Ski Lodge Holiday Mantel. Many years ago, when we were looking for our current home, I fell in love with the fireplace in our home. The house itself was gross, and not well taken care of, the fireplace was outdated with brass fixtures, but I loved the idea of stockings being hung on the mantel. Fast forward many years, and the fireplace and mantel are still not how I dream for them to be, but I absolutely still love having a fireplace during the holiday season!

You guys, I have decorated, undecorated, and redecorated my mantel no less than six times since November 1st, and my house is still not fully decorated. My husband can only shake is head at me now, my kids are confused, and my dog wants nothing to do with me right now…but, I *think* the mantel is done…and I also think I may keep it this way until Easter. {Kidding-ish} 

 

I was prompted to change the whole thing by a simple trip to Michaels…{I am not allowed to go back until after Christmas now, LOL} I saw some adorable vintage skis, and I loved them. Then I looked to my right and saw The Nutcracker…he’s everything that makes my heart skip a beat when I decorate…worn and loved looking, wood, and just so very me. Then, you guys, I looked at his price, and I cried a little. He was $90! It wasn’t meant to be…life is happening, and I cannot justify $90 on new vintage style giant nutcrackers…so, I sighed a little sigh and added my skis to the cart and had my coupons in hand…and then, then I saw the 70% off Christmas sign!!!! That nutcracker was in my cart before I could say Tchaikovsky, and I strolled out of Michaels like a boss! 

Then, I was confronted with a mantel that did not even come close to working with The Nutcracker or the skis. What could I do? I had to redo the entire mantel {again}…but, I am so glad I did! 

I made sweet little felt Christmas trees with my kids help {and my Cricut}, I learned how to add felt embellishments to an already stuffed pillow, and I made more wooden signs with HTV! And, like a good blogger, I took pictures of some of the DIY projects and I will share them on the blog in the next few weeks!