Decorating Tips for Christmas Trees
1: What To Do First
You've go the Christmas tree, but now what?
Browse these pages of tips and ideas on setting up your tree, keeping it fresh, and decorating it beautifully.
First, Keep your tree Fresh - Keep the water reservoir in your tree stand full, especially during the tree's first days and week indoors. Most trees with a fresh cut (which will induce water absorption) will drink many quarts of water in the first few hours, so check the water level in your tree stand several times a day for about a week, and less frequently thereafter.
Wilt resistant spray - Check out a new wilt resistant spray that can be applied to trees before bringing them indoors that claims to keep needles fresh for several weeks.
Order of Placing Decorations - Place decorations in this order: 1. lights, 2. garland, 3. decorations.
Inside, Outside - Arrange lights 'inside' your tree (about halfway from the tips of the branches to the trunk of the tree) as well as on the perimeter of the tree.
How Many Special Ornaments? - Mix one of a kind special ornaments with more generic "filler" ornaments. To make an impact, plan on using about 10 special themed ornaments (10 birdhouses, music notes, etc.) for every 2 feet of tree.
How Many Filler Ornaments? - Create repetition by using a consistent filler ornament on your tree. This is a good way to stretch a growing collection of themed ornaments too. Plan to use at least a dozen "filler" ornaments for every 2 feet of tree. These can be inexpensive glass balls readily available at discount stores.
Where to Put Ornaments - Place ornaments and other decorations 'inside' your tree as well as on the tips of branches, to add depth and interest.
2: Tree Themes, Special Touches
Create a unique tree by adding special decorating touches.
Use lights, garlands, and ornaments along with nosegays, ribbons, special decorations and more.
Tree Themes - Spark your creativity with a color or style theme (see below). A "copper" theme could use metallic copper ribbons, copper cookie cutters, wooden decorations sprayed with copper paint, etc. Because the tree provides a large amount of a contrasting color (green), it's hard to overdo it. A style theme such as "country" will give you clues as to what will look good (raffia, vines, birdsnests, antique toys, cookie ornaments, and so on.)
More is Better - It's fun to have more than one tree. Make the second one smaller and theme it to the room. For instance, in the corner of a large kitchen the tree could be decorated with kitchen utensils, baskets, dried herbs, raffia bows.
Natural touches - Use natural materials to add a finishing touch to your tree. For instance, tuck clusters of dried flowers into some of the spaces between tree branches. Use a wire or ribbon to hold the bunches together. Small handfuls of twigs could also be used.
Silk flowers - Silk flowers add a nice touch to more formal trees. Clip each branch into small sprigs, and lay them between the branches. An average size tree will need approximately 3-5 dozen sprigs. White flowers will give almost a snowy effect while red will brighten the tree.
Metallic touches - A simple spray of gold or silver paint will embellish preserved leaves, pinecones or twigs. Spray lightly for a misty effect, or cover completely for a more formal look. You can also spray flexible nylon rope from the hardware store for a look that mimics expensive gold cording.
Tiny candles - Buy some old fashioned clip-on candle holders and add small candles to your tree. Due to fire hazard these candles should never be lit, but they will add a wonderful old fashioned look as well as some color to the tree. Try gold, white, or red candles.
Miniature baskets - Search for tiny baskets or little vine wreaths at craft stores. Decorate these for your tree using a hot glue gun to attach berries, tiny sprigs of preserved evergreen and dried flowers. Finish with a knot or bow of ribbon and a ribbon loop. Make at least a dozen. If you can find varying sizes of wreaths, use smaller ones at the top of the tree, graduating to the bigger sizes near the bottom.
Ribbon Streamers - For something a little different from a traditional garland (see below), attach long ribbon streamers to the top of the tree. Then wind and swirl them through the branches, down to the bottom of the tree. Long strands of raffia could also be used for a country tree.
Tree Toppers - Stars and angels are perennial favorites. Use an heirloom, a purchased topper, or even a cardboard star cutout that is covered with foil or glitter and wired to the top of the tree.
3: Tree Ornament Ideas
Even ordinary glass balls can be dressed up with ribbons, bows, or glitter.
Or, visit your local craft stores to find inspiration and materials to make something homemade to hang on the tree.
Ribbons and Bows - Tie ribbon bows to the caps of regular plain holiday ornaments using mesh, satin, grosgrain, sheer ribbon, or raffia strands. (Secure ribbon with a dot of hot glue if desired.)
Hanging Loops - To create a consistent look on your tree, try replacing string or wire ornament hanging loops with uniform loops. These can easily be made of wire, raffia, satin ribbon, gold cording, twine, or fabric strips. This is a good project to do while watching a good movie.
