As a quick aside, not only do I really enjoy working on my little blog, but I have been beyond blessed to meet and work with other bloggers. Angie is one of those friends that I would never have met if I hadn’t ventured into this little blog business of mine. Since I’m still feeling that Thanksgiving afterglow, I just needed to share that!
OK, onto my Magnolia Leaf Mantle.
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Since we will be gone for most of the month of December, I knew I wanted to keep our decorating simple this year. And, since we are new in this home and still waiting to do some remodeling as well as waiting for most of our furniture to be reupholstered, I haven’t really nailed down my Christmas decor. So, I did what any resourceful gal would do…I shopped my home…and my yard…this year.
We live in the South and we have several magnolia trees in the yard of our new home, so…well…I just had to adorn my Christmas mantel with those magnolia leaves this year! I mean…how could I not?!
Our magnolias are the smaller leafed, Little Gem Magnolias, but the larger leafed Southern Magnolia would be just as lovely. And just because everything can be improved with a dusting of gold, I did just that! I mean, I love magnolia leaves as they are, but how could I not create a gold-dusted Magnolia Christmas Mantle, especially since I had all the stuff just sitting there ready to be used!?
And talk about easy!
Table of Contents
I snipped several magnolia branches, sprayed them with a foliage sealer (which is HIGHLY recommended) and then while they were still damp from the foliage sealer, I just dragged the magnolia branches through some fine gold glitter!
The foliage sealer is an anti-desiccant which seals in moisture and slows down moisture evaporation. I clipped the two branches below at the same time, 2.5 weeks ago. The one on the left was sprayed with the foliage sealer, while the one on the right wasn’t. You can see that the foliage sealer kept the leaves from losing their color and the leaves from curling. You can find it here or here.
The green and gold in the magnolia leaves on the mantel pair perfectly with my favorite Santa which I painted several years ago. He is available as a print here.
Height was added on either side of Santa with a faux mini pine tree and gold lantern, which was purchased at Target (and it is on sale now!)
Our stockings…I love them! My mother made mine, as well as those of the kiddos. She knitted mine, oh…a few years ago (?) and she needle-pointed the 2 for our children shortly after they were born. Terry’s mom made his when he was a baby as well. We will never have different stockings…these are filled with so many memories
To refer back to this my Magnolia Christmas Mantel in the future, bookmark this page or pin the following image.
Are you ready for more ideas? Here are some great ones for your mantel, porch, table, plus handmade gift ideas and gift wrap ideas. Be sure to visit everyone to see all the details.
Thanks again for spending a few minutes of your busy day with me today.
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Oh, how beautiful! How lucky you are to have such a beautiful tree in your neck of the woods. What a festive way to dress your mantle…and that pup! Adorable! Happy Holidays!
Oh my goodness! How cute is this! LOVE the Santa print….and am so excited to learn about the magnolia garland. This is a must make! Such a warm and cozy room. Perfect for the chilly holiday season.
Lynn, your’e so sweet and I too am very glad we met through blogging. I adore your magnolia garland. I’ve never heard of foliage sealer but must try it. I love using magnolia branches too and they always dry out too quickly. Love the Santa painting. You’re so talented!!
How fun to have a new home to decorate, Lynn! Love the classic elegance of your gold dusted magnolias. We don’t have them here in the north, and I’m a little jealous! Always fun hopping with you and seeing your beautiful creativity!
Hi, Lora…we are slowly figuring it all out. It’s fun to decorate our new home using all our ‘old’ decorations. It’s always fun hoping with you as well. Merry Christmas!
Oh how pretty your mantel is! I love anything magnolia and am envious of your having a magnolia tree. Such sweet memories of your stockings too. I would never switch them out either.
Hi Suzy! Yes, those stockings will be hung on our mantel forever. And, I’m thrilled to say that 2 weeks later, that magnolia is still going strong! I am tickled that I have such easy access to it now.
Oh, how beautiful! How lucky you are to have such a beautiful tree in your neck of the woods. What a festive way to dress your mantle…and that pup! Adorable! Happy Holidays!
Oh my girl Flora is practically perfect in every way! And thrilled to have a couple of magnolias I can clip whenever I feel like it!
This is fantastic! Everything is better with a little sparkle!
Right!!
Gorgeous mantel! I love your tips for keeping the magnolia leaves fresh longer. That added touch of the gold is such a great addition!
Thanks Christy! I do love that Foliage Sealant…it is a game changer
Oh my goodness! How cute is this! LOVE the Santa print….and am so excited to learn about the magnolia garland. This is a must make! Such a warm and cozy room. Perfect for the chilly holiday season.
Thanks Susie! So glad I could share that with you! After all the great tips I get from you, it’s the least I could do!
Lynn, your’e so sweet and I too am very glad we met through blogging. I adore your magnolia garland. I’ve never heard of foliage sealer but must try it. I love using magnolia branches too and they always dry out too quickly. Love the Santa painting. You’re so talented!!
Oh Angie, thanks again for all your work rounding us up. Your tour has me all ready for the holidays. Thanks, my friend.
Your mantel is gorgeous! And I love the Santa painting!
Thanks Pam…do love that Santa!
How fun to have a new home to decorate, Lynn! Love the classic elegance of your gold dusted magnolias. We don’t have them here in the north, and I’m a little jealous! Always fun hopping with you and seeing your beautiful creativity!
Hi, Lora…we are slowly figuring it all out. It’s fun to decorate our new home using all our ‘old’ decorations. It’s always fun hoping with you as well. Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Lynn
I love this gold-dusted garland you’ve made for your mantel. A little glitter makes everything better, right?
We’re thinking of planting a Little Gem Magnolia, and I can just envision using the leaves in my own Christmas decor.
Absolutely! Glitter always makes everything better! You will enjoy those Little Gems!
Merry Christmas.
Hugs,
Lynn
Such a pretty Christmas mantle, Lynn! I love your gold dusted magnolia leaves. They add a beautiful sparkle and elegant touch to your space.
Thanks Kristi! I am loving all this access to the magnolias!
What a fantastic idea!! It sounds easy, too. And that Santa is darling, Lynn. So happy to be on this tour with you! Merry Christmas!
Thanks Julie! Merry Christmas to you!
I’ve never heard of foilage sealer… game changer & those magnolia leaves are just gorgeous with that gold glitter…. such a pretty mantel!
Yes, that foliage sealer is great! Give it a whirl.
So festive and cozy, I love your mantel!
Thanks Laurie! I’m taking advantage of that lovely magnolia!
Oh how pretty your mantel is! I love anything magnolia and am envious of your having a magnolia tree. Such sweet memories of your stockings too. I would never switch them out either.
Hi Suzy! Yes, those stockings will be hung on our mantel forever. And, I’m thrilled to say that 2 weeks later, that magnolia is still going strong! I am tickled that I have such easy access to it now.
Merry Christmas.
Hugs,
Lynn
Lynn, this is just stunning! I love the gold!
Thanks Michelle! It is hard to go wrong with gold glitter…AMIRIGHT?!
Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Lynn