This year’s Plaid Tidings Christmas Mantel is quite a contrast to last year’s ‘winter white’ mantel. After our recent travels to Scotland, I fell in love with plaid all over again!
If you have landed here after visiting my friend Beth at Unskinny Boppy, welcome! I am participating in a 3-day Christmas home tour with some of my best blogging buddies.
We’ll be sharing some ‘better late than never’ decorating ideas! I really needed to simplify this year, and it seemed to take me forever just to get it done… anybody else? But like I recently posted on instagram, ‘Better Late than Never Ugly’!! (If you don’t follow me on instagram,it’s time to fix that! Click HERE!)
Anyway, we all agreed it IS better late than never, so we teamed up to bring you some last-minute inspiration.
Plaid Tidings Christmas Mantel
The plaids, or tartans, that you see in Scotland are as varied as blooms in a flower garden. There are green ones, blue ones, gold ones… well you get the idea! One of the most well-know tartans is the red Stewart tartan, which is a lovely plaid of Christmas colors. The Stewart tartan is what most people envision when they think of the word ‘tartan’. It is predominantly red, with cross patterns of green and/or blue and usually yellow. I didn’t realize before our trip how much each clan is identified by their own specific tartan.
For this year’s plaid, though I was looking for something a bit different and happened upon this lovely plaid that has red, black and tan… similar to the Burberry plaid.
I loved the looser weave of it, almost a sweater feel. I used this plaid ribbon on both the mantel and the Christmas tree. 
I even wrapped a band of ribbon around 2 of the 3 stockings!
This mantel also features a vintage tobacco basket. I had one years ago, and not sure what happened to it, but I recently got one at a local antique store, University Pickers. Just for fun there’s a wreath (that I flocked myself, btw!) hanging in the center with a pair of skate ornaments hanging from it.
Continuing the ‘winter sports’ theme, you’ll find some mini snow-skis propped up by the trees and our antique sled tied with a big plaid tidings bow!
Now for the rest of the tour:
Welcome to the ‘Tis the Season Blog Hop hosted by Barb Garrett and The Everyday Home.
We may be a lot later getting our Christmas decor out than some others – but you know how the ole’ saying goes. “It’s Better Late Than Never.”
Please make sure you visit all of these amazing blogs for some last minute decorating ideas.
– MONDAY –
The Everyday Home || Mizz Helen’s Country Cottage
What Meegan Makes || Hearth and Vine || Wife in Progress
– TUESDAY –
Refresh Restyle || Exquisitely Unremarkable
Walking on Sunshine || The Chelsea Project || Worthing Court
– Wednesday –
The Honeycomb Home || Confessions of a Plate Addict
A Blue Nest || Unskinny Boppy || SondraLyn at Home
Be sure you head over to Barb’s site at The Everyday Home so you don’t miss a thing from our tour!! So, how is your decorating coming along? Are you finished, or are you a bit like us – late but not for lack of enthusiasm!?!
Merry Christmas,
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Patti says
December 13, 2017 at 6:31 amWhat a cute theme. Your home is so lovely. It could never be ugly.
Merry Christmas! ♥
Beth Bryan says
December 13, 2017 at 1:47 pmSondra this is SO beautiful! I felt the pull toward plaid this year also, and went with it in a big way. My obsession with Outlander may or may not have had something to do with that (still jealous of your Scotland tour!!) It feels like plaid is the pattern of the moment, and it’s so classic and beautiful. Your mantel is so pretty. One day I’m gonna make it up to University Pickers. I hear so much great stuff about it.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
Sondra Lyn says
December 13, 2017 at 4:01 pmThanks, Beth! I’m obsessed with Outlander too!! I think that’s one reason I wanted to go to Scotland so much in the first place. It did not disappoint!
And the gals at University Pickers are the ones who put on the Booth Conference where I presented a session back in November (I saw your FB live about your experience that same weekend… so glad you could make lemonade out of it!).
Merry Christmas, my dear!!
Susie says
December 13, 2017 at 5:09 pmHey Sondra! Lovin all that sweet plaid. And I think if I’d been to such a fab place as Scotland, I’d be plaiding all the things, too! LOL. Your home is so lovely. It is always a joy to pay you a visit. This year is no exception. Love the mantel. So fun hopping with you this week. Merry Christmas ~~ Susie from The Chelsea Project
Susie recently posted…Snowy Glam Dining Room Christmas Tour
Kim says
December 13, 2017 at 5:09 pmSo many charming Christmas touches in your beautiful home. I love the plaid…and I’m a sucker for anything red! Merry Christmas, enjoy your lovely decor and Happy Hopping!
Miz Helen says
December 15, 2017 at 3:39 pmYour Plaid Tidings bring a very warm welcome to your to your beautiful home. I love the trim on the stockings and the antique sled, great touches! Thanks so much for sharing and it is a joy to share the tour with you.
Merry Christmas
Miz Helen
Miz Helen’s Country Cottage
Jordan says
December 17, 2017 at 10:13 amYou’re speaking my language! Blame it on my Scottish heritage, but I love plaid, too!! So happy to do this hop with you!!
Meegan Fast says
December 19, 2017 at 5:18 pmSondra. Your home is beautiful with the touches of plaid. I love how you added them everywhere-from the stockings to your Christmas tree. SO pretty. You always have the best ideas and an eye for design. Thanks for inspiring me, as you always do.
Merry Christmas, my friend.
xoxoxo
Niki says
March 8, 2018 at 8:05 pmI know its not Christmas but I love plaid all winter long, but I use blue based plaids. Your house is beautiful. It looks like you use the same metal bucket as I do for one of my trees. I get complimented on it all the time. Again, you have a beautiful home.
Sondra Lyn says
March 8, 2018 at 8:49 pmNiki… Thank you SO much!! Yes, my tree is just in a galvanized bucket that you could get at a farmer’s co-op!! And I love plaid any time of the year!! Thanks for joining me!