DIY Decor for Holiday Stockings – With or Without a Fireplace Mantle

I move a lot…  9 times in 10 years!  And, because of this, each year is different when it comes to holiday decorating.  I’ve lived in homes that have had a fireplace and in homes that did not.  This year, I have a fireplace!

Whatever your situation, these handy DIY decor items provide a simple, two-part solution for hanging stockings with, or without, a mantle.

First, a nifty little sign to announce the dedicated area where you will hang your stockings:

And next, some DIY knobs for each stocking:

#1.  The Sign

What you’ll need:

• a piece of wood trim, a 2 x 4, or any other appropriately-sized piece of wood.
• paint in whatever color you want the background to be
• alphabet stickers
• colored ink stamp pad
• picture hanging hardware (I used eye screws)

For my sign, I happened to have a piece of pre-primed wood trim so I didn’t need to paint it first.  I also had the very “Brady Bunch” looking alphabet stickers on hand and because I’m an avid crafter – yep, I had the stamp pad too.  All I had to do was stick the letter stickers onto the board.

Next, I “painted” around the outer edge with a red ink pad by rubbing it onto the wood…

You can also use any craft paint, some washi tape, or you could glue some ribbon  around the outer edges of the sign for extra love.   Next, choose the appropriate picture hanging hardware.  I chose eye screws and twisted them into the top of the sign, about 3 inches in from each outer edge.

I chose red and white striped bakers twine to thread through the eye screws to hang the sign.  Here it is completed and hanging from a mantle:

And here’s the “no mantle” option:

DIY #2. The Knobs

The “knobs” for each stocking are drapery rod finials.  Mine started as unfinished wood pieces for just under $2 each at Lowe’s.  Any local building supply warehouse that carries drapery hardware and supplies should carry them.   You can purchase finished wood pieces as well, but they’re more expensive and unfinished hardware allows you to customize your color.  Look for finials that have screws attached like this:

I wanted the look of  bronzed metal so I spray painted them.  It’s a quick and easy process with the right set up.  Just screw each finial into a piece of styrofoam and place on top of an empty box to raise them high enough off the ground so you can walk around all sides and give them a good coat or two of paint.  As you can see from the photo below, I had painted these a while back so I re-did the set up to give you an idea of the easiest way to get the painting job done.

I love the way the finials protrude from the wall and make a bigger statement than a drawer pull.  They make the occasion a little more fancy, especially for the times I have lived in a rentals with plain white walls!  I try to make things a little more special around the holidays no matter where we are.  Below, I looped the stocking cord around the back side of the finial before screwing them into the wall.  The loops weren’t large enough to fit over the front part of the finial.  You can also tie a ribbon through the loop of the stocking and around the finial.  (You will have to spackle the holes left from the screws after the holidays).

I have also used these finials as tie-backs for lightweight drapes and as design elements from which I hung framed pictures.

I included this final photo to encourage a few more last minute DIY’s.  Paper snowflakes add some magic to the walls or can be hung from clear fishing line from the ceiling at varying heights to give a winter wonderland effect inside the house.  To the left of the mantle, you’ll notice a paper fan “wreath” made from gift wrap.  Use any of your favorite (or leftover) giftwrap and follow this GREAT how-to by Alysha for paper rosettes.

Have yourself a very DIY Christmas!

Happy Holidays,