Monday morning, day 3 in my 12 day series, time for some serious mantel decorating don’t you think.Â
Here she is, my 2012 Christmas Mantel Decoration:Â
What’ye think? Want to see some more?
The theme of this year’s Christmas decoration becomes more and more clear , don’t you agree. I think this is my most ‘simple’ Christmas mantel to date and I love it.Â
I so love the natural elements I combined.
The big black star and the color scheme is quite serious but I love that it still goes so well with a bit of sparkle and a bit of fun, like my two little songbirds.
I guess I have decided that my colors are going to be black and white (as in yesterday’s butcher twine and todays star and candle), green and brown from natures decorations, and for a bit of bling and sparkle I have added silver and gold.Â
I wouldn’t have guessed it beforehand, but I think the combination works.
The big star was made the same way like I made my small twig star ornaments. I sprayed it black though, for some extra drama. I thought the drama this Christmas could better come from my star than from our family get-to-gether  😉 .Â
I think this mantel qualifies a bit as Scandinavian inspired. Yes, it definitely has a bit of Nordic decorating vibe going. I dig that vibe.Â
Normally I try to hide the fact that my ‘mantel’ is in fact a radiator cover. I never go below the shelf. But this year I decided to be bold and embrace the whole cover. So I added a simple garland. The idea for that came when I found this really funky looking pine branch.
No idea what kind it is, but the  branches are really nicely curved and the needles are very small but rather dense. It is a funny looking branch and I wanted to use it in a prime spot.Â
Of course I couldn’t let well enough alone and I just had to add that one little ornament to the star. Blame it on the rum in my hot cocoa….Â
I cleaned the dirt from the roots of these seedlings and put them in water. I think (hope) that they will last a nice long time. Maybe I’ll return them to the woods after Christmas, although there were already a thousand of them growing there.
A final look with day 1, day 2 and day 3 in one shot. Not bad, not bad at all. It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas over here.Â
Don’t forget to go visit my friends! They have already delivered quite a bunch of awesomeness.Â
Day 3Â Funky Junk Interiors | Day 3Â Inspired by Charm | Day 3Â Thistlewood Farm | Day 3Â Shanty 2 Chic |
 And now onto something special…
Today it is my honor to host the giveaway for this series. So what’ye gonna get? Well that is a surprise. Think of me as your Secret Santa, except Santa is not the surprise but the gift is. After all you don’t know what is in those packages underneath the Christmas tree either (you shouldn’t anyway).Â
Just know it will be a Songbird special. A touch of Dutch, something handmade, and hopefully right up your decorating-loving- alley.Â
So how do you get a chance to win this surprise packet?Â
You will have to use the Rafflecopter Widget below to enter.
Answer the following question: What’s your favorite part about Christmas?
Additional / Bonus entries are available for following each of us on Pinterest. That’s right, you can enter this giveaway SIX times! And in true Songbird fashion, this giveaway is available to anyone, anywhere in this big round world of ours.Â
 That’s it! Good luck and enjoy your day.
 My 12 Days of Christmas Decorating series so far:
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Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
Funky Junk Interiors says
LOVE. Love love love your rustic, casual quaint style! That lit star is most awesome! I want one. 🙂 Your mantel is perfectly lovely!
Marianne Songbird says
Thank you! Shall I come over this Christmas and make you one! Now that would be fun. Wish we could just meet up for an afternoon of junking and crafting together. Do you think there will come a day that our blog pays for a private jet 🙂
Cindy Eikenberg says
Hi Marianne, saw your post on the Fox Hollow Linky party. The mantel is lovely! I am pinning this! Thanks for sharing and will look forward to seeing more of your holiday wizardry!
Marianne Songbird says
So glad you found me, and thanks for pinning.
Thistle says
What a beautiful mantel. I truly love those stars!
I love visiting here…..it is a calm respite from a harried and hectic world.
Merry Christmas to you my wonderful friend!
blessings,
karianne
Mary says
I am LOVING your natural theme!
we could be pretty great friends, i think! 🙂
Marianne Songbird says
I am sure we could!
Becky J says
I love the simplicity..it reminds me of the simplicity of the manger…and yet the HISTORY changing impact it had!! Merry Christmas!
JuneA** says
LOVE your star and black & white sparkle!!!!!!!! I am going out and find some twigs….lucky me, I live in the country with lots of trees! Thanks for the idea and the chance to win!!
Marianne Songbird says
Good luck with your scavenger hunt! And have fun crafting with twigs.
Ellie Van Caster says
I love the simplicity and the elegance of your mantle scape.
Roeshel says
I love the natural beauty. Beautiful job, Marianne!
