six ways to decorate with sleigh bells

by | Dec 16, 2019 | All Things Home, Decorating, Holiday, Winter | 19 comments

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As I’ve shared about my love for collecting Wallace Sleigh Bells, I’ve received several requests to share ways to use them to decorate for the holidays.  Those questions sparked this post!  Since I know not everyone collects those specific bells, I decided to create this post using a set of bells 16 bells I purchased for $10.  You can find them HERE.  They are a generous size, a traditional shape, and come in silver and gold.  And, with 16 of them, there are a lot of options for decorating ideas and projects!  So, here are six was to decorate with sleigh bells.

I was pressed for time, as I’m sure most of you are during this time of year, so I kept my ideas quick and easy.  Each one took less than five minutes.

silver bells | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

idea no. 1 | napkin rings

For this idea, I took some fine green yarn and wrapped it around linen napkins a few times and laced the bell on.  I left the yarn loose enough to be able to tuck silverware and a sprig of rosemary in and to slide it off to use the napkin.

napkin rings | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

Simple and pretty!

silver bells rosemary napkin holders | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

silver sleigh bell napkin holder | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

idea no. 2 | lamp “tassels” 

I had no idea what to call these, so let’s just call them “lamp tassels.”  I threaded two bells on a large piece of chunky cotton yarn (probably about a yard long.)  I tied the two ends of the yarn together to form a loop.  I then pinched that loop in the middle, so one bell hung on each side and I tied it around the top of a lamp, finishing with a bow.

lamp tassels | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

It just adds a little something festive and wintry…

sliver sleigh bell lamp tassels | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

silver bell lamp tassels | crochet | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

idea no. 3 | a key tassel

Tie the bell on a velvet ribbon and there-you-go…a key tassel to hang from a key, knob, or door handle.

key tassel | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

You could even hang a cluster of bells.  It’s sort of nice to hear the jingle of bells as people come and go during the holidays.

silver bell key tassel | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

idea no. 4 | add some shine to greenery

These bells are very “tuck-able” and are perfect for adding some shine and reflection to greenery.  Tuck them into garlands or tie them into swags and wreaths.

holiday mantel decor with silver bells | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

idea no. 5 | place cards & gift tags

This is really two ideas in one, but I think the bells are perfect for tying a tag onto and using as a gift tag or place card for a table setting.  I made a simple tag out of watercolor paper, punched a hole in the bottom corner, and then laced it onto a bell with a checked ribbon.

silver bell place card | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

I added a few sprigs of rosemary, but you could tuck in some faux greens, a candy cane, etc. to add some color and texture.

silver bell place card holder | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

idea no. 6 | fill a bowl or compote

The other ideas are easy, but this one is super easy.  Just put the bells in a pretty bowl or compote, tuck in some greenery and pinecones and call it done.  If you want to get fancier, you could add some battery-powered micro LED lights or some ribbons, but simple is okay, too.

holiday decor with silver bells | decorate with sleigh bells | missmustardseed.com

I learned these bells also make great cat toys.  The kitties have been batting them around my studio most of the week!

Anyway, I hope this gives you some quick & pretty, last-minute decorating ideas for the holidays!

And I’ve got some more Christmas inspiration to share with you as well as some people to introduce!  One thing I have loved about Mustard Seed Mentoring is getting to know other bloggers and creative business owners.  It’s become a very special and supportive community.  Some of our members are just starting out, getting a blog or business launched, and some have been doing this for a long time and they are looking to grow, shift gears, or just get a fresh perspective on their business.

The Christmas decorating, baking, and craft ideas below are from just a few of our members and I’m so proud of them!  They are all working hard to improve their photography and styling, to make engaging content, and to tell their stories.  And they are all very talented!  I hope you will visit their blogs, leave comments cheering them on, pin the projects and recipes you enjoy, and subscribe if you like their content.

This is a way you can support small businesses and the dreams of creative entrepreneurs without leaving your house or spending a dime…and you’ll find some inspiration along the way!

Hearthside Comforts  |  Well Purposed Woman  |  Efex  |  My Cottage Life

The Lemon Tree Home  |  Miss Mustard SeedColor Filled Cottage

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    19 Comments

    1. Brenda

      I’ll be honest. I thought your bells were cute, but maybe not for me. But after seeing all the ways you have used them, I think I’ve changed my mind. All the ideas are very cute! Very nice! Merry Christmas! I must go, the cookie dough is calling! 😉

    2. Connie

      I recently saw a friend’s daughter’s IG post featuring her dining room table and chandelier & hanging on velvet ribbons at various lengths from the arms of the chandelier was a shiny collection of silver sleigh bells! It was so pretty & made me think of you!

