Nothing beats the wonderful feeling of home at Christmastime. The smells, the sounds, and the overall cheery feeling you get when laying eyes upon a newly decorated home. You can imagine the fun we have in our house with our 6 kids. It is a treasured time that I try to savor at every moment.
Today and tomorrow is our Home for the Holidays Tour - a low-stress look at how my blogger friends and I chose to share our homes decked for the holidays. Come along as I share our family room mantel.

I don't think anyone can deny that a mantel demands center stage in a room. They're grand and so full of decorating potential. Last year, I offered a
free printable of our bunting, and this year I was challenged to create something using vinyl plank flooring in the likeness of barn wood. That's when I came up with this...

When decorating our home, I want most everything to be handmade or unique in some fashion (I am not a box store junkie for sure). For me, I like for my decor to tell a story and make my family feel like home is the best place on earth.
*this post contains affiliate links so you can find the products I love too!
The handmade stocking from thrifted sweaters are a classic touch, and my newly created wall quilt from vinyl flooring adds a homey feel. I have the DIY for that project
here.
While heading out for errands, a neighbor's large pine tree had lost a branch and they left it curbside, so I snatched it up and am using it as accents throughout my home, including the mantel.
Maybe you already knew this, but I have an addiction to lanterns. This rustic, red LED version is so cool because my kids can safely use it and it creates such a lovely ambience when lit. I will be able to gift one of you with this lantern and more. Read on to see!

Early this past spring during our city clean-up, I found a whole slew of these tiny picket fences and have grand plans for them. My mantel was the first place for one, and can't wait to use up the rest.

Isn't that rusty snowflake garland sweet? In addition to the lantern, you can also win 3 of these for your own. Yay! That's not all though...there's more...keep reading. By the way, doesn't my
Maybelle look cute in her tartan woolen scarf?

I created these velour Christmas trees using up some remnants in my stash of wood, repurposed parts, and thrifted goods. (
Tutorial for the trees)

Last week I introduced you to Buck - my repurposed log reindeer. If you missed it, you can find the tutorial for that
here or you can find his twin available in
my shop. Isn't he sweet with his railroad spike legs?

Do you see that sweet flocked tree behind him? You can also win one of those for your very own as well. eep! Oh what a Christmas this will be - I get to share so many goodies with you!

Our start to the holiday season has been fun and full of excitement as we share this special time of year together. In our home, we try to keep Jesus at the center of our special time now and all year through. Getting to celebrate His birth is a privilege and blessing.

I hope you have enjoyed this tour and my sweet spot in our home. My dog, Teddy, demands to be center stage and is wishing you the merriest Christmas ever.

So, I've told you that you can win a few goodies - a red LED lantern, 3 rusty snowflake garlands, and a flocked Christmas tree in burlap sacking... Wahoo!!
To enter to win (U.S. Residents only), just leave me one comment telling me what makes Christmas a special time for you, and for an extra entry, pin this post to Pinterest and leave me a comment telling me you did (I hope you really do!). Easy!
Don't forget I have some fun DIYs and makeovers coming up for you later this week and next. Including this sweet table my son found that we worked on together coming tomorrow (psst...
it's live!). Now scroll on down and enjoy the Home for the Holidays tour. I know you'll love it!
Merry Christmas!
More of my Christmas projects:

