I am so excited to share my Winter Wonderland tray with you today! I styled a silver tiered tray for the season with some shiny baubles and organic feels. Come see all the details along with trays from 23 other bloggers. So much to see and so little time!
I would like to start by thanking Katherine from Katherine’s Corner for once again organizing this fantastic seasonal blog tour. We have 24 fabulous Winter Wonderland trays to share today, which is sure to inspire. Grab a cup or glass of your beverage of choice, sit back and enjoy all the seasonal inspiration.
If you are coming over from Life as a LEO Wife, welcome! Niki has so much inspiration for you, and you do not want to miss all her seasonal trays. She went over and above! Plus don’t forget to visit all the other talented blogger participants listed at the end of this post with more amazing Winter Wonderland trays.
winter wonderland tray styling details
A tray is always a great vessel and foundation to create a seasonal vignette by just using a few simple components. I chose a tiered silver plate tray for the Winter Wonderland theme. A tiered tray is your decor friend, allowing for more vertical space to style.
I found this tray at a thrift store many moons ago. I bought it for resale purposes but it never made it to my booth. You know how that goes. 😃 I have a love affair with silver plate, which you can read all the crazy details here {metals I- silver plate}.
I started by giving the tray a good polish to get it prepped for the job. Once it was all shiny and pretty, I loaded the tiered tray with some mercury glass ornaments, chartreuse bowl fillers, pine cones and evergreen branches. I love the juxtaposition of the shiny baubles versus the organic elements.
I topped off the tiered tray with a chartreuse velvet ribbon. The ribbon adds great texture plus the color compliments the bowl filler baubles in the tray.
tray styling vignette
I styled the Winter Wonderland tray on the sideboard in the dining room. The chippy shutters are a great backdrop with depth and texture. I hung the pine cone wreath I created for Christmas in July {pine cone wreath DIY} on the vintage shutters. I added a plaid ribbon which you will be seeing in some other projects this Christmas season. Stay tuned.
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I styled the other side of the sideboard with some winter greenery and more mercury glass baubles to balance out the silver tiered tray. A farmhouse pitcher sits loaded with winter faux greenery and surrounded with mercury glass ornaments and a small mercury glass compote piled high with mini pine cones.
Seasonal tip: Buy faux florals at the end of the season when they are highly reduced for the following year.
I added more of the chartreuse velvet ribbon to the farmhouse pitcher handle and the mercury glass compote, coordinating with the ribbon on the tiered tray handle. Notice the mercury glass, pine cones and chartreuse color are repeated throughout, bringing all the elements together.
tray styling formula
If you’re a regular reader around here you will notice many decor styling parallels with my winter wonderland tray and autumn on a tray design. You do not have to recreate the wheel every time you decorate, but yet yield varied results depending on the theme or season.
Both tray stylings included mercury glass elements; mercury glass ornaments & compote for the winter wonderland tiered tray and mercury glass pumpkins & hurricane for the autumnal basket tray. Also both tray stylings included organic elements; pine cones and fresh greenery in the winter wonderland design and eucalyptus and boo pumpkins in the autumnal design. Here’s the Autumnal tray for reference:
Plus both variations include a velvet ribbon; chartreuse ribbon in the winter wonderland styling and burnt orange in the autumnal tray. Plus I love to inject rustic elements in my designs. The winter wonderland design is set against chippy, distressed shutters, while the autumnal vignette is set in weathered willow basket with rope handles.
Within the winter wonderland tray vignette itself, I also followed some design rules. Odd numbers are always more pleasing. For example, I repeated the pine cones three times; 1} in the tray, 2} in the wreath and 3} frosted in the pitcher arrangement. I also included the ribbon in three different places.
Although I repeated the ribbon three times, I chose to use them in different ways. There’s a long loop bow on the top of the tiered tray, while there’s simply a long knot on the pitcher handle and a traditional bow on the stem of the compote. This adds interest yet consistency.