Decorate with what you have - If you collect teddy bears, use them on the tree with mittens, miniature chairs, little straw hats, and bear accessories. Birders will enjoy using artificial birds, bird nests, seed balls, raffia strands, and birdhouses. Use wire or ribbons to attach the items securely to the tree. Tie your theme together with a coordinating garland.
Children's Decorations - Tap a child's creativity to make a truly homemade family tree. A trip to the craft store for wooden cutouts, rubber stamps, ribbon, and glitter will yield charming results. Have them sign and date their creations and keep them from year to year.
Make Your Own Garland - Fashion your own treee garland from any of the following: strands of raffia (clip raffia evenly and tie or wire lengths together), vines, wide ribbon, paper or ribbon chains, popcorn or cranberry garlands, mini pinecones, beads, fabric trimmings (cording, laces), or braided rope.
Jeweled ornaments - Purchase regular glass ornaments and decorate them with craft store jewels .
Frugal Do It Yourself Ornaments
Decorating a tree frugally doesn't have to mean plain or boring. Use your creativity to come up with ideas that will reflect your interests and personal style.
Use bits of lace and velvet ribbons to create a romantic tree, chipped teacups to decorate a tea-themed tree, or even party streamers to fashion a celebration theme tree.
Here are more ideas for frugal, yet creative, ornaments.
Colored Glass Balls - Embellish common colored glass balls with a variety of special touches. Spray ornaments with glitter paints or frosty coatings, glue on glitter or craft store jewels, attach braids or ribbons. Use stickers, craft paints, or ribbons to add personality.
Cookies - A cookie tree is a natural when you love baking. Be sure to cut out a hole at the top of each cookie so a ribbon can be attached. Or, bake regular cookies, insert them into clearcellophane bags, tie with a ribbon, and use those as tree ornaments (as well as party favors or gifts).
Glitter crazy - Use paint brushes to paint glue onto the ornament to make a pattern (or write a name), then dip into glitter. Let dry completely before using. Or, dot glue onto an ornament with a round pencil eraser and add glitter for a dotted look.
Origami - Fold origami shapes for your tree and hang by threads or thin gold cording. Choose paper colors and shapes that harmonize. Try making larger and smaller versions of the same fold for a harmonious look. We love the traditional bird fold, but make your own favorites.
Toy Trees - Little childrens toys look wonderful on a Christmas tree. Mix them up with an assortment or go for a theme (dolls, bears, trucks). Wire heavier items to the branches and hang lightweight items by colorful ribbons or raffia loops. Fill in with plain glass balls, garlands, or bows. This is also a fun idea for a small tree in a child's room.
A Card Tree - If you hate to part with beautiful Christmas cards each year, then save them to use as tree decorations. Glue the front and back halves together to make a sturdier ornament, punch holes in the top, then tie to the tree with ribbons. Or, laminate some cards and use those as ornaments. Or, cut out portions of the cards and decoupage onto wooden craft shapes to use as ornaments.
Country Calico Ties - Purchase some calico cotton fabric in one or more patterns and colors. Tear the fabric into 1/2 to 1" strips. Use these as hanging loops for decorations. They can also be tied directly onto tree branches in knots or bows. Or, tie fabric bows onto a length of wire and wire the bows onto the branches. (Wired bows will be easier to remove and save from year to year.)
Rubber Stamps - Stencil or rubber stamp designs on card stock to use as tree ornaments or gift cards. Decorate these with satin ribbon bows, raffia loops, or cording for more color.
Western Tree - Go for a cowboy theme with bundles of backyard twigs, jute rope "garland", little twine lassos, birch bark, calico ties, and cactus shapes fashioned out of construction paper. Add some pine cones, raffia bows, or leather cords for a unique tree on a budget.
A Tree of Words - Make your tree "say" something by decorating it with words like "Peace", "Noel", "Santa", etc. To create the worded ornaments use a rubber stamp set, or write on card stock with large or calligraphy markers, print out words on a computer, or make a collage of words from newspapers or magazines.
Snowflakes - Remember the folded paper snowflakes you made in elementary school? Relive the past and create a wonderful homemade tree with these simple, yet sweet, decorations. Make them large and small, embellish with glitter glue, or leave them pristine white. Add some cotton batting to the branches for a snowy effect.
Traditional, Whimsical, and Colorful Ways to Create a Look
Themes are everywhere. The Rose Parade has one. So does Tiffany's (with their famous blue boxes). Restaurants use a theme to compliment their menu, and decorators turn to themes to give their rooms direction, focus, and interest.
Choosing a theme for the holidays makes it easy to harmonize the decorations throughout your home. It can even make party planning more fun -- think of a Victorian Christmas tea, a teddy bear brunch, or a music themed dinner party.
