“SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN!” Cover your ears because a very tone deaf woman (myself) was belting out the Christmas songs this weekend. With Thanksgiving behind us, I released the restraints and broke out the Christmas décor. The kids are loving it and counting down the days until old St. Nick comes down our chimney!
Christmas Morning 2009 – Magic North Pole Snow Footprints (Baking Soda y’all!)
As I told you the other day, I wanted to create a rustic country theme this year in our living room. So, without anymore restraints….here it is!
I spy with my own two eyes, a Pottery Barn Inspired Lantern from the Habitat ReStore!
I told you I had a plan for those old pool balls!
Do you think I achieved my goal? Rustic? Country?
Goal or not, I think I like it.
Although it took me four days of noodling to decide I have to let it be.
I can’t tell you how long I’ve been looking for an affordable cake stand.
Thieve’s market in Raleigh had THREE! Count them…1…2…3!
Of course I only bought one, so if you need one, head on over there.
Yeah, Baby! You know I couldn’t pass up those rusty sleigh bells at SuzAnna’s!
An old cheese grater (you can’t see it but it has a candle inside.)
An old sports stop clock and one of two large acorn decorations.
I couldn’t resist them, after all Raleigh IS the City of Oaks.
Another PB Inspired Lantern. Love these $5 finds!
Each year I try to think of a new and creative way to display all our holiday cards.
This year I put together two shutters to make a screen.
The tutorial is HERE!

That concludes the living room tour. If you aren’t bored to death,
I’ll show you a small vignette I have in our kitchen on top of the pie safe.
Isn’t she adorable? That little angel found her way into my shopping bag at SuzAnna’s.
I hope you all have a fabulous holiday season!

Now cover your ears again as I sing to Santa Baby (because I’m no Eartha Kitt!)

Pin for later!

rustic christmas home decor on mantel

 

 

When Miss Mustard Seed and I were junkin’ on Black Friday, she asked what I was looking for. I immediately answered rustic, rusty, and anything that looks aged and has a story to tell. I am so wacky like that, I could care less how well something is made or if it is an expensive antique. When I die, my kids are going to be sadly disappointed that all these antiques I’ve collected over the years aren’t worth a dime. C’est la vie, right?

So, this year for our Christmas décor, I decided to create a natural rustic country inspired theme. What better way to invoke that spirit than with an old barn door. The only problem was that I didn’t own one. No problem, I’d just make one!

Materials:
Plywood board – painted or stained red
3 – 1″ x 4″ boards – painted or stained red
Nails or screws
Wood glue
D-ring picture hangers
Picture Wire
optional: Rusty door parts

In my “I can’t throw anything away scrap pile” I took some old plywood scraps that had been stained with red stain.

You will need to measured the space above your mantle, subtract a few inches from the top and bottom, then cut the plywood down to size (using a circular saw or table saw.)

Lay two 1″ x 4″ strips of plywood as cross pieces.

And one 1″ x 4″ piece at an angle. Draw a line where the horizontal pieces intersected with the diagonal piece.

Use a miter saw, circular saw or jig saw* to cut the angled cuts.

Liberally appy glue to the back of the 1″x4″ strips to secure them to the plywood base and then nail some finish nails into the strips to secure them. You can use a pneumatic nailer* if you have one, but screws or regular nails hammered in will work just as well! No need to buy any new tools for this project.

Hopefully you have a nail or hook already installed on your fireplace. Luckily I did, but in the past I have also just leaned artwork against the brick. So, if you choose to lean, ignore the next few steps.

Measure the location of the hook on your mantle. For example, if the hook is 20 inches from the ceiling, and you want your barn door’s top to hang 12 inches from the ceiling, then you will need to install the hooks 9 inches down from the top of the barn door. This will allow an inch for the wire to slack. Get out your D shaped picture hooks and screw them to the back of your barn door using a cordless drill* or just a screw driver and some muscles. Repeat on the opposite side.

Feed some metal picture wire through one D ring. Twist once…

…then feed the wire back through the D ring and twist the rest of the wire tightly against itself.

Pull the wire taught and repeat on the opposite side.

This is the best way to attach picture wire so it doesn’t slip. If you are hanging something super heavy, you might need to loop the wire back through the D rings a few more times.

If you have some old gate handles, hinges, or latches, attach them to your door. I screwed this old RUSTY gate lock to the top of my barn door. It makes a convenient hanger for…

…my Christmas wreath!
That’s all I’m going to show you of our mantle today.

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