Christmas Trees and Home Decorating

God's Warrior · Last edited by God's Warrior on Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:58 pm; edited 1 time in total

Christmas Trees and Home Decorating

Decorated Christmas trees first appeared in the mid 1800s. Two or three weeks before Christmas is the perfect time to continue the tradition by putting up your tree.

With the right care, a fresh cut tree can last through New Year's.
Pick a live or cut tree. There are many varieties of trees to choose from. Some of the most popular include Douglas fir, Eastern white pine, Scotch pine, Frasier fir, and Eastern white cedar.

When selecting your tree, look for a straight (or almost straight) trunk and branches that bend without breaking. Check the freshness of a tree by pulling gently on a handful of needles. The fewer that fall off, the fresher the tree.

To keep your tree looking good -- and prevent it from drying out and turning into a fire hazard -- follow these simple steps.

1. Remove bottom branches that keep the trunk from sliding into its stand. Prune ragged or protruding branch tips. Scrub the stand and rinse with a diluted bleach solution.

2. Using a sharp saw, cut an inch off the trunk base to remove the sappy seal that formed over the previous cut. A fresh cut is crucial to your tree's water uptake and longevity.

3. Insert the tree into the stand, straighten, and secure. Fill the reservoir with warm water. Trees drink heavily at first. Replenish as needed, keeping the water level high.

Decorate the tree. In most homes, the Christmas tree is the centerpiece of all holiday decorating. You can create a dazzling tree with this decorating formula: Lights first, then garland, and ornaments last. Plan to use about 100 lights per foot of your tree's height. And when it comes to placing your ornaments, start with the largest ones and then fill in with the smallest. You might also consider decorating your tree around a theme such as gingerbread, Victorian, or Asian-inspired.

Use extra ornaments. No room on your tree for every ornament you own? Then turn the ornaments that didn't make it onto the tree into shining ornament candles to display in the living room or dining room. All you need is a candle, a pedestal dish, and shiny Christmas ball ornaments. Tip: When decorating, keep in mind that not everything has to be used for its intended purpose. A little creativity goes a long way!

The big day is almost here. Use the last week to put the finishing touches on your decorations, introduce live elements like flowers and fruit, and set a festive dinner table.

This week's to-dos:
Display poinsettias and hang mistletoe. Don't forget these Christmas classics. Poinsettias can be used individually for a burst of color or grouped together for a for a lush look. No home is ready for the holidays without a sprig or ball of mistletoe dangling from a doorway or chandelier. And don't forget to kiss anyone standing beneath it!

Dress up the dining room table. Chances are, you'll spend a good amount of time gathered around the dining room table with family and friends during the Christmas season, so create a table that's sure to impress your guests.

Some ideas: Add oomph to a solid-colored tablecloth with a pretty table runner or napkins. Use small Christmas ornaments as napkins holders, or float candles and holly leaves in a punch bowl filled with water for a romantic centerpiece.

Take a walk-through. Do a quick walk-through of your house and note any areas still lacking in holiday charm. While guests probably won't see your bedrooms, they will see the bathroom and kitchen so those areas deserve a few decorations. In the bathroom, it can be as simple as some pretty candles surrounded by a string of silver beads and glass ornaments. For the kitchen, add a few small topiaries or glass jars filled with candy canes and peppermints.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day -
Gather family and friends for a holiday to remember. All that's left to do to make your home festive:
Welcome guests with party lights. Light the way to the party by lining the front walk with glowing lights. Luminarias are deceptively easy to make. You can even craft them out of ordinary tin cans. You can make the luminarias in advance, but set them out just a little while before your guests are expected.

Light your inside candles. Give your home a friendly glow by lighting all of the candles you created and displayed earlier.

Put some holiday carols on the stereo. A final touch: Turn on the Christmas tunes to make your home even more festive and welcoming.

God's Warrior · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:20 am Post subject:

Create Old Fashioned Christmas Trees

Back in the 1800s, homemade and handcrafted ornaments adorned most Christmas trees. For the simplicity and beauty of an old-fashioned celebration, add antique ornaments, reproduction antiques or homemade decorations to your tree.

Things You'll Need

* Christmas Decorations
* Christmas Tree Lights
* Christmas Tree Ornaments
* Christmas Tree Skirts
* Christmas Trees
* Nativity Sets
* Tinsel
* Tree Stands

Steps

Step One
Search auctions, flea markets and antique malls for antique tin, wax or blown-glass ornaments, or buy reproductions through specialty shops, the Web or mail order.

Step Two
Keep in mind that according to some authorities, ornaments have various meanings. For example, a pine tree symbolizes eternity, a pine cone represents warmth and a teapot signifies hospitality.

Step Three
Make cardboard cutout ornaments, cornucopias, or paper or aluminum foil chains.

Step Four
Hang apples, walnuts, wrapped chocolate and other candy from the branches.

Step Five
String rope garlands around the tree.

Step Six
Add angel's hair and tinsel.

Step Seven
Place a nativity scene under the tree.

Step Eight
Consider an eye-catching star on the top of the tree for the finishing touch.

Tips & Warnings
* Never put lighted candles on a Christmas tree.