We are delighted to bring you back to our Santa stopper gallery of Instagrammers who stopped Santa in his scroll with their holiday creativity. These appeared in a previous year’s Flea Market Décor Holiday issue, and we’re rolling it out online because the gallery is as impressive as ever and can help get your wheels turning for your own holiday décor! These festive collectors show us how to stack, layer and pile on the whimsy and charm. We hope you glean new styling ideas, see a few collections to emulate and follow each of our superstars on Instagram for year-round inspiration.
Alexis Sapp @thelittlehousefinch. When you think of Christmas, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t ice cream! But when you find the perfect chippy ice cream bucket in green and red, all bets are off! The whimsical seasonal ice cream flavors for my vintage Borden Ice Cream menu board was a blast to add
to the vignette.
Jen Rippinger @jensfreshvintage. As a vintage reseller, I am lucky to have first access to great vintage finds. This life-sized poster of Santa made me smile, and I just had to keep him.
Chelsea Nelson @brightgirlvintage. My 1960s pink-and-white cottage kitchen is the perfect spot for a Christmas cocoa station featuring pink Santa mugs, pink marshmallows and sprinkles.
Bailey Archer @cozycrazing. Vintage Santa has a tight hold on my heart—I enjoy hunting him down all year! I found a Holt Howard set at an estate sale last year and joke that it’s my most prized possession!
Susan De La Paz @sugarcookieladyvintage. Pink and blue bottlebrush wreaths are my favorite collection. They typically have their “reserved” spots over antique mirrors, but I stacked them atop a chocolate-drops box for another layer of texture and color with my candy-themed vignette.
Amber Reatherford @lostandfoundcottage. I love decorating with vintage pieces and because of my love for thrifting/picking, I started selling my collections on Etsy (at Lost and Found Cottage) so I can share these wonderful treasures with others around the country.
Kari Boetsch @thecollecteddesign. My wreath is a collection of curated vintage ornaments. The tattered, raw-silk ribbon creates a pop of color. These are especially amazing using a collection of family-heirloom ornaments. It’s a gift that keeps on giving…timeless and classic.
Ben and Matti Schilling @a.schilling.home. We’re a husband-and-wife team living in our California mountain cottage. We love to decorate our 1940s-built home with vintage Americana, floral prints and chippy-paint furniture. If we aren’t inside staying cozy by the fire, you can find us in the garden with our two corgis.
Jessica Wolfenbarger @vintageworldofjess. The needlepoint bird pillow, a prized holiday treasure, was handmade by my dear friend Terry’s mother-in-law in the 1960s. I scored the Christmas-tree tapestry at the Brimfield Flea Market and I’m always on the hunt for more. And my crocheted blanket is the first of what I hope to be many!
Blair Teer @maple.and.dickerson. I bought this wood cubby five years ago from a local antiques shop when we first moved to Greenville, South Carolina, and I’ve been adding Santas to it ever since. Last year, while browsing antiques shops with my mom, we spotted this oversized, hand-painted wood Santa and sleigh. She thought he was in a canoe, and now I get a good laugh every time I see him.
Ashley Bishop @a_sunshiney_life. Childhood is a magical time and I love creating a little wonder for my family this time of year. I’m a mama of eight, a seamstress, daydreamer and vintage collector. With pretty bits of fabric and bobbins of thread, I am creating a sunshiney life.
Joan Nekritz @mercibeaucoupfloral. I received this vintage dollhouse as a gift from a dear friend and her mother. I could hardly wait to deck the halls with colorful lights, wreaths on the windows, festive striped curtains and, of course, Santa and his reindeer.
Angela Ellerbroek @fussandputz. I have a thing for cubbies and love filling them up for each season of the year. My Christmas cubby is the perfect place to display all the treasures I’ve collected through the years.
Sonya Garcia @_the.vintagerose. I love to create my Christmas entryway using a chippy vintage door header paired with thrift store and flea market finds for a cozy welcoming vibe.
Lori Larreategui @fairy_dust_and_rust. Showcased in this vignette are my thrifted Santa mugs and a Jell-O crate found at an estate sale. After “fighting off” other would-be buyers, I was so happy to snag it! The vintage artwork in the background is a print of “The Contented Man.” A pair of vintage Santa light covers always looks magical on the tree.
Stephanie Hornik @reclaimedrestyledreloved. I love the thrill of the hunt for vintage Christmas, especially Santa mugs and anything vintage-green. My passion for vintage started as a child scouring antiques stores with my grandma and parents.
