Artificial Christmas Tree Vs Real Christmas Tree

Time to start thinking about your Christmas tree and whether or not you will be going with an artificial Christmas tree or a real Christmas tree.  Obviously both have their positives and negatives and from an antique perspective a real one is more fitting.  However, real Christmas trees are not always the most convenient.

A real Christmas Tree will obviously not last as long as an artificial tree.  This requires a little bit more planning when you start decorating for the holidays.  So don't expect to put your tree up before Thanksgiving and have a beautiful green tree on Christmas day.  It's possible that the green needles will have turned brown and most of your greenery will be in the vacuum cleaner.
Artificial trees are much easier to decorate and will last for years.  Artificial Christmas trees are designed and built to accommodate a lot of ornaments and heavy ones as well.  Where a real Christmas tree will have imperfections and not all the branches will be able to support heavy antique ornaments.
So, if you like a challenge and the smell of fresh pine, then go with a real Christmas tree.  Just know that unlike an artificial Christmas tree there will be imperfections, dead spots, and a 'good side'.  Also, don't forget to water that real tree so that it will last as long as possible.

Antique Christmas Tree

Recycle Tutorial: Refurbish Old Christmas Ornaments

 

December is here!!! Christmas is just 25 days away, don’t get panic! If you haven’t had time or being thrifty to go for Christmas Tree ornament shopping, may be this is a great tutorial for you…. turn your old ornaments to one as good as new .

We did not followed the tradition, we didn’t had thanksgiving meal, we didn’t do any thanksgiving activity, definitely no black Friday and no cyber Monday!!! Instead, I spent my day with my kids decorating a Christmas tree. I am thrifty and sentimental in certain things, my faux 5′ Christmas tree is as old as my seven year old daughter, same as majority of the hanging ornaments. I found many ornaments became tarnish and spoil after many years of reuse. Looking at how badly those ornaments’ surfaces has discolored and worn out, it’s time to give them an uplift. Of course, not all can be refurbished, I still have to throw away some broken pieces and add in some new one, but at least I can keep it to minimum.
As an example, I glittered an old candy cane to make it as good as new or even better and prettier. Get the how to after the jump.

To be precised on the material for this example, I used:
1. Old plastic candy cane ornaments
2. Pearl white glitter
3. Craft glue
4. Red 1/4″ Ribbon
5. Gold hanging string
Tips: line your table with old newspaper to make cleaning easier after glittering.
Take out damaged red plastic strip and hanging string from the candy cane.
Make sure the bare plastic candy cane is free from grease.
Brush a layer of craft glue to the candy cane.
Sprinkle the pearl white glitters onto the candy cane evenly.
Wait until it’s dry.
Apply a few drops of craft glue onto the wrong side of the red 1/4″ ribbon.
Wrap the ribbon around the candy cane.
Set aside until the glue dries.

With this method, you have got a new glittered candy cane for your Christmas tree, doesn’t it look better than the original one.
You can try on other ornaments as well, I made another one with my discolored and oxidized jingle bell ornament.

