My 5 Favorite Mantels of 2011

I know that Christmas day is over.  That some people tear down the tree and throw the Christmas Elf back into the attic a few seconds after the last gift is unwrapped.  I am not one of those people.  It takes me days to fully decorate the house for Christmas so I like to leave the decor up a little longer to enjoy.  (At least until after New Year's.)  It also gives me the chance to plan things for Christmas next year without the added stress of trying to finish everything before the 25th.  (In fact, I have another wreath to make and a few handmade ornaments I'm crafting before all the decor comes down.)

So in honor of Christmas decor, I would like to feature five of my favorite holiday mantels of this year.

The first is the colorful tree and mantel of Jen from Tatertots & Jello.  She did a wonderful job evoking a sense of cheeriness and whimsy.  Jen made a fun looking fan wheel garland out of turquoise and red.  (My Christmas color favs.)  Everything looks so fresh and pretty like something out of a magazine.

When I first saw a picture of the Christmas mantel from Beth at Home Stories A to Z, I had the sudden urge to go out and copy every single detail.  It is so beautiful and sophisticated.  I love how she used natural greens and a simpler presentation.  My favorite element is the chalkboard with the "Peace on Earth" wreaths. 

Another mantel that caught my eye was from Laura at Finding Home.  She incorporated a lot of DIY into her festive and lightly rustic decor.  Laura's blog was a recent find for me and I have loved looking at all the pictures of her beautifully decorated home.

I really don't know what other words I can use to describe the mantel from Kristen at Sophia's other than amazing, gorgeous and simply spectacular.  She really knows how to glorify the greens.  (I may have to hire her to decorate my mantel next year.)

This last mantel I was a little hesitant about posting since it didn't come from a blog but a website called Trendy Trees.  It is so different and fun, though that I had to include it.  I love the foxy sledding scene and the fluffy snow owls are simply delightful.  (It could be a successful advertising compaign too since now I have the desire to go out and buy boxes full of owls.  Go figure.)

I hope you've enjoyed these mantels as much as I have.