Christmas Wreath Decorating

A Christmas wreath always seems to add the final touch to the front door or any room decor.  Here are some ideas for Christmas wreath decorating or how to make your own.

How To Make A Christmas Wreath

If you’re looking at purchasing a traditional Christmas pine wreath they are quite expensive and it seems that every year the price increases.  There are some simply ways to decorate or create your Christmas wreath at home, here are some ideas.

Decorate a Picture Wreath

Here’s a great idea:  Create a picture wreath.  Purchase a simple, undecorated, starter wreath from a local craft supply store.  Use your favorite family photos.  Take each photo and poke a small hole at the top of each picture, then put a different color ribbon through each photo.  Then tie each photo onto the wreath and hang it on your front door.  Your friends and family will love to have a look at your family photos and will marvel at how creative you got with your wreath.

Make Your Own Wreath:

Here is what you will need for this project:

- acorns, wire, candy canes, holly, pipe cleaners, can of snow and Christmas tree branches.

Take the wire and form it into a circle. Twist the two ends of the wire around each other to secure the circle.  Tie the Christmas tree branches around the wire using the green pipe cleaners.  Take candy canes, holly and the acorns and add them to the branches using wire or hot glue from a glue gun.  Use the can of snow to spray on the Christmas tree branches.  Now you’ve got a beautiful wreath to hang on the front door. Spray the Christmas tree branches with artificial snow. You have just created a beautiful Christmas wreath to hang on your front door.

Make a Popcorn Wreath

Another idea is to make a popcorn wreath with a Christmas photo of your family in the middle.  Take some thick thread and string popcorn together.  Decide how large you want the wreath so that you can determine how long the popcorn chain should be.

Form a piece of wire into a circle and secure it at both ends.  Double up your popcorn chain and wrap it around the wire.  Your Christmas family photo can be placed in the center of the wreath.

There’s no limit, you can make animal wreaths with photos of your pets; ornament wreaths, candy wreaths, jingle bell wreaths, Christmas ball wreaths or any kind of Christmas theme you’d like.

There are so many ways to make or decorate your own Christmas wreath you are only limited to your imagination.

Ways To Decorate The Christmas Tree

If you’re looking for inexpensive ways to decorate the Christmas tree here are a couple of creative ideas that don’t cost a ton.  Think of things you can use that you already have when trying to decorate on a budget.

Low Cost Decorating For The Christmas Tree

During the holidays some people can’t afford, or just plain don’t want to buy a lot of fancy decorations for the tree.  Decorating your tree doesn’t have to be expensive.  You can have a beautifully decked out tree on a budge without sacrificing style or beauty.

Snow Covered Tree

A great, inexpensive way to create a fantastic looking tree is to make a White Christmas Tree, or Snow Covered Tree.  Use cotton balls as big lumps of snow and place them on the tips of the branches.  Sprinkle the cotton balls with white glitter to give them a glistening snow effect, or cut silver garland into tiny specks to achieve the same effect.

Of course, you’ll need a tree top on your Snow Covered Tree.  A cookie snowman will work well.  Take a snowman cookie and cover it entirely with white icing.  You can use chocolate chips for eyes and an orange gumdrop for the nose.  Add a smile to his face by piping chocolate.

Add a tree skirt by taking a large piece of cardboard and cut it into an arc.  Then, take two or more cups of flour and mix in water to create a paste.  Paste the flour onto the cardboard to create the illusion of freshly fallen snow.  Add white glitter before it dries to create a sparkling effect.

Tree Covered In Cookies

Make a delicious tree covered in cookies.  You can get really creative with this and use all kinds of shapes and sizes.  Give the cookies an extra splash of color and appeal by using non-pariel ranbow sprinkles.  Prepare the cookies for hanging on the tree by inserting a piece of rolled cardboard (size of a dime) into the top of the cookie before baking.  This will make sure the hole stays open during baking.  After the cookies are baked and cooled, insert ribbons and hang them on the tree.

As a tree topper you could use a large gingerbread man with a Christmas light in the center.  Follow the same procedure as the cookies by inserting a piece of rolled cardboard into the center while the cookie is baking.  Dress up the gingerbread man by adding white icing with red food color.

Make an adorable tree skirt by using an apron that has a pattern or photo of images that fit with your theme, cookies would work well of course!

However you decide to decorate your tree this holiday season, remember it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to look beautiful.

Christmas Tree Decor For Small Spaces

If you live in a small space you don’t have to do without a Christmas tree.  There are many things you can do to create a holiday atmosphere.  Here are some Christmas tree decor ideas for those who live in smaller spaces.

