Rosemary Wreath Mantel

Is there such thing as a pie hangover? Mercy!

 

Our Thanksgiving was really fun and filling {as it's meant to be}. 

We were with family and old friends and our day was filled with lots of great food, laughs, sentimental moments and good memories made. 

 

 Recently I shared with you how I created this Little Rosemary Wreath, and promised to come back and show you a little vignette I created around it.

I've been using my faux mantel in the living room to photograph a few creations, like my vintage style mini Christmas trees, and some things for the shop.

But, what's wrong with this picture?  haha

Below the mantel shelf, things are looking pretty bare! 

My electric fireplace has been on loan to a friend whose elderly mother was visiting from Texas and needed some warming up, but it will be back soon : )

I really don't use many gold accents in our home, but I think I'm leaning towards some hints of gold this Christmas. 
The gold frame I used around the slate behind the wreath is something I've had forever. 

Think late 1980's with a country Victorian print...later changed out for a wedding photo...recently resurrected from the back of my closet after several years to become "all new" Christmas 2013 decor. ; )

Yes, these are the same brown jugs I used in my Nature Inspired Foyer.

I gave them a little frosty Winter update by adding some vintage glass glitter. I added an old glass doorknob as a stopper on one, and the lid of a vintage decanter on the other.

I tucked a couple of large pine cones into two milk glass containers.

I added a couple of mercury glass style ornaments, and some pearly-gold balls.

In keeping with the nature inspired theme, I placed pine cones on the glass candle holder instead of candles.

An easy, nature-inspired look, pulled together entirely of things I already had, but used in a new way.

Is this "the" Christmas mantel? Maybe. 

Maybe not : )

I hope your Thanksgiving was all you had hoped for. I am truly grateful to YOU for being here, friends! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jeanette 

Linking up at these fun parties this week!

Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors 
Inspiration Monday 
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
The Scoop at White Lace Cottage  
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm 
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House 
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours 
Be Inspired at Common Ground 
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage 

Little Rosemary Wreath

As I mentioned in my last post {here}, we are going to be away from our Colorado home this Christmas for the first time ever. Yikes!
But, we are super excited to be spending the holidays with our family and friends in California this year. Waking up in my childhood home on Christmas morning, with all of my kids (even the grown ones!) will be a special time, indeed.

Because we'll be gone over Christmas, I'm doing some simple crafting and decorating now so we can feel like we've had a little Christmas magic in our own home before we leave!

 Simple Rosemary Wreath

A few months ago, my daughter and I were cleaning and organizing all the kitchen cabinets. (You'd never know it, now. Just sayin' )
I'm a little embarrassed to say how many containers of dried spices were way way past being usable for cooking. But when I came to a container of Rosemary, I thought it looked too pretty to throw out! Kinda silly, I know. 
I decided to keep it with the craft supplies until I decided what to do with it.

Today's "simple Christmas" project is really the happy result of not cleaning out my kitchen spice cabinet often enough : )

 This isn't a complete tutorial, because I got distracted and forgot to take photos of the last couple of steps! But it's so super easy, you'll get the idea. 

I had in mind a tiny wreath and as I was gathering up supplies I spotted one of my kid's CD's on the counter and it was just the right size to use as a template. I traced around it on a scrap piece of cardboard. No, not a cereal box this time : )

A small jar was a good size for the center circle. Poke a hole in the center circle with a pencil or your scissors. Simply cut around the inside and outside circle with your scissors. 
It's not necessary to be perfect because the edges of the cardboard are pretty well covered when you're finished. Here's where I failed to document the rest of what I did- oops!





First, I coated the cardboard ring with Mod Podge. I think any craft glue would be fine, I just grabbed what was closest. I covered the glued cardboard with the Rosemary and let it dry. 
At this stage, the wreath was looking a little "flat" still. I decided to go over the top of the Rosemary with a thicker layer of hot glue and piled more Rosemary on. That gave me more of the look I was going for. 

As a fun little side note: I discovered today that the symbolic meaning of Rosemary is remembrance, love, loyalty and fidelity. Pretty sweet for Christmas! 
If you're interested in finding out the symbolic meaning of other herbs, I found the information HERE.

I made a tiny banner of brown paper with the word "Hope" printed on it and attached it with hot glue. 

For me, it's a favorite word all the time. 

But especially at Christmastime it symbolizes all that the birth of Jesus Christ means to me. 

Hope for love. Hope for redemption. Hope for guidance and purpose throughout my life. Hope for eternal life with Him when we leave this crazy place! 

Have you noticed how much I love using torn strips of white cotton fabric as ribbons? I don't know what it is. 
I do love a gorgeous velvet or silk ribbon, as well, but there's just something so pretty to me about a slightly shabby piece of white cotton fabric!

As you can see, I created a little hanging ribbon and bow from the torn strips of white cotton. I hung my little Rosemary wreath in front of a chalkboard slate in an old gold frame. I'll tell you a little more about that in my next post, okay? 


I'll be back soon to share a little vignette I created around the Rosemary wreath.

How about you? Have you created anything recently out of something you almost tossed out? 

Thanks for reading, friends!

Jeanette

Joining the fun over here this week:

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 
The Scoop 
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House 
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters
Share Your Cup at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson 
Be Inspired at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home 
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors