Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Have a *Santa mug* of cheer!

Decorating-wise, one of my biggest goals before Saturday's tea party was to get as many of my Santa mugs out and on display as I could.

The majority of them are used as ornaments on the tree.

Bonus: If you use an artificial tree and bend a couple of branches through the handle, you don't have to use hooks!

They sit on the mantel (along with a cute new Santa teapot that was a gift from Scott's Bookstore last week!), and also ...

... on the hearth.


With a little florist's wire you can wire them into a garland as well.

And the fun thing to me is that these pieces have been collected over quite a few years, mainly by my Santa-mug-vigilant mother and aunt. But I'm not very interested in the $5-$10 Santa mugs that pop up at this time of year. This is the typical price paid in my family, and the Santa mugs have the stickers and grease pencil marks to prove it!

18 comments:

Kiffer said...

What an awesome collection.

Marie said...

What a fun tree! I have 3 Santa mugs myself. Very old ones.
I really enjoyed seeing your decorations. Thanks

Rosemary said...

I *want* a Santa mug tree! Simply love it!...and I believe that may be one of a kind!

Marilyn said...

I think it's an excellent idea to keep the prices on the mugs. It would make one feel rather Smug!♥♫

Linda J. said...

So unique and fun!! What an impressive collection of Santa mugs! I love the creative way you decorated with them.

Mom Walds Place said...

This is the best Santa Mug display ever. It is so much fun!

Antiques And Teacups said...

What a fab collection! And what a tremendous design statement and conversation starter! Your collection is amazing and magazine story worthy!
Ruth

Carol said...

Wow, that's a finely displayed collection! It's very beautifully arranged.
I especially love the littlest cups. They are just as cute as can be. Wonderful photos!
Love, Carol B.

Denise :) said...

Oh my, this is GREAT! I love your Santa Mug tree, in particular! :)

Jenny said...

What really fun ways to display your mugs! I've been seeing Santa mugs everywhere I go since you posted about your collection the other day.

Lavender Cottage said...

Wow, what a large collection. Do you know how many you have?
Judith

Angela McRae said...

Judith, it was around either 100 or 150 last year. I am going to try to count them when I crate them back up this year!

Lisa Leggett said...

Oh, what a great collection, Angela!! I love that you've found a way to feature your collection in such a fun way, I especially love the garland, it's tea-rrific!

parTea lady said...

Your santa mug Christmas decor is wonderful. What a terrific collection you have.

Marilyn said...

I have never seen so many Santa mugs in all my life. What an amazing collection!

Anglers Rest said...

What a great collection, and a brilliant way to display them.
The only Santa mugs I have are made by Spode & from their Santa's of the world series. I have 5 of the 7 with the Russian & German Mugs in the collection as rare as hen's teeth or rocking horse droppings!

Ginger said...

I love how you decorated with your mugs!

Anonymous said...

Hello Angela, those mugs are adorable! I love how you have displayed them, so creative.
I didn't know there were so many variations. Have a wonderful holiday, Joanie