Hello everyone,
I know some of you are new followers and I wanted to repost.
HOW TO DECORATE A TREE!
I was planning to decorate my tree this week, but now I'm preparing my
house for 16 guests on Thanksgiving day and spending time with all my granddaughters during the weekend. I wanted to look back at my tree from
last year and get some inspiration for decorating my tree this year. Now with
all the preparations for Thanksgiving I will decorating my tree the week after Thanksgiving.
So without any further explanation this is my blog post from last year.
After 54 years decorating a tree I had an aha moment. I've struggled with decorating our Christmas tree forever. For years we had fresh trees and then in 1990 I bought my first artificial tree. They were so expensive then. We started out with a 7 foot tree with a theme. I gave my old vintage ornaments to my daughter and started to collect angels for the new tree. Over the past 24 years I've purchased other artificial trees which were pre lit, but last year after buying extra strings of lights for years for the old pre lit tree I finally bought a new pre lit Christmas tree. HERE. Last Saturday I opened the Christmas tree box and had the tree standing ready to decorate in 30 minutes. Bingo the lights were on and shining brightly.
Now for some suggestions on
"How to Decorate the Tree"
Stringing Lights
*100 lights for every foot of tree, use more if your tree is fuller than average. Give the tree more sparkle and use 150 lights per foot.
*Test light strands before stringing. White lights create a bright backdrop and draw attention to ornaments. Mixed colors create a festive tree.
* Create depth by lining tree branches with lights instead of draping them on the tree. Start at the base and work up. Weave lights along larger branches.
Wrapping Garland
My garland dilemma. This was my aha moment: The garland was always the last thing I put on my tree. But this year I followed these simple directions on how to decorate the tree and the Job or Joy went quickly.
*Place garland on the tree after the lights, but before the ornaments. Start from the top, and work down and around the tree in circles.
*Garland can be strings of tinsel, beads, banners, bells, ribbon or natural materials such as strung popcorn, pinecones or cranberries.
*Let beaded garland droop from branch to branch creating a swag look...I used beads and I love the swag look.
*For a wintery twist, layer glass icicles and faux snow on branches.
Hanging Ornaments
*Hang ornaments at the ends of branches and inside the tree to give it depth.
*In addition to traditional ornaments, cars lanterns, ribbons, frames and bell are also unique decorating ideas. Natural elements such as dried flowers, nests, feathers and pinecones also add an inspired touch.
*Very the sizes and shapes of ornaments as you hang them. Start with the largest-layering them evenly throughout the tree, then continue on with increasingly smaller ornaments.
*Add filler ornaments by placing solid colors and basic shapes at the of the tree and work down in a zig-zag pattern.
*Place the tree topper after all ornaments have been hung. Traditional toppers include stars and angels, but consider unexpected toppers such as a cluster of themed ornaments, a toy, a santa hat or a largest statement piece.
*Drape a tree skirt around the tree stand for a final, finished look.
I have a few more ornaments to hang on the tree. What a joy to have a Christmas tree all decked out the first week of December.
Hope you are making progress with decorating your tree and I hope this tutorial will help you have a joyous time decorating the tree.
TIP: Ornaments aren't just for trees-display them in vessels for a festive moment in any room.
TIP: Spread the holiday cheer by placing an additional tree in the den, family room or kitchen.
Thanks for visiting today
Joyously,
Betty
Linking to:
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home
I know some of you are new followers and I wanted to repost.
HOW TO DECORATE A TREE!
I was planning to decorate my tree this week, but now I'm preparing my
house for 16 guests on Thanksgiving day and spending time with all my granddaughters during the weekend. I wanted to look back at my tree from
last year and get some inspiration for decorating my tree this year. Now with
all the preparations for Thanksgiving I will decorating my tree the week after Thanksgiving.
So without any further explanation this is my blog post from last year.
After 54 years decorating a tree I had an aha moment. I've struggled with decorating our Christmas tree forever. For years we had fresh trees and then in 1990 I bought my first artificial tree. They were so expensive then. We started out with a 7 foot tree with a theme. I gave my old vintage ornaments to my daughter and started to collect angels for the new tree. Over the past 24 years I've purchased other artificial trees which were pre lit, but last year after buying extra strings of lights for years for the old pre lit tree I finally bought a new pre lit Christmas tree. HERE. Last Saturday I opened the Christmas tree box and had the tree standing ready to decorate in 30 minutes. Bingo the lights were on and shining brightly.
Now for some suggestions on
"How to Decorate the Tree"
Stringing Lights
*100 lights for every foot of tree, use more if your tree is fuller than average. Give the tree more sparkle and use 150 lights per foot.
*Test light strands before stringing. White lights create a bright backdrop and draw attention to ornaments. Mixed colors create a festive tree.
* Create depth by lining tree branches with lights instead of draping them on the tree. Start at the base and work up. Weave lights along larger branches.
Wrapping Garland
*Place garland on the tree after the lights, but before the ornaments. Start from the top, and work down and around the tree in circles.
*Garland can be strings of tinsel, beads, banners, bells, ribbon or natural materials such as strung popcorn, pinecones or cranberries.
*Let beaded garland droop from branch to branch creating a swag look...I used beads and I love the swag look.
*For a wintery twist, layer glass icicles and faux snow on branches.
*Hang ornaments at the ends of branches and inside the tree to give it depth.
*In addition to traditional ornaments, cars lanterns, ribbons, frames and bell are also unique decorating ideas. Natural elements such as dried flowers, nests, feathers and pinecones also add an inspired touch.
*Very the sizes and shapes of ornaments as you hang them. Start with the largest-layering them evenly throughout the tree, then continue on with increasingly smaller ornaments.
Hope you are making progress with decorating your tree and I hope this tutorial will help you have a joyous time decorating the tree.
TIP: Ornaments aren't just for trees-display them in vessels for a festive moment in any room.
TIP: Spread the holiday cheer by placing an additional tree in the den, family room or kitchen.
Thanks for visiting today
Joyously,
Betty
Linking to:
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home
The Dedicated House for Make it Pretty Monday
Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday
A Delightsome Life for A Return to Loveliness
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
No Minimalist Here for Show Your Style Thursday
Katherine's Corner for Thursday Favorite Thing
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday and Everything Else
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday~Anything Goes
I never decorate for Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. We always have a large bunch for Thanksgiving and I want to have it looking FALL...and smelling of roast turkey and dressing. :)
ReplyDeleteWe've used a pre-lit tree for years...I love the wide, wired ribbon they have now and have used it for the last 2 yrs...then all the memory ornaments I've used since our children were tiny.
Happy Pinks....
HPS! Your tree looks wonderful. I like those ideas you shared. We set out tree up the weekend of Thanksgiving after our big phamily dinner. We purchased a new artificial tree last year. I am sadly allergic to the fresh evergreen trees so we have not had one for many years. I use a lot of ornaments from our phamily years together although my hubby loves to choose a color theme and go with it. Have a blessed and beautiful week.
ReplyDeleteI love this post Betty! I let my 10 yr old decorate the tree last night and he did a fabulous job. I am going to let my nieces and nephew put the final touches to it Wed. They are 4,3 and 1 1/2. Should be a fun time! I have to say though that it has never been prettier just because they are doing it! Smile. Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
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