Holiday Pin It/Do It - Pin #2

Pin #2 for the Holiday Pin It/Do It Challenge is a Rustic Stocking Holder.  We've lived in 16 houses in our marriage, but not one has had a mantel.  I've hung our Christmas stockings in every conceivable place - door frames, windows, tv stands ...  So, when I ran across some pins for stocking holders, I re-pinned a couple, then combined them to make my own creation.  Here are my inspirations:

http://cowiescraftandcookingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/11/curtain-rod-as-stocking-holder.html

I loved this idea of using a curtain rod to hold all the stockings rather than having individual hooks.  Still lacking a mantel, I began scheming alternate locations to use this idea.  Then I saw this pin:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84215607/rustic-stocking-holder-hanger-christmas?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_source=Pinterest

I liked two things about this holder:  1. it hangs on the wall - no need for a mantle or other shelf and 2. the primitive theme, which goes along with some other decorating I'm planning (see future Pin It/Do It entries).  So, I combined the two ideas - a primitive style, free hanging stocking holder with a single rod to hold all stockings.

Dave found some extremely weathered barn board that had once been painted red - perfect.  Then all we needed was a rod.  A shiny, new curtain rod didn't seem to fit the primitive theme, so we scoured the shelter belt and found a branch that was the right length and relatively straight.  A little bailing wire to attach the branch and voila!  

But it was a little plain, so I decided to add some greenery and pinecones (some from Wal-Mart, some from the yard).  As it turned out, it didn't really matter what I used for the hanging rod, because it barely shows in the finished product, but I love the look.  So here's my new Christmas stocking holder:

Since I know someone is going to ask.  I made the three cross-stitch stockings for Dave and the kids.  My stocking is the one my mother made for me when I was in grade school - or even earlier.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

More Christmas crafts and decorations to come.  Holiday Pin It/Do It is sponsored by Trish @ Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity.