Stars of Wonder

Hello, Dear Ones! I'm so excited today to share with you my Christmas mantle! Now my decorating is going so slow and I've missed so many parties! Waa...I hate to miss parties!
So grab you a cup of tea or a nice frosty glass of Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper - my drink for champions - I have lots of snaps to show you. So if you're in a hurry...gulp...please don't leave.

Okay...on with the decorating. Mantles are hard for me. Do you think they're hard to decorate?
I'm never sure and always have a tendency to go overboard. I'm just that type of gal. :)

Did I go bananas?
Remember, if you don't like it, I'm very sensitive - so tell me lies, lies, sweet little lies!
You know I'm teasing!! :)
After all, Jesus is here.
He loves me and knows I'm a silly - He made me this way! ;)

I have this big nativity I bought many years ago at the Joann Shop's after Christmas sale.
Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus are all made together and then the wise men are all in one clump. You know what I mean! I guess I should say - all on one base. That's better! :)
They are about a foot tall.
I usually share them with my church and put them on the piano I play.
But this year they stayed home with me.

I wanted to have the Nativity as the centerpiece of my mantle
and then I went and went and went some more from there.

I popped Mary, Joseph and little baby Jesus upon a coppery pedestal
so they would stand tall.
After all that's where our Dear Savior should be -
standing tall on the center stage of our hearts.

Here you can see the pedestal.

Now I was fiddlin' with my snaps in Photoscape
and think this one and the next look like 1970s magazine snaps.
Kinda comic book like! ;)

Cool, huh? It doesn't take much to entertain me.
I wanted some flat stars to hang from the mirror.
Of course I didn't have any.
So I went to the nearby Dollar Tree and there they were -
3 big ones for $1 and 10 little ones for $1!
I was singing the Hallelujah Chorus all the way home!
Now these stars are really cheesy - plastic and covered with glitter but they worked fine.
It was hard to snap pix of the stars against the mirror because of their reflection.
They do look prettier in person.

Here's a close up of a large one.

I hung the stars from little ornie hangers
and tried to cover some of the tinness up with golden ribbon.

On each side of my Nativity,
I poked up a couple of Christmasy candlesticks
and placed a candle on top and tied a golden ribbon around it.
Well, actually I started out with red candles. Didn't like how that looked.
Then swapped the red out for green candles and didn't like that either.
Then a bubble popped in my tiny little brain and it said -
go with a cream colored candle
I did, and it looks so much better!
Whew! I told you I have a hard time with mantles.

Did I go bananas?
I'm just never sure if I like what I do or not.
Dear Ones, I need affirmation from you. :)

I poked up a garland filled with lights, then added two different kind of red beads.
Then I poked golden ribbons all over the place.
Then I hung my stars of wonder.

Then I hung a cute little star of wonder.

...and then since it's in the 50's here - I lit the fire for you!
Glory! I love this stuff!

So there you have it,
my Christmas mantle that I'm not so sure if it looks good or not.
Jesus knows my tiny heart
and knows I wanted Him to be the center of attention here in the den!
After all - He is the reason for the season.


I'm joining our Dear Sally at Smiling Sally for Blue Monday,
Our Dear Susan for Between Naps on the Porch for Deck the Halls,
Our Dear Rosehell at The DIY Show Off for DIY Holiday Hightlights,
Our Dear Carrie at Dittle Dattle for Amaze Me Monday,
Dear Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tablescape Tuesday.
and
Our Dear Kim at Savvy Southern Style for the B & B Party.

Be a bunch of sweeties,
Shelia ;)

I'll leave you with a little Note Song ~

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shining far through shadows dimmed
Giving the light for those who long have gone
Guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem shine on

Oh beautiful star the hope of light
Guiding the pilgrims through the night
Over the mountains 'till the break of dawn
Into the land of perfect day
It will give out a lovely ray
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem shine on

Oh beautiful star (beautiful, beautiful star) of Bethlehem (star of Bethlehem)
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem shine on

Oh beautiful star the hope, the grace
For the redeem the good and the blessed
Yonder in glory when the crown is won
Jesus is now the star divine
Brighter and brighter he will shine
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem shine on

Oh beautiful star (beautiful, beautiful star) of Bethlehem (star of Bethlehem)
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem shine on

~ sung by The Judds