And of course I love to have some form of flickering light since it adds ambience and drama to any setting. I have my driftwood tray candle on the sideboard right now. Not only does it smell heavenly, but is casts a wonderful shimmer against the silver and mercury glass.
more tray sylings
This is the fifth decorated tray tour I have participated in. Here are all the tray tours for your convenience:
- autumn on a tray blog tour
- by the sea on a tray blog tour
- easter on a tray blog tour
- valentine’s day on a tray blog tour
Please continue on our winter wonderland on a tray inspirational tour. Beverley is next on the tour from the Eclectic Red Barn blog. Bev has created a DIY sled that is sure not to miss. Hop on over and give her a visit. Plus visit all the other bloggers as well. There’s so much seasonal goodness to be shared.
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home.”
Edith Sitwell
MaryJo, you are so much better than me. I gave up polishing silver years ago! But cleaning the tiered tray up and adding the lovely warm pinecones and chartreuse velvet ribbon makes it worthwhile.
Happy Christmas!
Rachelle
Thanks so much Rachelle. If I’m not rushed, polishing silver can be therapeutic for me sometimes. Unfortunately I’m always doing it at the last minute totally nutso. Lol. Thanks for the visit. XO- MJ
Oh this is lovely MaryJo! You’ve done such a wonderful job of keeping it simple yet elegant – I love that you’ve only used a few elements but kept them consistent, and yes, the juxtaposition of the glam and the rustic is fabulous! That tray though!! Wow! No wonder it never made it to the shop! 🙂 Thanks so much for the tips and the inspiration – I’m going to go track down some of my velvet ribbon! Always so great touring with you! Happy Holiday my friend!
Thank you so much for your kind words Barbara. Yes, I’m crushing on velvet ribbon right now. Thanks for the visit and always so fun to tour with you. ‘Tis the season. XO- MJ
OMGGGG VELVET!!!! Why are we both so obsessed with velvet?!?! I can’t get enough of it….that green is just….SO PRETTY! Such a great vignette you created, MJ!! I love the ornaments and the greenery paired with the silver! Amazing job of explaining your process! So fun hopping with you!
Thanks so much Rachel! Yes, great minds think alike. lol. Thanks for the visit friend. XO- MJ
MaryJo,
What an amazing silver tray!! I am so jealous!! It is gorgeous!! Love the use of the bright greens and the rustic addition of the pine cones!! So pretty and elegant! And where and the other pieces you chose to display it with are perfect!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Hugs,
Deb
Thanks so much Deb. It was fun to put together. It’s always so fun to tour with you. Thanks for visiting and happy winter wonderland season! XO- MJ
MaryJo, so lovely and it fits so well with the background. The tray is beautiful and elegant and contrasts nicely with the natural pinecones you used. Love the pops of color that are repeated throughout the entire display.
Thanks so much! The tray is a favorite piece of mine and it was fun to dress it up for the season. Thanks for the visit and enjoy the winter wonderland. XO- MJ
MaryJo,
I am in love with your entire display. That green ribbon looks so pretty with the silver and pine cones. Nothing like sparkle for the holidays.
Hugs,
Bev
Thanks so much Bev! It was wonderful touring with you today. Enjoy the season. XO-MJ
HI Maryjo! I love love love the sterling and green combo. Never would have thought of that! It looks great and now you have St. Patrick’s Day covered! Happy Day, laura in Colorado
Thanks so much Laura! I didn’t think of that but yES! I can adapt some of this for St. Patrick’s day, which I love decorating for since I love green yet not a bit Irish. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. XO- MJ
Wow, what a great tray with so many levels to decorate! You’ve done such a beautiful job styling it…the perfect amount of sparkle to contrast with the pine cones! Great to tour with you!
Shelley
Thanks so much Shelley! Yes- tiered trays always give us those extra surfaces to keep decorating. Enjoy the season! XO- MJ
Beautiful MaryJo! I love the textures and outdoor feel of your tray and the entire vignette. The chartruese ribbon really makes it pop! The silver tiered tray is beautiful and adds a touch of elegance to your wintery scene, so pretty!!
Thank so much Jenna! I really enjoyed working on this project. So fun to tour with you. Happy holiday season. XO- MaryJo
Hi, MaryJo; I love your tiered tray, and also the lovely colour scheme!
