Christmas is coming.......

I know it's only August, but here's a solution to a problem that I had that just kept growing!!  (I am not complaining!!!)  With five children, your family can rapidly multiply once they start getting married.  When Christmas arrives, you really find how that growing family changes things,

I have a need to have some of those things I didn't when I was growing up.  We never had a fireplace, hence, I missed hanging the stockings by the fireplace anticipating Santa coming down the chimney and filling them(hopefully with something other than coal).  Hence, I have to have our stockings, no matter how many, hanging off the mantel.

Over the 24 years we have had a fireplace, I have purchased MANY stocking hangers.  They have fallen off and broke.  They never stayed on to start with.  I got matching ones.  They didn't fit over the cuts of the mantel.  And the problems kept coming.

SOLUTION!!!!!!!

Supply List

closet pole (Home Depot)

Christmas Shower curtain hooks (Tuesday Morning)

I bought 2 packs:remember growing family

Ribbons (Michaels)

I measured the width of the mantel and cut the pole the same length.

I painted the pole white to blend in with my mantel.

I added 36" to to width of mantel and cut one ribbon this length to hold the pole up.

This also allows me to still put what ever I want on the mantel each year.

I made a loop at both ends of ribbon to slip pole in.  (Make sure it doesn't slip open)

I made two bows with contrasting ribbon and tied on ends of pole.

I used the shower curtain hooks to hang my stockings from.

I personalize a wooded ornament for each stocking so there is no question which one is mine or yours.

And this is what Christmas morning looks like.  If all would come this year, I would have 15 stockings hanging.  I also make every one their own stocking, except Derek.  He still uses the stocking he came home in from the hospital.  

We slide the stockings to both sides when we light a fire.  Notice the dip in the pole?  I admit I do go a little overboard, but the pole hasn't broken or come off the mantel yet.

I also hang a little ornament from the pole between each stocking just to add a little decoration.

 I'm happy today because I can make my childhood memories complete, even 50 years later.