Decorating for Christmas--The Entertainment Center and a Pine Cone Topiary

I was really sick of all the stuff that was on these shelves...so I took it ALL off and started from scratch.  I should have taken a picture of my dining room table after that!!  DISASTER!

This is what I ended up with!

{you can click on the picture to zoom in larger- follow my printable instructions if you don't know how}

I got the star garland a long long time ago--like 6 or 7 years ago from Crate and Barrel.  It's one of my most favorite decorations!

Top left corner - 2 glittered cones on crystal candlesticks
Left middle - my crystal bowl {a wedding gift} filled with all the glass ornaments I can't put on the tree because of my crazy kids!
Bottom left - a wooden gingerbread man {home decor swap party}.  He has a friend, but I coudn't find a good place for him so I think I'll put him in the kitchen somewhere.
Top Middle section {left to right} a little crate container found in the dollar section of target filled with gold twine balls and pinecones that I got from a yard sale.  An empty Christmas tree jar {yardsale}, a Willow Tree angel, an 8x8 piece of wood art "Wisemen still seek him", A Santa that my mom gave to me and a little wreath from Hobby Lobby 2 years ago. 
Top Right - little tree from The Quilted Bear a few years ago.
Right Middle - Pinecone Topiary made by me {see below}
Bottom Right - a little old man smoking a pipe and holding a sheep.  My little brother bought if for me in Germany. 

The Pine cone Topiary:

So this topiary has been many different things--first it was a pretty spring flower topiary, then I made it into a Halloween flower topiary...and now it's permanently a pine-cone topiary because, unlike the flowers, I had to hot glue the pine cones onto the burlap covered ball instead of using pins.  I made a cute bow and painted the dowel and the pot white.  These were the snow-tipped pine cones I was going to make into a wreath.  I didn't have enough, but I barely had enough for this topiary!  I think it turned out really cute.  I wish I could make a duplicate but that would mean I need to find more pine cones...and that is so not happening this year.

If I could finish my darn stockings I could take a picture of my mantle...but that is proving to be quite a battle.  So next up I will probably try to take some good shots of our Christmas tree!  I LOVE our tree again this year.  A nice big fatty from Costco!  Look for those later this week.  I will probably squeeze a few cute pictures of Sam in here in the next few days!  He's turning into quite the character!