Valentine Mantel 2012

Occasionally, I like to move away from the "dining" aspect of "Dining Delight" and show you some other areas of my home that I have decorated. In this post, I'm showing you my Valentine Mantel-scape. While this is not a tablescape, you may be able to draw inspiration from these decorations to use in other ways.

Here is the full view but let me take you through the details...

Two white pillar candles are aglow on top of glass candleholders. 

(Tip: use different sized pillar candles to fool the eye into thinking the holders vary in height)

 

White mini-lights are hidden behind a red feather boa and a LOVE sign is placed in front.

I "stuffed" white mini-lights into two of these red heart shaped vases (bought at an antique store) and topped them with a faux gold-trimmed rose and white ribbon.

(The cord for the lights comes out the back and connects to other lights on mantel)

A black vase is filled with faux gold leaves which coordinate with the ones over the mirror.

I got this great "feather coated" heart at a local florist/gift shop and hung it on the mirror.

Put them altogether and this is what you get!

 

 Have you started decorating for Valentine's Day yet? In my next post, I'll show you some other V's day decor around my home. In the meantime, be sure to check out these other wonderful blogs for more inspiration.

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
Wow Us Wednesday at Savy Southern Style
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.  
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home  
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Valentine Centerpieces

Here are a few different Valentine themed centerpieces I did up for various tables last year but never got posted.  Hope they provide a little inspiration for you while you decorate for the "LOVE" season!

 A hurricane with a "lift" inside for a pillar candle (Partylite) is decorated with vinyl "cling-ons" and placed in a red berry wreath (from Christmas decor).

 Same red berry wreath placed around a trio of cylinder vases with inserts.  Inside the vases are faux pearls in the bottom with wire Valentine garland twisted inside.  Red beads and a tealight fill the glass inserts.

A large glass vase is filled with cinnamon heart candies and a white pillar placed inside.  A heart vinyl "cling-on" makes the vase go with the theme.  Accompanying hurricanes are filled with faux snow and a votive holder/votive.

A trio of cylinder vases with inserts is given a romantic look with a feather boa wrapped aound the mirror base and a wintery look with faux snow and ice inside.  Wire Valentine garland is twisted inside and red glass hearts are scattered around.

Thanks for visiting!  Check out these wonderful blogs for more terrific ideas to create a LOVE nest for Valentine's Day.

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
Wow Us Wednesday at Savy Southern Style
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.  
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home  
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Snowflakes & Ice

As someone who enjoys winter, it is fun to explore the various tablescape options this season offers.





Here is the inspiration for this icy looking tablescape I recently created....
Glass Blocks 
(which you can buy at most hardware stores) 

By stacking two and adding some snowflake decorations to both sides with faux ice chunks on top,  I acheived the icy/snowy look I was after.

 

 These were placed on an ordinary dressing mirror used as a "runner" down the middle of the table.

Next, I added two other glass blocks on each side of the centerpiece and topped those with snowflake decorations and my icy glass trees.

Beside each of these glass blocks, I placed an acrylic reindeer (recently received for Christmas!)

Although I love the look of white on white for winter tablescapes, for this one, I went with a frosty teal tablecloth as a background and added a few other teal coloured  bowls, ornaments and ribbons.

Here's another gift I received for Christmas from Mr. Delight - snowflake napkin rings. I love the sparkly icy look of them!

For placecard holders, I filled these beautiful teal dessert bowls (bday gift from my daughter) with faux snow and a snowflake.

White placemat, silver charger, white dinner plate, and glass salad plate topped by the teal placecard holders complete the dishware ensemble for each place setting.

 

Stemware includes a clear white wine and a red wine glass.

And here's how it all looks together

The weather outside matched the icy depiction on the table.

Of course, our Christmas decorations are still up! Yep! Enjoying them to the fullest!

While the icy look is great in daylight, I think it gets even better after dark!

I added a string of battery-operated white LED lights along the centerpiece which created a lovely glow.

The lights added to the icy look down the center of the table and created a contrast between it and the place settings.

 

An "Icy Christmas" look with a frosty table and snowflakes hung from the chandelier.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you aren't chilled to the bone from viewing this icy tablescape! Maybe clicking over to these other fabulous blog parties this week will warm you up!
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
Wow Us Wednesday at Savy Southern Style
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.  
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home  
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

There's TWELVE Days of Christmas!

It seems I always have a similar post at this time of year and here I go again.
I feel sad when I read blogs right now! So many bloggers who LOVE to decorate for Christmas have ALREADY taken down their decorations!

The season of Christmas is TWELVE days long beginning on Christmas Day 
and ending with Epiphany on January 6th.

You know the song "A Partridge in a Pear Tree/Twelve
Days of Christmas", well here's a look at TWELVE of my Christmas tablescapes from years gone by.

I will admit that I was once amongst those who always packed away Christmas early (always by January 2nd)

Mr. Delight was the one who made me realize I was doing it way too early and there was no need to rush the season.

I am so thankful he did!

There is so much to do before Christmas Day that one rarely gets the chance to truly relax and

 

 enjoy the decorations.

 The lights around the house help make the early part of January so much more bearable.

When I came home from work today, I put on some Christmas music and lit some candles.

It is the perfect time to relax and reflect on the meaning of Christmas.

 

 Extending the season also allows for more time to entertain and not have the festivities crammed into so few days. 

 With the decor still readily available, you can do numerous tablescapes, even planning one for next year!

 

I'll make a confession here....we leave our decorations up well PAST January 6th!

 I hope I've convinced you not to feel like those Christmas decorations must come down so soon.  Relax and enjoy the fruits of your labours!

I'll be linking this post to these fabulous blogs:

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.  
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home  
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper