my christmas tree

Finally it is up! Still a work in progress, I'm trying to get the tree skirt done before Christmas!!

I will be working on a tree topper over the next year!

(I'm thinking angel, but we'll see where inspiration takes me!)
If you look closely you can see some of the felt ornaments.

Tips on Decorating Your Christmas Tree - What To Do First

[I had to find this article today because I'm finally getting my tree up this weekend. Normally, I like to have it up the weekend after Thanksgiving but between traveling, my etsy shops picking up and prepping for a craft show, this is the soonest I could manage. I always thought garland went on last but followed this instruction last year and it went pretty well. The big question is how a 17 month old will act with a decorated tree. I'll keep you posted!]

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(From About.com)

You've chosen your perfect Christmas tree, but now what?

Our tips on the next pages will give you ideas for setting up your tree, lighting it, keeping it fresh, and decorating it to be beautiful.

• Keep Your Tree Fresh and Green
  Cut the stump of the tree with a fresh cut and set it in water immediately. A fresh-cut tree will absorb several quarts of water right from the start. So it's important to check and refill the water level several times a day for the first week. You can cut down on frequency later. Be sure to place you Christmas tree in a stand that has a large water reservoir and keep it filled.
• Christmas Tree Preservative
  You can prolong the life of your Christmas tree by mixing up a concoction of 1 quart water, 1/2 cup light corn syrup, and 1 teaspoon liquid bleach. You can also read information on caring for Christmas trees.
• Putting Lights and Decorations on the Tree
  When decorating your Christmas tree, put lights on first, then garlands, then the ornaments.
• Work From the Inside Out
  Start arranging Christmas tree lights on the branches near the base of the tree. Weave strings of lights along the branches "inside," then move to the outer edges of the branches.
• Placement of Ornaments
  Don't hang all your ornament on the tips of the branches. Place ornaments and other decorations 'inside' your tree to add depth and interest.
• Basic Ornaments for Fill
  Start by arranging the "filler ornaments" evenly spaced around the tree. This would include basic solid color balls that are easily found at discount stores in a wide range of colors to coordinate and enhance your decorating scheme. You'll need about 20 "filler ornaments" for every 2 feet of Christmas tree.
• Special Themed, Collectible Ornaments
  Mix one-of-a-kind special ornaments between the basic ornaments. Plan to use at least 10 special themed ornaments for every 2 feet of tree. As your collection grows, put the special ornaments closer together.

fun activity for kids (of all ages!!)

Decorate a cute little Gingerbread house (house is a link)by Jenny B Harris.
Great illustrator!Check out her blog too!!

Christmas Centerpiece Ideas

Family Traditions

My little one is still too young to really get excited about Christmas, so I am planning our family traditions now while he is so young in hopes that he will acquire the sense of wonder that I had when I was young. I absolutely loved Christmas preparations, decking the halls and baking so many yummy treats. My Aunt Nancy used to make Christmas cookies. She had gingerbread men, peanut butter blossoms, butter balls(russian tea cakes) and my personal favorite, iced sugar cookies with dragees decorating them. My mother always prepared my paternal grandmother's nut roll recipe. She would make raspberry, apricot, poppy seed and traditional walnut all frosted with yummy vanilla frosting. My mom also had these white feather wreaths she hung on the living room wall, porcelain angels that would hang on the lamps and these strange lantern-like gold garlands that would drape across the windows. We always had to have an artificial tree because my mom was allergic to the real ones. My fondest decoration was the plastic, glittery candy garland that used to hang in the kitchen doorway. Oh and then there were also the little plastic elves that everyone seemed to have. We always opened one gift on Christmas eve then we would go to bed and Santa Claus would come and leave us more presents. We always woke up early to see what Santa brought and then we would go to church. As we got older we would start going to midnight mass. My maternal grandmother was born on Christmas day so she would come over every year for dinner which usually included a ham with all the fixings. My husband's family really didn't have any strong traditions, the only thing he remembers are the handmade felt ornaments his aunt use to make. Those and this odd family concoction called hamloaf!? I have the recipe, I just don't know if that is one tradition I want to encourage! :o) Over the next few months, I hope to share our traditions as well as some of my friend's and fellow Christmas lovers!(and if I can dig out the old Stamblesky nut roll recipe, I might just share that too!)