All I Want for Christmas is Lead-Free Decorations

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The holidays are a time of joy, celebration and family. Part of the fun and festive atmosphere, and our traditions are the decorations we display during this time of year. We'd like to believe that if it's for sale it's safe, but as most of us know, that just isn't the case. We have to be diligent consumers this time of year just like the other 11 months of the year. Unfortunately, some of our favorite holiday decorations may be harmful to our health.
Many of us like artificial Christmas trees because they are convenient, don't dry out, aren't fire hazards, and they come in a wide array of fun colors and shapes. Unfortunately, most of them are made from PVC (vinyl). There are a whole host of problems with PVC:
• It off gasses
• contains phthalates
• breaks down in heat and sun
• contains lead which becomes lead dust and spreads throughout your home
• Doesn't biodegrade and are difficult to recycle
I love my white iridescent Martha Stewart tree that I bought off Craigslist last year...a week before I learned about the lead and phthalate issue. I justified the purchase by arguing (with myself) that if I was buying it 2nd hand I wasn't contributing to the plastic pollution problem because I was keeping it out of the landfill. Now, I am thinking it may not be the best idea to put my lovely white tree up. Which is too bad because it looks really great next to my turquoise walls covered in red peppermint themed decorations.
Keep in mind that many of these issues also apply to plastic ornaments. Many of us like plastic ornaments because they don't break, especially when we have young children in the house, but weigh that danger against the danger of phthalate and lead exposure.
Reports have also come out showing that the cords on most holiday lights contain lead at higher levels that what is allowable for toys. California has recently mandated that all holiday lights have label on them warning about lead exposure.
So far I haven't seen any recalls of lights for lead, nor any warnings not to use them. The warnings all say to be sure to wear gloves and/or wash your hands immediately after touching them. And, don't let your children touch them. Keep in mind that the bending and twisting that goes along with installing and removing lights inside means there is a possibility of being exposed to lead dust.
I'm not saying you should or shouldn't use any of the above decorations. But, I want you to be aware of the dangers associated with them and decide for yourself if it's worth the risk to your family.
And, it's sad that I have to write this post at all. Wouldn't it be nice if we could trust that before products were put on the shelves they were tested to ensure we aren't endangering the health of our families? It's sad we have to think about these things at this joyous time of year.

Tips for Decorating a Christmas Tree

Decorating the Christmas tree represents an annual holiday tradition for many families. The tradition of decorating Christmas trees began with the ancient Romans, who decorated trees with small pieces of metal during their winter festival. Modern Christmas trees originated in Germany in the sixteenth century, when Germans brought "Paradeisbaum," which translates to "paradise trees," into their homes during the holiday season. Christmas trees became popular in the United States in the 1850s; President Franklin Pierce arranged to have the first Christmas tree in the White House.
Decorating Basics
First, determine where you're placing the Christmas tree. Make sure your Christmas tree doesn't block any entrances or exits, and don't put trees too close to fireplaces or other sources of heat. If you're putting strings of lights on your Christmas tree, add these before you add ornaments. (Consider using LED lights for energy savings.) Then start with your largest ornaments; these make the biggest visual impact and should be distributed evenly among the tree to ensure visual balance.
Next, hang smaller ornaments. Make sure all areas of the tree have ornaments; for example, if young children are helping, make sure you add ornaments to the tall branches they can't reach. Whether you want your Christmas tree's branches weighted down with a dense collection of ornaments or highlighted with a sparse collection of favorite ornaments is a matter of personal preference, but an evenly distributed arrangement is important. Finally, add finishing touches, such as garlands of popcorn or tinsel. Don't forget the top of the tree -- you can add that finishing touch with a star, an angel or a non-traditional tree topper, such as a stuffed animal.
Unique Decorating Ideas
You don't need an elaborate plan to create a beautiful Christmas tree; a mishmash of your favorite ornaments and your kids' handmade ornaments will likely create a beautiful tree that sparkles with memories. However, if you want to try something different, consider giving your tree a theme, such as certain color or combination of colors. For example, you could have a gold tree complete with yellow lights, golden ornaments and golden tinsel, or you could decorate the tree in your favorite sports team's colors.
You can also theme your tree around a hobby, such as gardening or baseball, or a motif, such as the ocean or food. For example, an ocean-themed Christmas tree could include blue and white lights along with starfish, sand dollars and seashell ornaments. A princess-themed Christmas tree might include pink and purple lights, feather boas as garlands and crown ornaments. Alternately, consider decorating a tree with natural decorations, such as acorns, dried fruit slices, feathers, pinecones, holly, dried flowers or seedpods.
Decorating Under the Christmas Tree
The area underneath and around the tree also provides decorating opportunities, especially if you have more than one Christmas tree. For example, use a tree skirt or blanket that matches your tree's theme, such as a blue skirt for an ocean-themed tree. Of course, the space underneath and around the tree is traditionally reserved for presents, but you can also arrange other Christmas items, such as Christmas books, stuffed animals and larger decorations underneath trees.
Christmas Tree Safety
Twinkling Christmas trees add magic to the holiday season, but they are also a cause of home fires. Stay safe this holiday by checking your lights for frayed wires or excessive wear before stringing them on the tree. Don't link more than three strings of lights together unless the package instructions explicitly state this is safe. Check wires frequently to make sure they aren't warm to the touch, and never leave Christmas lights on unattended. Never decorate a Christmas tree with lit candles, and keep lit candles away from trees and other decorations. If you have small children or pets, make sure you don't hang sharp ornaments or ornaments made from food on the lower branches of the tree.
If you are decorating an artificial or metallic tree, check that it is flame-retardant. If you are decorating a real tree, make sure it has plenty of water. If a tree doesn't have enough water, it will form a seal of dried sap that prevents it from absorbing more water. Adequate water ensures that your tree stays fragrant and prevents needles and branches from becoming brittle or drooping. Add more water to the tree stand every day. Trees that have become dry are a fire hazard, so take down your Christmas tree once it becomes dry. With proper care, your Christmas tree should stay fresh for the entire holiday season. Christmas trees can be recycled into mulch or used as cover in fish ponds. In addition, many areas accept Christmas trees for curbside recycling.

