By Mermaid Debbie
I live in a lake cottage in the woods and decorating my mantle with a little help from nature is as easy as one, two, three, four! You can bring the look of nature indoors too. If you are lucky enough to be able to gather your own boughs and pine cones from your yard, roadside or even nearby park, you will find this creative project an inexpensive breeze. If not, head to your closest Michael's or Hobby Lobby (most craft stores) and purchase a few items. The grocery stores in our area even carry bags of pine cones. (the cinnamon-scented ones) You can also purchase many varieties of artificial evergreen boughs and sprigs from the craft store. If you buy a live Christmas tree from a lot, ask if you can have the branches that they have trimmed off of the trees. They usually have piles!
Happy Holidays!
You will need:
-
A store-bought garland, preferably with pine cones attached
-
String of white lights (100 count)
-
Evergreen boughs
-
Candle sticks (with candles)
-
pine cones of varying sizes (Michael's even has the great big ones now)
-
Two small wreath-like rings of greenery to place on the candle sticks
-
Small bunches of red, artificial berries from the craft store
-
Heavy-duty scissors (like kitchen shears)
-
Branch snippers
-
Grandma's silver!
Step one: Lay out a store bought garland. I chose one from Michael's that has real pine cones attached to it. This will give you a nice sturdy piece to start tucking your bits of pine and fir boughs into.
Step two: Add the string of white lights
Step three: Tuck in the evergreen boughs. I snip these from my yard and I have a couple of types of pine, as well as fir and balsam, so I generally use a variety.
Step four: Add pinecones and tuck in red berry-sprigs
Note: If you want a fish or two for your holiday display... it is a much more difficult process. You must spend hours and hours on the water, patiently waiting to catch your own, and pay enormous amounts of money to a taxidermist. Slipping a vintage ornament in the mouth is easy!
I love the look of shiny, silver mixed in with the rustic pinecones and boughs.
For more holiday Let's get creative ideas see below:
Let's get creative: Cookie and cake plates
Let's get creative: Cutest ever gift tags
We are so happy to be participating in PINK SATURDAY this week. Every Saturday hundreds of bloggers link up with posts on something pink! This month, our host of PINK SATURDAY, Beverly of How Sweet the Sound has decided that we can choose something pink or something holiday themed! Join in the fun! Visit How Sweet the Sound today!
Please visit our Mermaids of the Lake online women's magazine.
Sign up for our Free Newsletter.
The richness of combining copper and teal decorations on a large tree 