    3. Gina

      The bells are beautiful. They add so much for so little. The key tassel made me smile and sparked a wonderful memory of a cat I had many years ago. We had added a tassel like that to our front door and he realized if he smacked it with his paw and made it ring then we knew he needed to go outside!!! That bell hung on our front door for many years. We had a cat door on the back of the house but he loved smacking the bell so the humans would come running!!! Thank you for your lovely pictures….they make the season so cozy.

    4. Marilla Melcher

      These are lovely ideas! I agree with Brenda–this post changed my mind about using bells to decorate for Christmas. I might be able to make them work after all!

    5. DONNA BURKE

      Thank you for low budget inspiration! I ordered some of the bells and ribbon and will make place settings for our Christmas dinner (which includes aunts, uncles, cousins and my 94 year old Grandma!). I try to be creative every year, but I’ve never done this. I love the larger 2 inch bells, much nicer than the smaller ones. I miss “decorating” on a tight budget inspiration. When you own a large 1895 Victorian farmhouse- upkeep alone takes all of the funds. I hope you will post more of these inspiring ideas as you get the chance. I love the simplicity and the fact that even on a low budget you can still be creative. ♥ MERRY CHRISTMAS!

    6. Kris

      The bells are pretty and your decorating is flawless. I got a kick out of seeing how you incorporated your leftover yarn into decorating, since I have done that as well. 🙂

    7. Susan

      I love the bells, but the fact that you have paired them with your sterling is even better! Repousse/Steiff Rose is my pattern, too–I inherited a billion pieces from my grandmother and use it as often as I can. Beautiful!

    8. Patty

      I was going to DM you asking for ideas to use my Wallace Bells – I started collecting because of your posts.
      I really like the ideas – with velvet on a key or doorknob, place settings, napkin rings. I only have 2 Wallace bells, but will plan for the Christmas table to have more bells on it!

    9. Leslie C.

      Love these, I bought a box of the silver ones last year after seeing your Wallace Bells. Just love them, so many ways to use them as you have shown and easy to store away for the next year. I love them in my ironstone, just like you have above. I think I will try your Idea No. 3 next….. Thanks so much for sharing.

    10. Susan L. Dorr

      Thank you for all of the wonderful ideas. Could you please let me know where you purchased the checked table cloth shown in this post?

    11. Irene Kelly

      Yes I too collect the Wallace bells and have used them in many ways over the years, they add such shine along with mini lights. And I use “jingle bells” tied with pretty ribbons on top of gift boxes and bags of cookies. I also have been busy making bright red pompoms to tie along with the bells. I use the traditional red and green color scheme because it brightens up my decor Just love your blog you always share so many great ideas. Merry Christmas !

    12. Marian Hintz

      Love your blog, so many great ideas you have. Your silverware is beautiful, where did you get it from? Merry Christmas to you!

    13. Sandi Allen

      These are all wonderful ideas. Simple yet Beautiful. I would’ve never thought of these. Thanks for sharing.

    14. Michele / Finch Rest

      Well done – love these ideas for bells. I have one Wallace bell – the year we got married. I hang it on the tree as an ornament. All my wedding year ornaments are always the last to go up.

      Really love your photography – it always wows me.

      Hope your season is merry and bright and your new year full of good health and joyful hope for things to come.

    15. Patty Soriano

      I have always loved vintage bells, and the new ones which mimic them. Over the past few years I have found lovely bells at Dollar Tree. They have snowflakes cut into them and are perfect for this time of year. They are small enough to use as decoration between two glass candle holders. One a larger hurricane, and inside a smaller one with the candle inside. Between the glass walls I tower the bells. I love them anywhere!

    16. Sharon

      I have a bell question for you, or perhaps one of your readers may have an answer.
      I already have a box of bells that I want to use. They are of great sentimental value because my Uncle worked for the bell company, he was their Tool & Dye maker. These bells do not have the standard small band of metal at the top that you could slip a cord or wire through. These bells have a hole at the top as if intended for a plug or rivet of some sort. I have yet to find a product or tool to access this hole to make them “attachable” to anything. Do you have any experience with these or suggestions on how to adapt them? Thanks!

      • Marian Parsons

        What a cool thing to inherit! I can’t quite imagine the bells, so can you send a picture and I might have some ideas? marian@missmustardseed.com

    17. Darla

      Love love LOVE Marion, THANK YOU! It’s so nice that Violet has a place at the table! 🙂

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