How to decorate your first Christmas Tree (page 2)

Lady Lee

excuse me but you are off topic

Find somewhere else to post

Ummmm I edited the above posts to say OFF TOPIC

NomadSoul

You know what I love about Christmas. Seeing the surprise in my sister's eyes when I buy her something she really wanted. Last year she almost cried, awwwwwwwwww.

Lady Lee

no problem wasblind

nomad Isn't that the most amazing feeling.

I know as JWs we said we gave gifts all year but if we did they rarely got the same reaction as your sister did.

The reality is that we, as people, tend to take each other for granted and forget to really say thank you to those we love. Holidays, whether it is Christmas or birthdays or whatever, give us the needed push to stop and really think about those we love and what will make them happy.

And the magic is that while we are making others happy it makes us happy too.

wasblind

I used to threaten my daughter with a charlie Brown tree and a lump of coal if she was bad

we laugh about that today

she said that was child abuse BTTT

Lady Lee

child abuse??? lol hey a Charlie Brown tree is better than NO tree

OUTLAW

Good Evening Lady Lee..

I love your Christmas Tree..It`s Beautiful..

OBVES..

Are you aware,Your Nuts?..

.................. ...OUTLAW

tec

Very pretty tree. Feminine and full of light :) When I get mine up, I'll post a picture too.

Tammy

Hopscotch

Lady Lee that tree looks beautiful.

I haven't taken the plunge and put up our first xmas tree yet. After 45 years of not doing xmas it's still taking some getting used to. I still remember the last time we had a christmas tree - 1964 when I was 5! But your lovely picture certainly inspires me to think seriously about giving it a go, it just looks so pretty.

Hopscotch

Black Sheep

Instead of an angel on top of a tree, I would go for an effigy of Rutherford with a tree jammed up hi

WTWizard

For one thing, do not underestimate the number of ornaments you will need to properly decorate a tree. First, if you just run the lights up and down the main branches, you are probably looking at somewhere near 750 lights for a 6 foot tree. If you run them along the greens, you could be looking at 4,000 lights for a 8 foot tree. Make sure you have ample extension cords and enough amps on your circuits, because this number of lights is going to use 1,600 watts if you use incandescent miniature lights. That is around 14 amps, which can render a circuit dangerously close to blowing a fuse. Using LED lights will greatly reduce the load on your circuits (as well as your light bill). A lot of work, a lot of lights, but that's what the ritzy department stores do.

And, forget about the rule of ornaments per linear foot of tree height. If you decorate the outside only, the area goes up with the square of the height of the tree, as it gets larger at the bottom as well as taller. If you put decorations in the center of the tree as well, it goes with the volume of the tree (also, the lights). The number of ornaments and lights increases with the cube of the height. If 600 lights will do justice to a 6 foot tree, 800 will seem a bit skimpy on a 8 foot tree. To get the same look on the 8 foot tree, you would take the number of lights (600) and divide it by 6 cubed (216), and multiply it by 8 cubed (512). In this case, you would need 1,422 lights on your 8 foot tree to get the same density you would get with 600 on your 6 foot tree. If the tree is only 4 feet, you would need 180 lights to get the same effect--and, of course, if the tree is thinner, you can use fewer than if it is bigger near the base.

The same goes for ornaments. You are going to want around 12 large ornaments and 200 mixed smaller ornaments for a 6 foot tree, along with around 75 feet of garland (more if you prefer it lavishly decorated). Remember, garland usage increases with the square of the tree height. Ornament usage also increases with the square of the tree--plan on 20-24 large ornaments for the 8 foot tree (or scale up the size of the ornaments and use the standard 12). Most beginners make the mistake of buying 2 or 3 boxes of ornaments, and then wondering why it comes out looking so wimpy.

Yes, make sure your stand is sturdy enough. For a fake tree, the tree can dump, and if you have glass ornaments, it can bust them. If the tree is live, you need plenty of water before you bring it in, and you need to know how to secure it into the holder without dumping the whole tree or causing some of the water to spill out. It is best to fill it about halfway before inserting the tree (with fresh cut)--if that causes spillage, your stand is probably too small. It helps to have more water in case what is in the stand isn't enough--with the tree, it is best to have it right up to the top. Check the water level several times a day at first, and never EVER let it drop below the bottom of the cut tree! Fake trees only need to have a base that is big enough to stabilize the tree from things like small children and cats.

It also helps to watch videos about it before attempting this, and to make sure you have time to practice. And above all, if this is your first time, you are going to make mistakes no matter what. Accept it as learning experiences--better to have a wimpy, lopsided, poorly lit, or ugly tree the first time around than not to have one at all. If you don't like the color combinations after you assemble them, keep watching videos to see how to improve next time. If it is simply wimpy, you can always add things to improve it. And remember, if you are not ready for Brother Hounder to see it, keep it away from the front windows so he cannot see it when he stops by the house.

How to decorate your first Christmas Tree

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