How To Decorate a Christmas Tree in a Small Space

Are you short on space and have no room for a large tree, regardless if it’s real or fake?  This small space shouldn’t prevent you from buying a tree altogether, you just need to plan accordingly.   Here are a few ways to make the most of your small space this holiday season and create fantastic Christmas tree decor:

Ceramic Trees

Ceramic trees are beautiful accents for any part of your home.  There are some that light up, creating holiday cheer.  Place one in a child’s bedroom, in your home office or even on an end table in the living room.

Decorating

You can decorate a small tree yourself, or purchase one already decorated  For example, you could decorate your kitchen by using a white tree with ornatments that compliment the kitchen decor.  Using a tree skirt that matches your living room or den will accent the colors of that room.

Home Office

Small trees go well in an home office.  They are usually placed on a desk, counter top or filing cabinet.  Fun novelty trees such as those that sing and dance are popular for the office.

Upside-down Tree

Did you know about this?  You can get trees that hang upside down.  They are not new, but have increased in popularity as a space-saving way to decorate.  A couple of advantages include more space under the tree and ornaments don’t get shaken off by pets.

Even if you have a small place, are single or just don’t want to take up too much space with a large tree; you can have a Christmas tree that looks great using these holiday decorating ideas.

Christmas Tree Decorating Themes

Would you like to have a Christmas tree that looks a little more original this year?  The traditional look is great but why not consider changing it up.  Here are some great Christmas Tree decorating themes you might want to consider.

Great Themes For The Christmas Tree

The traditional tree is constantly evolving from the typical tree that many grew up with.  It now comes in a wide range of types, sizes, shapes and colors.  Here are some ideas and some of the most popular themes for Christmas trees:

Musical Tree

A musical tree is very popular.  You place different musical ornaments throughout the tree on the branches and use a piano tree skirt.

Candle Tree

The candle tree has been around for many, many years.  To set one up you put candles in holders and tie the holders to the tree branches.  You can then use white lights around the tree and a simple gold colored tree skirt.  Never leave a candle tree unattended though as it can be a safety hazard.

Angel Tree

Another popular Christmas tree decorating theme is the angel tree.  Use a white tree and adorn it with golden-winged angels that are placed on the branches.  Us gold garland to garnish, and place an angel atop the tree.  A golden tree skirt makes a beautiful finishing touch to this tree.

Hummel Ornaments

If over the years you have been purchasing or been given Hummel ornaments, these make a great tree theme since they are beautiful and delicate.  Each ornament can be placed on a branch and use a larger ornament as a tree topper.  Add white lights and an elegant and simple tree skirt such as a brown skirt with a nice lace border.

Doll Tree

Using a doll on top of the tree with a flowing gown would be a beautiful addition to the Christmas tree decor.

Candy

Who doesn’t want a tree decorated with candy?  Your kids will have a blast trying to figure out which candies to use and you’ll have lots of fun trying to stop them from eating them all before they get to the tree.  Candy canes work great on the branches, use lifesavers to create a garland.  If you have a white tree to decorate, take red vines on each of the branches or ties kisses in silver wrapping on the branches to look like bells.

Cookie Tree

Another favorite tree decorating idea is a cookie tree.  Bake your favorite cookies and remember to leave a hole in the middle for the ribbon to go through.  You can also add your favorite cookie cutters to the tree.  Make Christmas cookie balls with a hole in the center for string and create a garland with them.  The biggest problem with a cookie tree is, like the candy tree, you’ll have to watch for people trying to eat the ornaments!

Toyland

Young and old kids enjoy the popular toyland tree.  A great idea is to do something along the lines of your “favorite things” like the song from the movie Sound of Music. For example, use dolls in white dresses with blue satin sashes; ornaments of cream colored ponies; sleigh bells, and crisp apple strudels.  Turtledoves can be used to represent “the wild geese that fly” , use white construction paper to cut out and past “the moon on their wings”.

No matter how you decorate your Christmas tree, have fun, and remember that it doesn’t have to be the traditional tree to create a beautiful holiday atmosphere.

Christmas Tree Theme Ideas

Many people are bored with the traditional look of the tree at Christmas.  Here are some great Christmas tree theme ideas to really spice up the season.

Unique Christmas Tree Ideas

Christmas has so many wonderful traditions, one of course being the Christmas tree.  Many people are now using the tree to express their personality and so it has become very popular to create themed trees.

Here are some examples of themes you could do:

1940’s Tree

Find old black and white photos from your parents era and use them to trim the tree with.  Old jewelery, 45’s of favorite songs, vintage ornaments and cars all make great trimmings that reflect that time.  You can use a lace tablecloth as a tree skirt.  To top the tree, how about a 5 by 7 inch black and white photo of a favorite singer or band leader of the 40’s.  Now you can rock around the Christmas tree.

