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Metallic Star of Bethlehem Christmas Mantle

Let’s talk about what Christmas is all about. It’s all about a tiny infant baby who was God, coming down out of the heavens and being born in the most humble situation: a freakin’ manger among the cows and horses and remarkably-calm-but-reverent donkeys, according to my nativity scene. (My nativity scene would also suggest there was, inexplicably, a perfect, baby-Jesus-sized wooden bassinet in said manger.)

Because Christmas is all about humble, natural settings for God-stepping-onto-Earth, I thought it would be appropriate to decorate my mantel this year in humble, natural materials.

Just kidding: I blinged it out.
Neutral Metallic Christmas Mantle/Mantel at View Along the Way, Holiday Mantle, Mantel"

There MAY not have been mirrors and shiny mirrored ornament balls in the manger – historical scholars are divided on that – but there WAS a big blingy star, so there shall also be a big blingy star on my mantle. (Yes, that’s a star, not a sunburst mirror.)

And just like there were obedient, quiet farm animals gathered symmetrically around Mary, Joseph and Jesus, so shall there also be animals upon my mantle. Deer, this time.

And these tiny brass deer – which, honestly, I was powerless to resist at an antique shop recently for $2.50 each! – shall sit beneath the glass cloche, where they shall be protected, and where they may admire the nativity star.

OMG. Aren’t they SO charming? I’d eat them they’re so cute, except they weigh like 10 pounds each.

But there were sticks in the manger! (Possibly.) So I added some. Giant, glittery sticks, shoved in a glass vase… just like you might find in historic Bethlehem.
Glittery Branches in a Vase with Apothecary Jar and Metallic Ornaments on a Christmas Mantel
I wish I could take a good night photo to show you how blingy and shimmery this combination of ornaments and mirrors is at night in our house… but since I can’t, I’ll just fake it in photoshop.

That’s pretty accurate. If this blog had sound effects, it’d be like “TING! DING-A-LING! TWINKLE TWINKLE!” Like the sound of handbells and miniature finger cymbals played by tiny elven men. That’s what my mantel sounds like right now.

And while shimmery silver and gold ornament balls may not call to mind dirty mangers… they still remind me of astronomical star beacons from the heavens, and angels singing hallelujah choruses.


Are you decorating a mantel for the holidays? What’s your inspiration? Are you grateful this blog has no sound effects?
P.S.: Check out these other holiday decorating ideas!



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Comments

  1. Kim@reposhture.blogspot.com says:

    I love the bling and the “ring-ting-ting” that you have created. I put gold sticks on my mantel. I love natural decorating and you have done a wonderful job!

  2. You are funnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. I love the silver! I am such a silver girl, especially at Christmastime!

  3. I wish there were sound effects….

    Love the blingy mantel! I’m going with a nature motif this year. A little bling but more nature.

  4. Lol, only you could write a hilariously awesome post about your Christmas mantle. It looks beautiful! I don’t have a mantle to decorate, nor have I pulled out a single Christmas decoration… but I am so enjoying everyone else’s 🙂

  5. Looks great, Kelly! xo Kristin

  6. Love the mantel! Thanks for making me laugh and I have your deer only mine have candle holders on their back. Want to come do my mantel?

  7. So gorgeous! I want to come kidnap those deer. They are amazing!

  8. Love it. I really struggle with my mantle in this house. It’s HUGE like over 6 feet long and 10″ deep. I struggle with leaving it simple and very uncluttered and filling it and looking very cluttered. Rght now, I have decorated it and kinda like it, but think it’s missing something.

    Yours however is beautiful. wanna come over and help me?

  9. I want little deer under glass for my mantle. That’s it, a trip to the thrift store is in order. And not just for mocassins:)))

  10. Love it, it looks great!! Blingy neutrals are my favorite!

  11. I really love your take on the historical aspects of the nativity. 😉 Your mantle is gorgeous. Really!

  12. Brandy~greylanehome says:

    Your mantel is beautiful.

  13. I want to eat those brass deer tooooo!

  14. Um……..love. Just. Love.

  15. When I saw this mantle, I immediately thought nativity scene. It’s amazing! haha. It really does look great. I personally feel you should work on adding sound effects though- I missed them.

  16. What a pretty mantel! The deer are adorable, and I think you are right, there may have been some bling bling in the manger 😉

  17. Love it! I think the little deer are my favorite, they are adorbs!

  18. Beautiful blingy mantle! I can hear it ting-a-linging all the way up here in NY.

    ps-I’ve heard brass venison is hard on the intestines so good call on not eating the deer. 😉

  19. Christopher says:

    One of the funniest posts I have read in a while. Too funny and the mantle looks good too!

  20. i love it!! Those deers are amazing, no one in their right mind could have resisted! The whole scene is just gorgeous with all the neutral glam colors. awesome job!

  21. Oh, You are so fun…

    My mantle is saying, “Boo, Hiss…” to me right now!

    Shoot. 🙂

  22. “Historical scholars are divided.” HA!!! Love the mantel. 🙂

  23. Probably your beautious display is just as accurate as most nativity scenes, wherein the wise men are gazing on an infant Jesus. Who was 2 or 3 years old when they actually reached him. And probably had gotten up out of the manger and walked around a bit by then.

    Also I woulda thought the deer were dorky if i saw them at a store but you make them look as if everyone should have a pair of them.

    • So true about the wise men! The bible also never says there were three – only that they brought three gifts. So I’d say I’m looking pretty accurate compared to most nativity scenes 🙂 haha. Thanks for the comment!

  24. you are pretty fabulous. <3

  25. Love the sound effects almost as much as the mantle in all it’s blingy gorgeousness!!

    xx. Patience

    whitelacquer.blogspot.com

  26. Beautiful bling! I love it. I also love the thought that you put in to representing the true meaning of Christmas.

    Christmas blessings,
    Christi @ A Southern Life

  27. Your mantel is really simple and lovely, my favorite element is the deer in the cloche, and as you mentioned the one looking up toward the star … I bet that really happened. Thanks for sharing.

  28. LOVE IT!! Huge fan of using a cloche for any/every season. And love those deer! I wouldn’t have been able to resist either!! Perfect touch!

  29. Michelle Walsh says:

    You make me laugh so hard while reading your posts, especially this one. Thanks for your wonderful tips on decorating and your even better humor. Hope to see you guys again soon.

  30. Thanks for sharing your glittery mantel! Funny post!
    Thanks for linking up to the Christmas Mantel Linky Party at Embracing Change!
    Stacey

  31. I love your mantle! It gives me a lot of great ideas. Where did you get the mirror? I’ve been looking for one everywhere but cannot find one.
    Thanks for all your wonderful ideas & posts!!
    Krys

  32. Awesome! I love it 🙂 We all need reminders of the nativity…even if it doesn’t remind anyone else! Now I’m going to go secretly create my own mystic nativity…. *inspired*

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