Spanish colonists gave tin to Mexicans, who over the years perfected the art of soldering and painting bright ornaments from the material. The Mexicans, in turn, gave us the idea of evoking that cheerful, sparkling look with something as simple as foil candy cups on pink mini lights, poinsettias made from metal sheets, and a tart-tin sconce. Decorating a mantel in these happy reds and pinks anchors a room -- and serves as an ample stand-in if your space (or holiday travel plans) doesn't allow for a large trimmed tree.

Tools and Materials

• Foil candy cups, in fuchsia and red
• Craft knife
• Cutting mat
• Pink mini lights (14 feet)

Candy-Cup Holiday Lights How-To

1. Turn foil cups inside out so fuchsia or pink is on the inside (it's okay if the cup looks flatter and wider).
2. Cut slits at center of cups.
3. Slide 1 light through each slit. Repeat until length of lights is completed.

Foil candy cups, in Fuchsia and Red, acupcakery.com. Pink mini lights, 14, by Christmas Lite, from 1000bulbs.com.

Make It Yourself

Amaco Art emboss metal sheets, 9 1/4" by 12", in Copper, Aluminum, and Bright Red, dickblick.com. Metallic fuchsia foil, by Glue Foil; and seamless round sterling-silver beads, 7 mm; firemountaingems.com. Darice craft wire, 24 gauge, 30 yd.; and Krylon stained-glass color, in Red; createforless.com. 8" round fluted tart pan, broadwaypanhandler.com. Classic scalloped candle clip, blumchen.com.

Get the Look

Solid Lumiere votive holders, in Petit, bhldn.com. Antiqued tapered votive holders, 3 1/2"; 2 1/2"; and copper cylinder; jamaligarden.com. Tapered candles, in Red, 6" by 1/2"; creativecandles.com. Copper bowl, abchome.com. Antiqued gold wall mirror, larsbolander.com.