Patriotic Tree

For those who are patriotic a white tree decorated with red and blue ornaments will work well.  You can use a flag for the tree skirt and a flag or maybe an eagle as the tree topper.

Elvis Tree

If you’re an Elvis fan and happen to have collected 45’s of your favorite songs you can tie a ribbon through the centers and hand them on the Christmas tree branches.  Most Elvis fans will have a doll or some sort of memoribilia that will go well atop the tree.  No doubt you’ll want to have a ‘blue’ tree.  Try to find some material with a guitar or a guitar pattern on it to use as a tree skirt.

Some other unique ideas for Christmas trees:

• Decorated in all gold or all silver using ribbons and ball ornaments.
• Covered in white turtledoves.
• Full of musical instruments.
• Full of angel decorations.
• Candle tree (but be very careful with fire near a tree!)
• All the characters from the Muppet show.
• All kinds of shapes and sized of stuffed animals.

If you like to have the traditional Christmas tree then why not too both?  Showcase your themed tree in your front window and keep the traditional tree in your living room.  The possibilities are really endless with creating a themed tree.  Involving the whole family is a great way to create a special memory for everyone involved.

For the patriotic person, a white tree with red and blue Christmas ornaments.  Add a red, white and blue flag blanket as a tree skirt, and at the top of the tree you may want to place a small flag or perhaps an eagle.

An Elvis fan who has a collection of his 45’s may want to trim the tree by putting white  ribbons through the center of the 45’s and hang them on the branches.  Surely, an Elvis fan would have a doll or some other Elvis memorabilia to place on the top of the tree.  Of course, the tree would have to be “blue.”  As for the tree skirt, try to find a blanket or fabric which features a single guitar or several guitars.

Another great idea is to have a 1940’s Christmas tree.  Trim the tree with old pictures from mom and dad’s era; old 45’s of their favorite songs; shoe ornaments reflecting that time; vintage car ornaments; and jewelry as well.  For a tree skirt, you can use a lace table cloth.  Atop the tree, a framed 5×7 picture of mom and dad’s favorite band leader or singer would be perfect. Now you’re really rockin’ around the Christmas tree.

Kids Can Make Christmas Decorations!

Making Christmas Decorations With The Kids

Chistmas holidays are like no other time of year, filled with family and friends.  It’s also a happy occasion because the kids are home from school and it’s a time when great memories that last a lifetime are made.  Taking some time to make Christmas decorations with your kids will be something they will remember for a long time.  Here are some ideas how to start:

1. Christmas Card Holder:  Everyone gets lots of Christmas cards and it can be a challenge figuring out where to store them.  Use an empty tissue box for storing holiday cards.  First, cut the top off the box, then wrap it in Christmas paper.  You can also decorate the outside with holly, ivy and ribbon.  Put your holidays cards inside and you’ve got a great looking storage container for them.

2. Table Centerpiece:  An affordable and easy craft you can do with the kids is to take Christmas ornament bulbs of different colors and sizes.  Take a large glass bowl or vase and add the bulbs, you will need to assist smaller kids in doing this so they don’t break the bulbs. You could also add some holly to decorate it more. This makes a beautiful and colorful holiday centerpiece for the table.

3. Paper Chain:  Take several colors of construction paper and cut them up into strips.  Attach the ends together to form a circle and glue, staple or tape them together.  When you make the next one loop it into the first one to form a chain.  You can do this in Green and Red or just let the kids pick whichever colors they like.  If you want you can wrap it around the tree when it’s long enough.

4. Tree Skirt: You can easily make a tree skirt by taking some felt material that is cut to the right shape, add some bows, sparkles, beads or whatever you have available to make it an original skirt.  For an added touch you could decorate it with trim.  The kids would maybe like to have pictures of Santa and put them along the rim of the skirt.  You could also make a skirt from a quilted type pattern, using different colors and plaids.  This skirt could also be used for a base for poinsettias.

5. Chain of Candy: Kids have fun stringing popcorn and beads around the tree, why not use Lifesavers candy?  Let the kids choose the colors and you could even make it a little lesson by making patterns.  Different color ribbons and twine will give it a Candlyland touch.  You can use candy canes as well.  Since both candies can come wrapped individually, you can take a needle and ribbon (twine or whatever you use) and run it through the wrapping.  When the holidays are over, you get to eat the fun candy chains.

Creating decorations a great way of expressing that the holiday spirit is alive in your home.  Kids love making crafts, the holiday ones will have special meaning and they’ll be proud to display their work.  By creating your decorations your home will be a reflection of who lives there instead of just full of bought sentiments.