I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, got lots to eat, crossed off a few things on your Christmas shopping list and enjoyed some down time. I did… it felt great to relax and hang out with family, but now it is full-speed ahead to getting my house decked out for the holidays. Today I am taking part in Christmas Mantels Around America with a group of other home bloggers where we are are sharing our Christmas mantel decorating ideas.
Back in the spring, one of the first big projects I took on after we moved into the lake house was to update the 1970’s brick wall and fireplace in the living room to stone. You can see the before photo in this post and read how I created a floating mantel using the top of an unwanted piece of furniture.
Decorating the mantel for Christmas was something I have been thinking about since the makeover. I moved south a year ago where snow is pretty much non-existent from what I am used to seeing around Christmastime having lived in Pennsylvania most of my life.
With the lake and outdoors being the main focus of the house, I decided to bring the outdoors in and create a white Christmas myself on the mantel.
I also decided to go with the color red and plaid this year after using turquoise and pink the last few years. I bought the stockings and white candles at HomeGoods, the Denver plaid throw is from Pottery Barn. I made the Let It Snow canvases and the tree branch slices that the candles are sitting on. The greenery is from my yard. I have included free printable .pdfs (below) of the words Let IT Snow if you would like to make the canvases.
The tall trees are the same ones I used to decorate my foyer with last year in my previous house.
When I was deciding what to do on the mantel I knew I wanted to use lettering.
… and of course no Christmas mantel is complete without stockings.
If you look closely you can see I added glitter snowflakes to each canvas that is leaning against the stone fireplace wall. The glitter makes them look extra special when the light hits them at night.
They were very easy to make using inexpensive stretched canvases I bought at Walmart. One of the budget friendly aspects of working with stretched canvases is that once you don’t need them you can paint something new right over them. So in the future you may see these three showing up here on my blog transformed into something completely different.
Christmas Mantel Decorating: How to Make Let It Snow Canvases
Download the free printable .pdfs for the words Let, It and Snow here:
I used the font: Malisia Script Regular for the words Let and It. It is not a free font, but one you can purchase. The font for Snow is Modern No. 20. It is a freebie you can find, here.
supplies needed: list includes affiliate links
- 3 – 18″ x 24″ stretched canvases – Walmart
- Black craft paint
- Medium-tipped black Sharpie
- Fine tipped artist paint brush
- Graphite transfer paper
- Large paper snowflakes
- Ruler
- Spray adhesive
- White, clear, or silver glitter
- Scissors
- Painter’s tape
How to Transfer the Words Let, It and SNOW to the Canvases
- Print out the .pdfs above on your printer. The word SNOW is on two different .pdfs. The letters SN on one and OW on the other. Cut around the letters and tape together to spell SNOW as shown in the photo above.
- Cut a piece of transfer paper to the same size as the words, let, it and snow.
- Find the center on the canvas and lay down the piece of transfer paper over center of canvas so graphite side is face down. Place SNOW print out on top. Use painter’s tape to secure to center of canvas.
- Trace over the outer edge of the letters with a pencil using even pressure.
- Remove the tape, word, and transfer paper and you will be left with an outline of the traced word.
- Repeat for the the words, let and it.
7. Go over the traced outline of the word with a black Sharpie. Let dry. Then fill in each letter using a fine-tipped paint brush and craft paint. Let dry.
TIP: Place a paper towel on the canvas to rest your hand on while you paint. It will lessen any smudges on your hands from getting on the white canvas.
How to Attach the Snowflakes to the Canvas
Line a baking tray with foil to help keep glitter from getting everywhere. Once you are finished applying the glitter, clean up will be easy as all you will need to do it crumple the foil and throw it away.
I added two snowflakes to each canvas. One on the upper left and one on the lower right corner.
- Lay snowflake right side up on foil-lined tray. Spray a light coat of spray adhesive over snowflake making sure you cover the entire surface.
- Sprinkle glitter over the snowflake and then shake excess glitter off of snowflake onto tray.
- Place snowflake on right bottom of canvas and determine placement. Cut away excess (overhanging part of snowflake) with scissors.
- Spray back of snowflake with spray adhesive and attach to canvas. Repeat process for each snowflake.
How to Add Snow or Flocking to Greenery
- Set up a large piece of paper or flattened cardboard box and place greenery on it. Spray a light coat of spray adhesive over the greenery and then sprinkle glitter over it.
