A Classic Christmas Mantel

mantel-01Classic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas Dance

Classic Christmas Mantel

It’s happening- our house is officially getting little bits of Christmas sprinkled about. I am so happy to be sharing one of my favorite parts of our home with you today as part of the Christmas Mantels around America Blog Hop! If you know me- then you are well aware that I enjoy changing up our mantel each season. If you are new here- welcome! My name is Ashlea and I am a creative maker who has a passion for purposeful living, creativity and allowing room for the soul to breath. I love to share pieces of our family, home and my heart here at This Mamas Dance.

Classic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas DanceChristmas is such a joyful time, but it can also be filled with stress, pressure and difficult mile stones for those who have lost loved ones. Balancing expectations and emotions, both from others and of our own. It seems like a constant push and pull doesn’t it? I always have to make a conscious effort to draw my heart to what Christmas truly means for myself, and family. I most definitely love the sentimental parts about Christmas decorating… Sitting by the fire with my love after the kids are in bed, handmade ornaments, christmas lights, the nativity and placing ornaments on the tree with my kids. While we won’t get a tree until December, decorating our mantel carries with it similar feelings.

Classic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas Dance

As I hung the kids stockings, I flipped a cuff and saw the name of my youngest son with the meaning written underneath it. I had completely forgotten about doing that when I made them a few years ago, and it reminded me of the gift that each of my little ones are to me. For many of us we want our families to focus on loving each other, reflecting on God’s love for us, and finding gratitude no matter what personal season we find ourselves in.

Classic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas Dance

I am so thankful for our home and the ability to express myself in this space. Simple projects like creating this birch tree garland give me solace. Unwrapping fresh cedar lengths, placing succulents and pine cones, and working with my hands to create a wreath are just some of the ways I keep my focus off the air of “busy” that so often arises during this time of year. Classic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas DanceClassic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas Dance

When it comes to decorating any room in my home, I try to keep to doing both what I like, and what works for our family. Last year everything was up out of reach from our daughter who was just 1.5, but this year she is pretty good about leaving things be. Nothing about our home is perfect- there are reno projects on the go, painting that needs to be done, and well worn furniture in every room. But that doesn’t keep me from prettying things up in this precious home just as it is.

Each season I like to try and mark the year with a new ornament for the tree. Wayfair has a lovely selection of ornaments from silly to sentimental. I am so looking forward to pulling our decorations out in the coming weeks, and watching the kids take a little walk down memory lane.

Classic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas Dance

If I were to offer a few tips to you today I would suggest you…

Use Elements from NatureClassic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas Dance

For Christmas my favourite 3 things to decorate with are hand made wreaths, fresh greenery and pinecones. This season I am really enjoying the simplicity of succulents as well. Things like birch logs or even bark, berries and cedar all speak of Christmas- and can often be found out in nature.

Decorate with ColoUrs you love

Classic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas DanceA few years ago I realized that I never really gravitated towards using red and green together. So, around our home Christmas looks like neutrals, blues and hints of green- mostly through fresh clippings and simple ribbons. Some places have little bits of red and white- without too much fuss. If you love hot pink and purple, or red and green- go for it! Create a space that you love.

 Get Crafty

Classic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas DanceAnyone can be crafty! The simple birch garland was made with hemp twine, small pre-made birch cutouts, and a glue gun. Sew stockings, create a mini feathered tree or collect pine cones from nature and stick them in a ready made wreath. Getting a look you love on a tight budget becomes much more attainable when you are willing to make some things yourself.

Find Contentment

This might sound like a silly decorating tip, but it is one I firmly believe in. If I find myself caught up in the cycle of comparison (which I know can be easy to do with all of the beautiful homes and Christmas decor collections floating around) the joy of our home gets lost. The true meaning within these walls and this special time of year fall to the way side. Grab a bit of inspiration, and then look at your home with fresh eyes. You might not have a mantel or even a budget for a tree, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put little touches around your home to celebrate the season.

Classic Christmas Mantel | via Ashlea of This Mamas Dance

Thank you so much for joining me here today. I am so thankful to Wayfair Canada for sponsoring this post. Thank you for joining me on this stop of the Christmas Mantels Around America Blog Hop- I am so humbled to be joining so many talented and lovely souls, and to thanks to Suzy from Worthing Court for making it all possible! Get Inspired and visit all of the participants in the links below, and please feel free to leave a comment with your favourite holiday tradition, or way to keep grounded amidst the hustle and bustle- I’d love to hear from you!

I’ll be back this week with more of our home prettied up for Christmas.

-Miss Ash

Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter

christmas-mantels-around-north-americaDecorating styles can vary all over North America.  Enjoy visiting these other fabulous blogs to see how they’ve decorated their Christmas mantels in the region where they live!

CANADA:

This Mama’s Dance

EAST:

Atta Girl Says  ||  Golden Boys & Me  ||  In My Own Style  ||  StoneGable  ||The Everyday Home  ||  The Rustic Life  ||  Worthing Court

CENTRAL:

Cedar Hill Farmhouse  ||  Edith & Evelyn  ||  House By Hoff  ||  It All Started With Paint  ||  Maison de Pax  ||  Town & Country Living

WEST:

At The Picket Fence  ||  Classic Casual Home  ||  Tidbits  ||  Twelve On Main

 

26 thoughts on “A Classic Christmas Mantel

      1. Hi Ashley – I just wanted to say thank you for your thoughtful words and beautiful inspiration. It was very refreshing to read and I really enjoy your beautiful mix of blue and white with the natural greenery! Well done!

  1. Ashlea
    Pretty, comfy and cozy with Canadian flair. Thank you for presenting your style in our traditions and your encouraging words of decorating wisdom…..especially around comparison of homes. We all need to be thankful and count our blessings that we have a place we can call homeand make our own. I’m also thankful to have found your blogsight and am now a sunscriber and looking forward to hearing from you.
    Many thanks and blessings and continued creativity
    Karen from Ontario

    1. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely comment Karen. It means so much to me, and brought a big smile to my face. You are so kind- happy to have you following along!

  2. This is absolutely stunning!! I just adore all of the inspiration you took from nature and just how calm and serene it all looks. It’s truly gorgeous! So fun to be apart of this tour with you. 🙂

  3. You are a brand new blogger for me to follow (just found you today!) and Canadian too. How nice is that; I live in southern Ontario! I love the softness of the colours you’ve used along with the natural materials and I will be sure to watch out for more of your posts.

  4. I came over from Diane’s to see how Canada was being presented on the tour n 2 thumbs up! It was love at first sight for this fellow Cdn. As the song goes here are r few of my favorite things…natural elements greenery n rock, reclaimed n driftwood, birds n birdhouses, succulents, add a vintage typewriter n beadboard n you have all my mainstays covered! So naturally…I subscribed! Glad I found you 🙂 Kari

    1. Thank you so very much Kari! Happy to hear Canada was well represented. I even have a vintage typewriter tucked back there to the right 😉 Thanks for joining along!

  5. Id love to use fresh greenery but ive had some bad experience with sap. How do you keep the sap from getting on everything ?

    1. Hi Judy! I try to choose a box, crate or vase to hold greenery clippings. I suppose you could tuck some thick plastic down on surfaces you’d like to put the garland- for example on the top of a hutch. So far, I have not had issues with the greenery garland leaving sap behind, though our fireplace is pretty rustic so I haven’t been too concerned.

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