Angie Calzada @whimsically_angie. Inspired by shadow-box art on Pinterest, I saved food boxes for two months to put this upcycled cubby project together. I removed the fronts of the boxes and hot-glued them together, trimming it all out with striped pipe cleaners. My boys and I added one Christmas-themed craft every day for the 24 days leading up to Christmas. It was a work of love!
Martie Rodriguez @the_home_decor_birdie. For this holiday display, I showcased my vintage red transferware dishes, including Old Britain Castles by Johnson Brothers, Staffordshire ware and Mason’s Vista dishes. I paired the dishes with bottlebrush trees and nestled in a few crystal toothpick holders. Greenery, citrus pieces and the “25” wooden tiles help welcome Christmas cheer.
Janine Schnieders @janinesandlottie. I hung my socks and stocking stretchers on a piece of salvaged wood with some Putz houses atop. I accented it with mercury glass beads and a few vintage Christmas cards to create a vignette we love walking past each day.
Monta Caley @montas.vintage.journey. My home reflects so many things I love, from vintage finds to creating coziness in a new build. This picture highlights my love of antique candle holders and very old books.
Stacey Grant @grantcottage_1924. Trees filled with vintage ornaments collected over the years from thrift shops and flea markets are my holiday go-tos. I collect vintage Christmas (especially Santa) throughout the year to decorate in a classic, nostalgic feel.
Natasha Harrison Taylor @myvintagethriftedhome. Finding vintage Christmas goods in England is really difficult! But it means each find is extra exciting and I cherish each piece that little bit more.
Karoline Simmons @cherishedvintage. A carefully curated assemblage of Christmas fills my cubby shelf. Vintage packaging adorned with festive images and typography along with ceramic figurines and planters are some of my favorites to collect.
Jenifer Pavelko @patinadporch. The framed Santa atop the pine cabinet was a staple of my childhood Christmases and has always reminded me of my grandpa. It is also the inspiration behind this growing collection. I’m especially fond of the ones with a bit of patina, a crackled finish and some chippy paint.
Karina Barker @magnoliatreefarmhouse. Mantel decorating is one of my favorites. I love curating vintage collections like these brass candlesticks and wooden crates. Adding candles, a wooden rocking horse, a spruce garland and a wreath creates Christmas nostalgia and a cozy atmosphere.
Mickie Johnson @cottageonmainst. I knew this vintage wooden horse would be perfect sitting in front of our river-rock fireplace. I brought in lots of textures by draping greenery over vintage mirrors, adding a chippy stool, stacking vintage books on a small wood cake stand and placing a velvet green ribbon bow on top. A large pinecone under a glass cloche finished it off.
Heather Hoben @heathers_vintagecottage. This is a view of my antique mantel and shutters paired with one of my favorite collections: stained ironstone. The mercury glass ornament garland ties in well with my other mercury glass pieces.
Kelly Evans @southerngiltvintage. My Santa mug collection is the first Christmas décor I put out each year. Although I try not to play favorites, my most special piece is a hand-painted mug made for my husband before he was born.
Alicia Dennelly @angelholm_ct. I have a deep love for horses. One of my favorite childhood memories is watching a parade with all the horses decked out in sleigh bells. Ever since, I have collected beautiful bells and especially love the unique sound each one makes.
Veronica Gagliano Averkamp @fullmoonfarmvintage. Santa Claus is coming to town… with loads of his friends! I love collecting vintage Christmas decor, candy containers, crates and much more.
Megan Powell @goodsresurrected. This herd of reindeer has been continually growing over the years as I find myself incapable of leaving them behind when I see them. These vintage deer are a joy to pull out every season—even if they are darn near impossible to get all standing at once!
Sharon Pinto @corbelcottage. I love adorning my vintage apothecary cabinet with Putz houses and “snow” peeping out the drawers. Adding mirrors on top along with glittery stars and my mischievous-looking moon man makes this corner fun!
If you’re inspired by our 4th annual Santa stopper gallery, there’s a lot more where that came from! See the previous year’s installments: Presenting Our Third Annual Santa Stopper Gallery and Vintage Holiday Decor: Santa Stoppers 2021.
To be considered for next year’s gallery, please send your photos to Kelly McMaster at kmcmaster@egmediamags.com. Feeling the flea market holiday vibes yet? Don’t miss this year’s upcoming holiday special issue! You’ll be able to order your copy here. Meanwhile, you can get to work on some holiday DIY crafts such as DIY Wine Glass Cloche and Upcycled Paper Scrap Gift Tags. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more updates and flea market inspiration.