Decorate a Christmas wonderland

3 Unique Christmas Decorating Ideas

I love traditional Christmas decorating, but after 23 years or so of decorating my own house for Christmas, I am really inspired to to find some new fresh ideas to mix things up a bit this year. I want to do something a bit different and a bit unexpected.

To be honest, the thought of dragging out 25 boxes of dusty old stuff makes me a little tired, is that a sign of old age? Don’t answer that. Seriously.
I do love traditions and the memories involved with some of our things, but I am finding it fun to stretch myself and modernize my look a bit.
So, here are three ways to mix things up this Christmas and come up with something more unique!

1. Put a tree or other holiday decor in a new room.

This is an easy one, why not try some of your traditional items in a new room? Putting a tree in the bedroom seems very romantic to me (top photo). I’ve often thought about it but I don’t think I have ever actually had a tree in my master bedroom. Even some branches with lights would be very pretty in the bedroom, wouldn’t it? Hmmm…I think I really need to do this.

Two years ago I hung a wreath from my bed to try something a little different. The wreath is traditional but you’d expect to see it on a door or window. It was really pretty until it started getting crunchy and dropped leaves every time we rolled over at night.

Keeping Christmas Fun and Stress Free

As a working mother of two children, (ages 8 and 5) I never thought I would relinquish certain Christmas traditions from my 20’s and early 30’s.  Instead of my perfectly decorated tree with white lights along with my perfectly arranged glass ornaments and ribbons, I now let my “little people” do the decorating. My husband still puts the tree in the stand, and I put the (now multi-colored) lights on – but they put the ornaments up and have a great time doing so.  And each day, the decorations get moved around, but that’s now part of the fun.

Then there is the gingerbread house – one of my favorite Christmas activities!  I have retired my gingerbread house cookie cutters and moved to purchasing a pre-made kit.  The kit really helps to keep this holiday activity stress free (Costco and Target have great ones each year).  Then if there is extra time, I’ll make a small batch of gingerbread cookie dough so we can add “accessories” to the house (my favorite recipe can be found here). Each year, our gingerbread house becomes my favorite Christmas decoration.

Here are a few more tips to keep this holiday activity stress free:
- Build the house one day and decorate the next – this allows the structure to set so little hands can push the candy on as hard as they want and the roof won’t collapse
- Put the candy into separate bowls – those for decorating and those for eating (this helps to control how much sugar your little people get)
- Make “having fun” the main rule for the activity