Shannon Fox says
Everything look kissed by nature. What a pretty Winter decor display 🙂
Rebekah Lewis says
I’ve made a few twig stars before, but I love the addition of the lights. Where did you find those teeny-tiny lights?
Debbie refresh restyle says
I love it all! That star is wonderful! Merry and Bright 🙂
Tammy says
Love this….beautiful!
Gwen says
I think it’s kind of funny that I didn’t notice it was not a mantel I was gazing upon until you said RADIATOR!! How my eye was tricked to see what I was expecting. I also giggled because I had a big straw ball that came black and to go with my new bit of whimsy, I globed white paint on it and glitter. I truly like how you painted the star so I looked at your lights too. They are so much better than what is sold here. The shape of the bulb and wire and the twisted wire just looks so nice on the twig framed star. Plus you used chain like from my hardware store for a swag. Hmmm.. Ideas keep me awake at night!! We are doing our advent. Our pillar candle? Just was melting too quickly so we’ll light those on Sundays. Each day I have tea lights in little bubble clear glass holders all on a footed round mirror to light throughout the week. Tonight we read Isaiah 40:9-11. Shouting it from the mountain tops. The good news. We even sing a hymn Come Thou Long Awaited Jesus. And pray. Thank you for getting this part going in our home. It’s a special evening time. Blessings. Oh and does heat come from your radiator?!! Fire?!! Dried greenery?!!
Aimee - It's Overflowing says
Marianne, I am loving your lit star so much! Such a pretty display…natural always works for me! XO, Aimee
joanne nixon says
i LOVE the simplicity of the mantle….your ideas are inspiring to me. love to see what you are creating…..
Marianne says
Het fijnste van de Kerst vind ik de versieringen in huis. Jou ster vind ik het einde, had ik nu maar wat takken bewaard in het najaar.
Ik heb jullie give-away ook gepind.
groetjes,
Marianne.
Marianne Songbird says
Dank je wel! Ah takken zijn overal the vinden en je hebt er maar 5 nodig. En voor mij is het versieren van het huis ook het leukste van de kerst. Ik ben niet zo van al dat eten. Al vind ik het wel weer heel leuk om dat eten dan samen met mijn familie te doen.
Chie says
Heavenly loving it!!!
So serene, subtle and calm… The words that Swedes love to hear.
Greetings from a freezing & snowy Stockholm,
/Chie
Marianne Songbird says
So glad you like it. It is getting colder here too, but slowly. It is mostly grey and wet here. Have a wonderful Christmas time.
Liz @ Infuse With Liz says
Very nice display! I agree it does look very Nordic! I like the little branches hanging from the garland.
That’s really cute and inventive that you used the radiator for your mantel! Very inspiring!
Marianne Songbird says
Well it is not so much inventive as a necessity, I have no real mantel. But my radiator cover has served me well for years now. I am glad you like my ‘mantel’.
Lynn @thevintagenest says
you really really captured the Nordic style. I love it! And the little chain garland….charming! 🙂
Julie @ SimplySavvy says
What’s not to love! Rustic and elegant- the perfect mix. Happy Holidays.
Julie at Simply Savvy @gosimplysavvy
Marianne Songbird says
Thank you. Who would have thought that rustic and elegant could go together in one project. I am glad you like it. Happy Holidays to you too.
Laurel@chippingwithcharm says
Simply perfect…love it 🙂
Shannon Fox says
So glad to have you at the Power of Pinterest party. Your mantel is lovely! Very Rustic-Chic 😉 It’s wonderful with all the white and natural elements!!
Stacey says
So pretty!
Would love if you stopped by the Holiday Linky Party – mantels – to link it up! The party is happening NOW!
Stacey of Embracing Change
FABBY says
Beautiful, beautiful! I love all your Xmas decor and your featured post here is lovely. I love all you’ve used to create it, starting from the star with all the little lights. Great vignette. Happy Holidays.
FABBY
Marianne Songbird says
Thank you! I am enjoying my light up star daily too. It worked out just as in my vision, gotta love that.
Katherines Corner says
I always enjoy my visits to your beautiful blog. You have a lovely home . Elegantly decorated for the season. xo
Marianne Songbird says
Thank you! That is a very nice compliment.
Bethany {at} Powell Brower Home says
this is SPECTACULAR!! i love it!
Suzanne Holt says
I especially love the large star. Pinned to my “Having a Natural Christmas” board.
Shelley says
Hi, I just saw your post on another blog so I clicked over. I love the star! It’s very simple and so pretty! The greenery you have hanging is called Crows Foot – it grows in the shade and it looks like a carpet of green in the woods. A lot of people use it to make Christmas wreaths.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas!