Rustic Den Mantel

So all over blogland you can find fabulous mantels! Mine is a little different. It's in our Den, otherwise known as the "mancave". This room is my husbands, after 22 years of marriage I am finally getting a  bit of say in this room. We plan to make some changes after the first of the year. One of them will be to resurface the fireplace. I cannot wait! Anyway here it is...

First I should introduce you to our hairy friends.

This is Jack, he has quite a story as to how my husband acquired him. Let's just say crazy college days and leave it at that!

And this is Lucky. I actually was with my husband when he purchased him from a old run down Antique store. When we bought him we kinda looked at it like we were rescuing him. My husband isn't a hunter but he is a collector. One of these days I will show you the whole room. He has lots of toys!
 But let's get back to the mantel.

Here is a closeup of a few of the things on the mantel. I went to Goodwill because I wanted a small mirror to place up there. I couldn't find one BUT I found this picture and really loved it sooo it came home with me. The deer I bought last year on clearance at an after Christmas sale. He was silver and I thought I needed more red so out came the spray paint.

Here is the whole view.

I love this tree, I cover it with a big trash bag and put it away until next year, sooo easy!

 The star came from Ross last year also. I thought it needed a little detail so I added a little rub-n-buff to show off it's details.

Isn't the rust on this lantern perfect? I have several old lanterns.

These are my husbands old dice. He used to do magic tricks and has all kinds of old stuff like this. Remember I mentioned he has lots of toys! Notice the 2....5, get it 25!

It's a cozy little space and when only the Christmas lights are on it's so pretty!

I'm linking up to Funky Junk Interiors

Joy! Gift Exchange

I decided to give the Homemade Gift Exchange a try this year. When I was a kid I always wanted a pen pal, I thought this was as close as I was gonna get. My gift came from a sweet girl from Kentucky. It came in the mail a few days ago, of course I opened it right away!

April made this adorable ornament. Inside are strips of paper that have a favorite quote of mine which is on my blog. Such a thoughtful gift!
It was really hard to decide what to make for April. I finally decided on a new technique I just learned.

 Joy! That what the season is all about right? I think I need to make one of these for me as well! I had alot of fun making this, I hope she really en JOY's it!
So hop on over to Craftaholics Anonymous
Check out what everyone else gave and received!
I'm linking up to Funky Junk Interiors
Shabby Art Boutique.blogspot 

Traditional Red & Green decorating

If you've beautifully decorated your house and have all your presents purchased raise your hand. Um you can't see me but I don't have my hand up. I am sooo behind! I have managed to do a little decorating since Saturday, but I don't think I have ever been so behind. Here's just a little sneak peak of a few areas I have decorated.

I bought this greenery at Walmart, yeah I know what some of you are thinking, you bought that?  I paid five bucks for this small little bundle. But we don't buy a real tree and I wanted a little fresh greenery in the house so 5.00 didn't seem like too much.

And looking at this sweet little arrangement makes my 5.00 purchase seem totally worth it! It sits next to my kitchen sink and smells so fresh and green.

And this little bargain vignette is on top of a free cabinet in my kitchen, that I will be painting soon. When I saw this stained glass window at Goodwill for only 6.00 a year ago I almost ran over a couple of people getting to it. At night it is beautiful with the light glowing behind it.  I threw some of my dollar store greenery up there and I'm thinking this may just be my favorite spot this year!

This is on top of my kitchen cabinet. Next year these cabinets will be white, I CANNOT wait. I'm gonna love the Christmas decor with white cabinets . I don't usually decorate up here but I lost some of my space with the change in furniture. So are you feeling like me.... the hurried you go the behinder you get? I'm linking to a blog hop, go check it out.

I'm linking to Funky Junk Interiors