I did a snowman theme last year and what I liked most about it, was that I could leave it up beyond Christmas.

This year I used some artifical pines with pinecones, very delicate and a little gold glitter on the tips of some of the pine needles and just sat them randomly on top of the mantle with a burgundy wire ribbon intertwined throughout. There are 2 antique clocks on my mantle, so the pines are tucked around them, etc. I have our 4 stockings hung and 3 boyds bears christmas figures, they are very tall, so they stick up nicely out of the pine. I have had them for years and never use them, so it was time to use them or lose them.

Here's what I did this year, which is the first time I've had a mantle. My decor is southwestern, so it's not very traditional. I have potted pointsettias and cacti with fresh greens and white lights. There's a picture on my website- just hit the Holiday Decorations link (2 pages).

Here is a link that might be useful: Meghan's Page