Too cute! Bronner's is the best Christmas store! Click anywhere on the post to go directly to their store!

ALL INFORMATION FROM BRONNERS IS COPYRIGHTED 2008 BY BRONNERS AND ITS INCLUSION ON THIS BLOG IS INTENDED FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ONLY (DON'T USE IT FOR ANY NEFARIOUS PURPOSE!!!!)

Add a little sugar and spice to your Christmas tree this year with this adorable gingerbread couple ornament! Personalized with permanent black ink by our professional Bronner's artists at no additional charge, this charming gingerbread couple ornament is sure to be a treasured keepsake with your loved ones for years to come. With sparkling glitter accents, this personalized gingerbread couple ornament is 4½" tall and crafted of clay dough. Comes ready to hang with a red ribbon. 14 characters/spaces allowed for names. If you would like to order your ornament plain, please do not fill in the blank below. Please select the inset image for a view of this ornament without personalization. Personalized Gingerbread Couple Ornament 1130348

From Bronner's

[ALL INFORMATION FROM BRONNERS IS COPYRIGHTED 2008 BY BRONNERS AND ITS INCLUSION ON THIS BLOG IS INTENDED FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ONLY ( DON'T USE IT FOR ANY NEFARIOUS PURPOSE!!!) AND VISIT THEIR SITE!!! THE ENTIRE POST IS ONE BIG FANTASTIC LINK!!]

Tree decorating themes vary widely according to individual tastes. Many people like to decorate with a specific color or color combination. Here are a few basic tips, which may be helpful to you. The suggested sequence for decorating a tree is as follows:

1. Lights
2. Garland
3. Tree Trims
4. Ornaments
5. Tree Top and Skirts

Tree Trim Tips

Tree Height	Miniature Lights # of Bulbs	Feet of Garland	Novelty Tree Trim & Ornaments
2'	35 to 40	24" to 3'	30 pieces
3'	70 to 80	36" to 4'	42 pieces
4'	200 to 400	50' to 55"	35-50 pieces
6'	400 to 600	85' to 90'	50-75 pieces
7'	500 to 700	100' to 110'	75-100 pieces
8'	600 to 800	130' to 145'	175-225 pieces
10'	800 to 1000	185' to 200'	200-300 pieces
Garland Decorating			Garland Required
Regular Doorway			18' to 25'
Double Doorway			20' to 35'
Small Picture Window			18' to 25'
Large Picture Window			20' to 35'
Fireplace Mantle			18' to 25'
Ceiling Decorations			50' to 100'

C-7 & C-9 Lights*:

To calculate the amount of C-7 and C-9 lights for your tree, you may want to do the following:

HxD (divided by 2) for trees up to 7 feet.
HxD (divided by 3) for trees 7 1/2 feet and up.

For example, a 6 foot tree with a diameter of 45 inches would be as follows:

6x45 (divided by 2) = 135 lights

*Not all C-7 and C-9 lights are approved for artificial trees, but Cool Bright by GE is a good choice. Check packaging.

Do's and Don'ts of Lights:

Never hook mini lights and C-7s or C-9s end to end. Connect only the same light sets together. They must be on their own outlet. This is also true when hooking your treetop to your light sets. the 3 outlet cords work very well in this situation. Do not hook more than 3 sets of lights together end to end. This can cause overloaded circuits and may blow fuses in your light sets. Some lights are commercial grade and you can connect up to six lights together. (Check packaging). Discard damaged sets (broken/cracked sockets, frayed/bare wires or loose connectors). Turn off all indoor lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.