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.

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.

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.

When throwing a Christmas party for your friends, you want it to be great.  Planning ahead will help you throw a wonderful party where everyone has a good time.  Here are some Christmas party ideas for adults to get you thinking about what to do at your party.

Party Ideas For an Adult Christmas Celebration

It’s the Christmas holiday season and you’ve decide to have a few friends over to celebrate the season.  Here are some Adult Christmas party ideas that will help you get started.

Light the fireplace; put on your favorite Christmas CDs; hang mistletoe in every doorway, and you are ready to begin. Depending on how many guests you will have and how much room you have you may want to choose a buffet or a full out dinner.  Buffet is often the preferred and of course easier choice. You can even get your guests to contribute by asking them to bring a dish along they can share.

The Buffet – What Will We Serve?

A twelve foot sub or hero works well and is easy.  Served hot or cold, it will be enough to serve everyone you have invited.  Another option is to make a few dishes of your own and then invite others to bring along a dish as well. Some examples of popular side dishes are: pigs in a blanket; stuffed mushrooms; chicken rolls, or bite-sized kiss puffs which come in a variety of flavors, as well as knishes. Have on hand your favorite wines, water, colas and of course egg-nog.

The Buffet – How Will It Be Served?

Have a separate table set up in your living room or dining room and place all food on there. Have Christmas plates, napkins and your flatware laid out at the beginning of the table and ready for guests.  You save time doing this and guests don’t have to search for what they need.  Tip: This makes clean up easier for you as well.

A decorated table also adds to the party decor.  Here are some suggestions: Choose a solid color tablecloth; red, green or white.  Christmas placemats can be added as a nice touch.  A crystal bowl filled with beautiful ornaments is a great centerpiece.  Of course it wouldn’t be complete without candles so add two Christmas candles to either side of the centerpiece.  Why not pin garland around the edges of the tablecloth to make it even more decorative?

Party Games – What Can We Play?

After a great buffet dinner and some desert, it’s time to play some party games.  Adults may enjoy charades or a Christmas sing-a-long. Or, how about playing musical chairs but with a twist? The men get down on one knee while the women walk around to the tune of Jingle Bells.  When the music stops, each woman has to sit on a man’s knee. This game is simple but so much fun you’re guest will end up doubled over with laughter.

Of course, it’s just not Christmas without Santa.  Arrange to have someone dress up as Santa’s villain.  Have him wear a wig and a mustache that turns up to his nose.  He could give away gag gifts, or anything that’s funny and appropriate. This is the kind of Christmas party your guests are sure to remember for years to come.

Thanksgiving is a magical time in which we remember the things and people in our lives that are special to us. This year why not take the time to decorate your home in honor of this very special holiday?

You can show your friends and family that Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and to show loved ones just  how much they mean in our lives. Here are a few Thanksgiving decorating tips and ideas that will make this Thanksgiving one  that will be remembered for many years to come.

Add fall colors and themes to your front yard in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Make your Thanksgiving table a thing of beauty with a table runner with golds, browns, or burnt orange colors. You can emboss the table runner with stamps in fruit and nut shapes. Iron-on decals are also a great way to decorate a table runner.

Buy several pillar candles in one solid color and place each on silk fall leaves. Group your candles in various heights and place a few nuts or small gourds at the base of the candles for a special fall look.

Decorate your Thanksgiving buffet table with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts in brass or silver bowls and baskets. You can also use artificial fruits and vegetables if you want to keep your beautiful buffet table in place for several weeks or the entire month.

Make place cards for every member of the family and any other visitors you may be entertaining and include a note to each written inside the place card of why you are thankful for that person and what  they mean in your life. Your guests and family members will be touched by your thoughtfulness and the  effort you made to make them feel special.

Make garlands from leaves, fruits, berries, and fall colored ribbons to hang from doorways and any place you would normally hang a Christmas garland. You can also purchase bundles of wheat and tie wide, wire-edged ribbon around the center and hang from your fireplace and on doors.

Decorate a small journal or notebook with fall colors, leaves, and ribbons. Allow each member of the family to fill out their own page, listing the things they are thankful for. Make sure to leave markers, stickers, and other decorative items close by so each family member can decorate their page individually. This journal will become a cherished treasure.

Think of all the places you decorate with reds and greens at Christmas and instead place fall colors and Thanksgiving decorations that you can purchase in your local discount or hobby store. These simple ideas will transform your house and make your guests thankful for you.