- Hold each piece of greenery up and spray a few shots of spray snow over it. Let dry.
Lay greenery along mantel and if you want to create more snow, sprinkle the greenery with fake snow that you can buy in a bag at the craft store.
I haven’t gotten a Christmas tree yet, but that is next up on my holiday decorating list. It will be going to the the left of the fireplace.
Do you decorate your mantel or house for the holidays? If so, you will enjoy visiting these other fabulous blogs in the Christmas Mantels Across America tour today to see how they’ve decorated their Christmas mantels in the region where they live!
Christmas Mantel Decorating Ideas From:
CANADA:
EAST:
Atta Girl Says || Golden Boys & Me || In My Own Style || StoneGable ||The Everyday Home || The Rustic Life || Worthing Court
CENTRAL:
Cedar Hill Farmhouse || Edith & Evelyn || House By Hoff || It All Started With Paint || Maison de Pax || Town & Country Living
WEST:
At The Picket Fence || Classic Casual Home || Tidbits || Twelve On Main
Tanya says
10/26/2017 at 3:50 pmHi Diane,
I bought everything to make this weekend! However, when I try to download the pdf’s they are cut off. I cannot seem to get the full “let” and “it” on the page when the .pdf is downloaded. Any suggestions?
Thank you!
Tanya
Peggy Renie says
10/26/2017 at 1:41 amWhat would you charge to make the three canvas pieces and ship to 44641?
I so want a set like that for my mantle this year.
Thank you
Email is [email protected]
Diane Henkler says
10/26/2017 at 8:45 amHi Peggy – I don’t make items to sell. My blog is where I share and show the steps on how to make things.
Lil Murchison says
08/05/2017 at 2:01 amDiane,
I love your Christmas Decor! Even though it’s early August, I am trying to gather new idea’s for Christmas this year. I lost my Mother on December 7, 2016. Even though I am 62 with 4 beautiful grand children, I must say Christmas at Nana’s, my home along with my husband, was slim with decorations. I put up a 9′ pre-lit Charlie Brown Tree. The gifts were wrapped, Mantel was some what decorated. I just didn’t have the energy to go all out like I usually do. We moved in with my Mother her last two weeks. You have inspired me to get things going. I am a crafty person so there fore I make a lot of my things. We have a probably 5 or more acres behind our home that backs up to the church. So there is plenty of pine cones, spruce trees, cedar trees, etc. just have to watch out for the red fox!! I hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas.
Shirley Korade says
12/08/2016 at 9:21 pmHi Diane,
I love the ‘let it snow’ canvasses idea! One question I have is about enlarging the lettering. Am I correct to assume that I will need to enlarge the downloaded words? If so, by what percentage. Diane in my opinion, you are the best! Your ideas are wonderful and your instructions are so thorough. Thanks for sharing!
Shirley K.
Diane Henkler says
12/09/2016 at 7:28 amHi Shirley – If you download the .pdfs and print them out at full size, then you do not have to enlarge the words. I created the .pdfs to the size I used. Thanks for reading my blog. :-)
Sheryll $ Critters. says
12/04/2016 at 9:22 amBeautiful. I want to copy. I will get boos and possibly some rotten tomatoes thrown at me, but I do not like snow or cold weather (guess that is why I live in FL). I am wanting Peace On Earth for my version. And I quickly realized there was no possibility of a TV on my mantel because of the huge mirror behind it. My kitty Kats would send hit crashing to the hearth.
My little Sapphire DSH, black kitty was killed Wednesday morning and I am inconsolable.
Diane Henkler says
12/04/2016 at 7:29 pmHi Sheryll – We moved south so we didn’t have to deal with the snow any longer. :-) Creating the mantel brings the feeling of snow to my holdiays in a good way…no shovling required. So sad to hear about your little Sapphire. Thinking about you… God bless. XO
Gail says
11/29/2016 at 11:00 amDiane, Love, Love what you did with your mantel, it so looks like Christmas to me! I wish we didn’t have a TV above ours because i would be copying what you did. Just stunning. I’ll grab a cup of cocoa and sit in front of my computer and enjoy instead!
Diane Henkler says
11/29/2016 at 11:27 pmThanks Gail – In my previous house we had a TV over the mantel, so I never did much with it. This year I got to finally do it up. :-)
Linda @It All Started With Paint says
11/29/2016 at 8:11 amI’m so in love with your let it snow canvases! Just stunning! Pinning away! :) Linda
Vanessa Hunt says
11/28/2016 at 11:04 pmI absolutely love it all Diane!! It’s so fun and festive and cheerful. Such a treat to be apart of this tour with you today!
