone with my blue hair and 17 cats. OK, I love blue and cats, but I am kind of hoping that doesn’t actually happen.

But getting back to the card thing, it makes sense that I should feel guilty since I like receiving cards, but I am too selfish to return the favor. And every year, I think maybe I will send cards next year in a vain attempt to kid myself into thinking that I am a thoughtful person.

Part of my nonsensical reasoning for not sending cards is that I think I have to write some profound and life-changing personal message in each one. I can’t just write Merry Christmas Love Cindy because that feels too lazy and doesn’t even deserve a stamp. I mean, I guess I believe that the message inside the card should be at least as many words as the address on the envelope. Which again is irrational; the vast majority of cards we get include a very brief salutation and a signature. It’s pretty much standard practice, and I know it is just a friendly gesture to let people know you are thinking of them. It’s not like I have ever once opened a Christmas card and thought, “I bet this is going to be awe-inspiring and alter the course of my life.” Of course, I don’t think that. I think, “oh, it’s nice to hear from so-and-so.”

So it makes no sense that I should suffer from writer’s block when faced with a greeting card. But I do. I guess I don’t like to think of myself as merely common, and as long as I never send cards, the universe will never know if my holiday greetings are mind-blowing or not. I like to keep it mysterious.

Anyway, the big news from the Lab is that I finally finished decorating our mantel! Woo hoo!!! I am amazing! (In my head sometimes anyway) Some of the projects are new, and some have been around for a few years.

All in all, I am pretty happy with how the whole display turned out now if I could just train the cats to stay out of it. Because it is profoundly ridiculous to have to take your decorations down every night and put them back up the following day, but that is what I do. I like to think that I am outsmarting the cats by doing this, but clearly, the cats have won.

So every morning, as I redecorate and admire my mantel, our new chairs, and our freshly refinished wood floors, I think, oh my, isn’t my home lovely in its trashy little way, and I feel so proud. Then I turn 180 degrees to look at our dining room and see this to knock myself down a peg.

Nobody’s beautiful blog pictures tell the whole story. I am just keeping it real, people.

Upcycled Christmas Mantel

Step 1 – A Starting Point

I blame, I mean, thank these little cork and twig reindeer for getting me to decorate this year. I saw them on Pinterest and wanted to make some. I think they turned out just darling. Not to be too braggy. But, just look at their little faces. 🙂

Step 2 – Adding the Staple Items

I suppose you could decorate a Christmas Mantel without stockings but not in our house. After all, the pets outnumber the humans 3 to 1, so we try to keep them happy and entertained so they don’t eat our furniture. 🙂

Several years ago, these Christmas stockings were made from an old sheet, a worn and frayed bath towel, and some cereal boxes. The red color is house paint that was initially used in our kitchen. Then on the stockings and our living room couch, and believe it or not.

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The mantel and these projects are held together with the following.

Step 3 – Filling in the Gaps

As I was decorating here are some other things that I considered. First, I wanted some balance but also some asymmetry, so I added two different types of Christmas Trees to each end of the mantel. Second, I wanted a focal point in the middle of the mantel which was achieved with the cardboard Christmas Sleigh and also the bedspring wreath. Third, I wanted different textures and heights of items on the mantel. Lastly, I didn’t want to forget about the bottom of the fireplace so I added a big faux present.

Take a tour of the Mantel and all 9 upcycled projects.

I wish you a bright and blessed holiday season.

Happy Upcycling,

Cindy

Other post you might enjoy

Wine Cork and Twig Reindeer

Holiday Throw Pillow Covers

Plastic Water Bottle Christmas Ornaments