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I am not good at styling mantels.  In fact, I think I am legitimately bad at it.   In previous years, I pulled out all my many bins of Christmas decorations, then I spent hours adding decorations and removing them.  I switched things around and fussed and fiddled. 

This year I centered the simple chalkboard on the mantel and kind of half-heartedly added décor pieces as I came across them.  I bought flocked branches for the tree, and they looked awful so I set them on the mantel.  I found a marquee sign during a random shopping trip and just plopped it up there too.  I used my dapper deer as a prop for another project, then I set it on the mantel instead of putting it back in storage.  And then one day I looked up at the mantel, and it was done.  I had put less than 10 items on the mantel, with no plan or design, and it looked… pretty okay.

I took my large chalkboard and hung the plaid cardboard deer head in the center of it.  Using that as a starting point, I added some hand lettering using techniques I learned from my new chalk lettering book. 

I found this pretty plaid JOY marquee at Walgreens of all places!  I ran in for a quick errand and just had to grab this on my way to the checkout line.  It is battery-operated, so I don’t need to worry about unsightly cords draped across the built-ins.

I didn’t use many of my fair isle decorations this year, but our personalized fair isle stockings found their way back to the fireplace this year.  Quick tip:  Each stocking is “stuffed” with a curved piece of cardboard to help the stockings keep their shape even when empty.

My glitter deer flank the rustic hearth crate I decorated last year.  The battery-powered candles act as a replacement for a real fire, since we have never had our chimney inspected.  This was the least fussy mantel I have ever assembled, but I love the cozy simplicity of the whole display.  Maybe I am finally learning the lesson that less is more!

Let's be buds.

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