[email protected] says
11/28/2016 at 7:19 pmOh I love it so much and I adore your new profile photo. The canvases are such a great idea.
Ashlea says
11/28/2016 at 6:18 pmThis is so beautiful Diane. Thanks for sharing such a great tutorial on those lovely signs. They add just the right touch!
Linda Weeks says
11/28/2016 at 5:01 pmYour fireplace is lovely, and it seems like such an original way to say “Let it snow”, which we all want just before Christmas, and not right after – Love the way you do stuff!
june says
11/28/2016 at 3:06 pmBeautiful. You make your DIY’s look soooo easy.
Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says
11/28/2016 at 2:01 pmLove this, Diane! The graphic elements create a wonderful focal point. Thanks so much for sharing the tutorial.
Laura S. says
11/28/2016 at 1:02 pmLOVE how you added “snow” to a few sprigs of greenery on your mantel! I never thought of putting it on cedar as you did – I love the effect and cedar is near and dear to my heart as it’s a traditional southern Christmas greenery as fir trees were once hard to come by. Hope your “Let It Snow” brings real snow to you – once in a while South Carolians get a surprise snow and I’m sure you will get a kick out of how it makes us all go crazy for it!
Sara Syrett says
11/28/2016 at 12:36 pmThose canvases above the mantel are so great! Its all so pretty!!
April Hoff says
11/28/2016 at 12:28 pmDiane, this is just fantastic! I love the DIY artwork, and the quick tutorial for how to flock greenery! Amazing!
classic•casual•home says
11/28/2016 at 11:14 amGORGEOUS! Fresh and crisp and so inviting.
Merry Christmas, Diane!
Mary Ann
Diane Henkler says
11/28/2016 at 12:23 pmThanks Mary Ann – I enjoyed decorating it. I am not sure the real greenery will last until Christmas, I may have to tweak it a little and refresh the greenery a few times. It will be easy though since I can get it right out my door. :-)
classic•casual•home says
11/28/2016 at 12:58 pmYes…lucky YOU. Living in a city like I do has it’s advantages…and disadvantages! Like no free greenery!
liz says
11/28/2016 at 10:38 amDiane, what is the font for Let it? is it your font? the reason I ask is that I’d like to do the project with the words “be of good cheer” using that font.
Diane Henkler says
11/28/2016 at 12:20 pmHi Liz – The font is called Malisia Script. It is a font I purchased from The Creative Market. You can find it here
Ginny says
11/28/2016 at 10:16 amSo pretty!
Suzy Handgraaf says
11/28/2016 at 8:51 amI love what you did with your mantel, Diane! Everything is so, so pretty. Thank you for showing us how to add “snow” to greenery too. I have strong doubts that we’ll be lucky enough to see real snow at Christmas, down here in the south. :( Although, I’m guessing that you’ve had your fill of it after living in PA!
Diane Henkler says
11/28/2016 at 12:26 pmHi Suzy – Thanks… and that would be a big yes for having enough of our snow fill for a lifetime. The snowblower we had at our previous house was sold with the house since we no longer needed it. The snow on the mantel is enough for me now.
Linda Manuel says
11/28/2016 at 8:20 amI absolutely LOVE the idea of words on canvas!! I may not make the Christmas ones, but I have an idea that this process will just make a perfect addition to my living room wall! Cannot thank you enough for the instructions on how to do this!!! Hugs and blessings!!
Diane Henkler says
11/28/2016 at 12:30 pmHi Linda – This is what I love to hear… when readers are inspired to put their own style on something I created. The best compliment ever! XO
Teresa says
11/28/2016 at 7:54 amI love your mantel! Great color contrast and love the signs! Looking forward to seeing it complete with tree on the side. Thanks for sharing.
Diane Henkler says
11/28/2016 at 12:32 pmThanks Teresa – I was hoping to have the tree up already, but time was just not on my side. We plan to go to our local tree lot this week to get it. I will post photos next week.
Carla J. says
11/28/2016 at 7:27 amI love how you used items from your yard to create such an adorable mantel.
Diane Henkler says
11/28/2016 at 12:33 pmThanks Carla – Freebies from the yard are the best.