Warm And Cozy Mantel With Some Old Time Christmas Charm

Creating a warm and cozy mantel this time of year is always my goal. Adding some old time Christmas charm helps to define the “warm and cozy” feel.

I wanted to do a completely different mantel then I did last year.  Honest I did!  I had such plans!  But when I opened the bin that held my Christmas bears, well… I just couldn’t do it!  Those precious little faces!  I promise them every year when I put them away that I’ll see them again in December.  How could I possibly go back on my word?  

I have always loved teddy bears for as long as I can remember. My collection started years ago and to say it’s grown a bit since then would be an understatement of epic proportions. Part of the love is the old time charm they bring with them.

There are many stories as to the origin of teddy bears. Here in the states, the most prevalent involves Teddy Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot a bear on a hunting trip in 1902. That prompted shopkeeper Morris Michtom and his wife to create a fabric bear in his honor. They displayed it in the shop window with a sign that read “Teddy’s bear.”

Meanwhile in Germany, seamstress Margarete Steiff created her own version based on the real life bears her nephew saw at the zoo. The Steiff bear debuted at a toy fair in 1903 and made it to America a few years later. They quickly became the most popular toy all over the world. I have yet to add a vintage Steiff Bear to my collection but someday!

Mantel Centerpiece

So… the teddy bears stayed.  I decided I could make some of the changes I wanted but still keep the bears a part of the mix.  This year I chose one of my favorite pictures to be my centerpiece instead of the light up Santa charger of years past.  

I love Billy Jacobs prints and this one is just perfect.  It is the same picture that I use in the fall but the pumpkins in the wagon are replaced with Christmas trees in this print.  The old farmhouse and barn look so welcoming and go a long way to bring in some old time Christmas charm.

Greenery and Lights

I added the same lighted garland that I’ve been using for years.  The velvet roses add a vintage feel that I love this time of year. A roll of glitter ribbon spread out on top reflects the lights and adds to the magic.

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Adding the “Cozy”

To bring the “cozy” to the mantel, I’ve added red candles of various sizes. I’ve chosen battery operated ones that are set on timers to come on at dusk. Entering a room lit by candles an immediate feeling of coziness takes hold.

A distressed “Merry Christmas” sign builds on the feel.

Adding the Warmth

When it comes to the “warm” in the “warm and cozy” theme, of course that’s a job for the bears. The warmth they bring is not a physical one but a feeling inside that touches the heart.

Being known as the symbol of unconditional love, teddy bears are often used by first responders to comfort a child, given as gifts to a new baby, and in just about every children’s ward in hospitals all over the world.

And… it’s not just me that thinks teddy bears are synonymous with Christmas. They are a part of many artists renderings for the season. Of course a few of those have made it to my house over the years as well.

But it’s the stuffed bears that have my heart!

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I kept my promise to the bears and I’m so glad I did!

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A couple of old rocking horses join the bears to help them bring in the old time Christmas charm as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope my Christmas mantel has given you some inspiration for your own. I have added it to the Create the Look section of the blog with links to some items I’ve used and others that might work for you.

Before you leave today, be sure to stop by the Printable Library. As subscribers, everything you will find there is available to download with your password.

I’ve used several around the house this year. My favorite is part of the Christmas Cocoa Bar. Take a peek right here.

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See you soon!