Thanks so much Irene. I appreciate the visit and enjoyed touring with you. Enjoy the holiday season. XO- MaryJo
Beautiful Mary Jo! I absolutely love that color and it is such a pretty contrast with your silver tray! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks so much Denise! I am always drawn to chartreuse. It’s so bright and vibrant- it just makes me happy! XO- MaryJo
MaryJo your tiered tray is gorgeous! I love that green velvet too! I even have velvet ribbons on my tree this year! I loved linking up with you today! I would like to invite you to come stop by my weekly link party every Wednesday for a chance to be featured https://www.ourtinynest.com/2022/11/30/weekly-wednesday-link-party-324/
Thanks so much Nicolle! I just popped over and linked up. Thanks for the invite. Enjoy the season. XO- MJ
Your tray is beautiful! I love the way the green contrasts with the silver and browns. I could class up our Grinch family movie night with this! I’ve been trying to figure out a way to do that. That tiered tray is gorgeous. It’s so you. Great touring with you. Hope to see you over on Crafty Creators this week!
Niki | Life as a LEO Wife
Thanks Niki! That’s so funny ‘cuz I totally got Grinch-y vibes when I was working on this. The Grinch is my favorite Christmas movie (original animated version). My kids know it’s at the top of my list when we discuss what Christmas shows to watch. lol. Enjoy the season sweet friend. XO- MJ
Beautiful tray Maryjo. I used to have a tiered tray just like that. Love the velvet ribbon. The additions of pine cones and greenery is lovely. You have added some elegance with this beautifully decorated tray.
Thanks so much Linda! The velvet ribbon is really doing it for me. I have a couple other colors in my cart right now & I think I just need to hit “complete order”. 🙂 Thanks for the visit and enjoy the festivities. XO- MJ
Your tier tray is gorgeous MaryJo! Loving the lime green and how it pops against the brown of the pine cones. The whole look is so beautiful. Pleasure to tour with you.
Thanks so much friend! I really appreciate your sweet words and it was a great pleasure to tour with you as well. XO- MJ
Mary Jo, your silver tiered tray is so pretty. I wouldn’t have sold it either. The natural elements contrast beautifully with the shiny silver.n A wonderful arrangement and I appreciate your descriptions.
Thank you so much Carol. I really appreciate your visit and kind words. Enjoy the season! XO- MJ
MaryJo, your silver tray is stunning and I loved the way you pulled it all together! Really beautiful! Enjoyed hopping with you! Have a lovely holiday season!
Thank you so much Kathryn. I enjoyed putting this project together. It was wonderful to tour with you. XO- MaryJo
beautiful, I love the silver ,I love it all. Thank you for joining in the fun. Pinned xo
Thanks so much for everything Katherine. You do so much for all of us and it’s truly appreciated. Enjoy the season sweet friend. XO- MJ
MaryJo your tray is stunning! You must have been thrilled to have found it! I like how you used the gorgeous velvet ribbon in different ways throughout the tiers. Happy Holidays!
Thank you so much Maria. I’m loving the velvet ribbon right now and it’s the perfect detail to add a finishing touch. Thanks for the visit and Happy Holidays! XO- MJ
Your tray was an amazing thrift find! It looks so pretty paired with the natural elements, and that shade of green is perfect. Nice hopping with you.
Thanks so much Allyson. yes! Super fun. XO- MJ
What a beautiful display! Visiting from the Dare to Share linkup.
Love that tiered tray and what you did with it ❤️
Love that tray and what you did with it ❤️ visiting from awandafutthing.com through the Esme Salon LinkUp
Im so glad you liked it! Thanks for the sweet comment and visit. XO- MJ
MaryJo, I love your tray! I’m planning on getting a tray soon so I can participate with all of you. I’ve been seeing all of these beautiful seasonal trays for the past several years and I feel in love with the concept.
Visiting today from Sunday Sunshine #35&36
Hi Paula. Thank you. I look forward to you joining in on the fun. XO- MJ