Themed holiday trees should be the center of your decorating efforts and are lots of fun to put together. For collectors a themed tree may be another chance to showcase prized collectibles. Crafters can use a theme to gather handmade pieces and vintage items into a one-of-a-kind treasure.
For others, using small themed trees can add color and light to a child's room, guestroom, or a kitchen. Wrap a small tree with a few strings of lights, tie on everyday items (crayons and small toys, for example, in a child's room), and embellish with ribbons or tiny garlands and you've created a wonderful personalized decoration.
The ideas on these 4 pages are just the tip of the iceberg (a pun if you choose the snowflake theme!). You'll probably come up with many more to fit your own home and family. Under several of the themes are links to photos of ornaments and trees decorated in the appropriate style.
Garland Tips for Christmas Trees
Garlands add a unifying element to Christmas tree decor.
Find out ways to use garland on your tree, how much to use, and when to place it on the tree.
How Much? - How much garland you need depends on the size of your tree, how deeply the garland is swagged, and how many times around the tree it is placed. For an approximate guide, figure on at least 9 feet of garland per foot of tree (so a 7 foot tree will need about 63 feet of garland). Buy more to be safe, and use any extra on the mantle or wreaths.
Placement Tips - Gently swagged garland looks more graceful than straight or diagonal lines across the tree. Deeply swagged garland is beautiful but can only be used on large trees with open space between branches.
When to Put it On - Garland should be placed on the tree after the lights are installed. Once the garland is in place the ornaments and other decorations can be added.
Double or Triple It - For added interest use 2 or 3 types of garland swagged together. Use design principles of size variation and repetition when choosing garlands to use together. For instance, use a wide navy velvet ribbon with a small silver beaded garland and a medium sized blue and silver icicle garland.
Attaching It - Garland will generally stay where you put it. However, when tree branches are delicate and drooping, garlands may tend to slip off. Some flexible garlands can be wound around a branch to hold them in place. In the alternative a garland can be secured with a small piece of wire, a ribbon, or a small green twist tie.
Vertical Garland - Garlands can be attached to the top of your tree (behind the tree topper), then looped down vertically. Be sure to add some twists and turns, wiring to branches if necessary, in order to add interest and graceful curves. This technique is especially suited to ribbon.
Ribbon - Ribbon is a great material to use for garlands and comes in wide and narrow widths, patterned and plain styles. Wired edges will help you arrange it on the tree. If the ribbon has no wire, then twist and turn it occasionally, fastening into place with small wires.
Cut It Up- Beaded garlands can sometimes be cut up into lengths and used as tinsel to drape over branches. Be sure that cutting the garland won't cause all of the beads to fall off of the string. Strings knotted between each bead or styles where beads are glued in place will work for this technique. Cut garland pieces about 16 inches long, fold in half and set on a branch. Vary the lengths to get a more interesting look. This works best with garland that is very flexible and will fold easily over branches.
Easy Ways to Add Get Creative with Garlands
Raffia - An inexpensive country look garland can be made from strands of raffia (clip raffia to even lengths and tie or wire lengths together). Wire swags onto branches to control the wild raffia look.
Vines - Long natural vines can be used as a garland if they are thin and flexible enough to be worked around the tree.
Chains - Homemade chains of paper strips or ribbon lengths can be made in any size or color you desire.
Popcorn - The old standby of popcorn and cranberry garlands add a homey look to your tree. You'll need to experiment with needles, thread, and popcorn to determine the best method. This project may be better suited to a small tree since stringing 50+ feet of garland for a taller tree may be more than you can do.
Mini Pinecones - Pinecones look wonderful on a tree, especially a country or cabin themed tree. Look for commerically made garlands of mini-cones, or try making your own if you have a source of small pinecones.
Beads - Beaded garlands are a traditional favorite. Buy commerical styles in wood, faux pearls, and artificial cranberry. Or, string your own custom garland with the beads of your choice.
Trimmings - There are many craft and fabric materials that can be creatively used as garland. Look for cording, trimmings, artificial leaf garlands, tassles, upholstery trims, and more.
Twine, Rope - Twist, braid, knot, or loop twine or rope into a special garland. This might be perfect for a nautical tree, a Western themed tree, or a country tree.
Fold Your Own - Almost any paper decoration can be folded over a piece of twine or cording to make your own garland. Cut shapes out of folded paper, then glue the halves together with the twine encased in the fold. Space evenly on the twine, every 6" or so. Think about using color copies of photos, folded paper snowflakes, construction paper hearts, cardboard cabin shapes, etc.
from: http://interiordec.about.com/cs/cmasdiyorns/a/cmasdec.htm
