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If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/21/2008 7:14:17 PM
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SarahsDaughter
Posts: 57
Joined: 2/15/2006
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... is there some rhyme and reason to how you decorate it? Do you decorate it based on a color scheme, or large decorations at the bottom and small at the top, or it doesn't matter where the ornaments are once they make it to the tree? Is there some theme to your tree? Does your tree look pretty much the same every year or different? If your children help, do you guide them as to how to decorate the tree or is it a free-for-all? What are your secrets (if any) for your tree looking just right?
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/21/2008 7:45:14 PM
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Roberta_
Posts: 7416
Joined: 9/28/2007
From: East Bay Area
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My children do it. I haven't decorated a tree since my 23 year old was about 3. Now my youngest is 15. I guess when she moves out I'll have to start decorating the tree again.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/21/2008 8:07:15 PM
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karlie
Posts: 16433
Joined: 4/10/2005
From: Central California
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quote:
If your children help, do you guide them as to how to decorate the tree or is it a free-for-all?
When the kids were little, it was decorated with all sorts ornaments that the kids had helped pick out, family and baby ornaments, or ones we made together. It was a hodge podge of items, which we all loved at the time. I never really "guided" the kids on how to decorate it, as much as encouraged them to spread things around so the whole tree was decorated. It was more about them having fun and enjoying the tradition and family time, than it looking all that perfect.
quote:
Do you decorate it based on a color scheme
Now I do! Now that the kids are grown, and I'm more less on my own with the decorating thing, I've let my neurosis take over, and I match it to my decor. I decorate it in blues and silver with touches of cream, and clear lights(my livingroom is in blues and cream). I enjoy it so much more when it blends in with my decor rather than stands out like a red and green beacon that doesn't belong in my livingroom! It still looks very festive, just a little more subtle. I even wrap the presents in blues and silvers so they coordinate.
quote:
Is there some theme to your tree?
No real theme, other than the color scheme, and yes, it looks pretty much the same every year. I sometimes get new ornaments or add a few things, but it's always the same color theme. I'll probably keep it this way until I end up changing my livingroom decor.
quote:
or large decorations at the bottom and small at the top, or it doesn't matter where the ornaments are once they make it to the tree?
I don't have ornaments of all different sizes...since they are all pretty uniform in size, I start at the top and work down.
quote:
What are your secrets (if any) for your tree looking just right?
For me, it's "less is more". I don't like overly gaudy decorations, or the tree to look like it could fall over form the weight of all the stuff on it, so I don't go crazy with the decorations on the tree. My ornaments tend to be simple and I leave some room for the tree to peek through too.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/21/2008 9:41:51 PM
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garsyt
Posts: 2210
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From: the bottom of the laundry basket
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I like to decorate my tree with the help of the kids. We get the lights on and one or two garlands and then we start with the hodge podge of ornaments that we've collected over the years. Each year I buy or make each of the kids an ornament, so each of the kids will have a collection of ornaments to take with them when they leave home and start their own homes.
No specific colors or themes. Nothing fancy. I will not EVER decorate in a single color. I don't think it's wrong for other people to do so, but I just thing it's wrong for my house and family.
Very family oriented. Very eclectic. Very fun!
Now I often times have more ornaments then room on the tree. The leftover ornaments hang from curtain rods, the light fixtures above the dining table, on a garland over the archway.
Blessings,
Garsy
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/21/2008 9:43:31 PM
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Liveloved
Posts: 2072
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We used to have two trees---one real, one not. Both have handmade ornaments. Now I usually only put up the 'not' one, and leave it decorated, covered in the basement. It has stars, hearts, cinnamon stick Santa's, dried apples and oranges, beeswax hearts. . . that's all I'm remembering. I use lots of greens and berries throughout the house. So yes, the tree is the same year to year. The rest of the house differs. Last year I bought three iron stars for above the fireplace mantel so use those with grees and berries.
I don't know how much I'll do this year. It is alot of work. I used to enjoy it more.
The nativity scenes are the focal points throughout the house.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/21/2008 10:03:47 PM
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frazzledmom
Posts: 129
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Our tree decorations are a sentimental mish mash. When the decoration box was getting overloaded I sorted through it, tossed broken stuff, kept red and white ornaments, angels and my Christmas nativity star made from olive wood imported from Jerusalem. We have a system of sorts-lights first, then the garland made of my leftover wedding fabrics (red and white), the "angel choir" up on top then everything else is a free for all. When kids are short there is an abundance of stuff at the bottom. The star is the last to go on.
Frazzledmom
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/21/2008 11:03:28 PM
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garsyt
Posts: 2210
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Oh - I forgot! My angel always, always, always goes on first, before the lights and the ornaments.
Blessings,
Garsy
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/22/2008 8:56:29 AM
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monamie
Posts: 975
Joined: 1/26/2006
From: OK
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I have done theme trees before and loved it. All white one year, and it was beautiful. I did a "cookie" tree and it was such a favorite that I have been repeating it the last few years (and since I have all the stuff, it's just easier). I have cinnamon "gingerbread men" ornaments tied to the tree with jute. Many antique red and green handled baking utensils, a vintage cookbook, vintage spice containers, lots of related stuff I have picked up in antique stores through the years. It looks so very cute when it's done.
But I also have a Fontanini nativity set that I try to expand every year. I won't be putting it out this year because it wouldn't survive the grandkids at this age.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/22/2008 10:00:13 AM
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kohls356
Posts: 368
Joined: 8/22/2007
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Most of the ornaments on my trees are from Hallmark Keepsake ornaments. I can't even begin to know how many I have because I have been buying them for the past 23 years since I have been married. My mom always gets me one too and I buy the kids a new one (or two) each year. My mom also buys the kids each an ornament. I am thinking with the kids alone there are at least 150.
I have a 9 foot tree we put up in the living room that I decorate in gold. Along with my keepsake ornaments I have gold non shatter balls that I put up to fill in the spaces. I also decorate with gold ribbons and bows. I too wrap the presents in some kind of gold paper to go with the color scheme.
We put up a smaller 6 1/2 foot tree in the family room and that is where the kids ornaments go. I decorate that tree and room in red and green. I use red and green plaid bows and ribbon.
As far as my other decorations my taste has changed a lot last the few years and I have changed my decorations. I used to decorate with a lot of country items and snowmen. Now I use a lot of greenery. I make my floral arrangements and I love poinsettias so I have a lot of decorations with those.
I love to decorate for Christmas. I didn't really know if it mattered to anyone else or if they cared that much until this year. My oldest daughter is in her first year of college and commented to me how I will have to keep my decorations up longer this year because she won't be home until the weekend before Christmas and won't get to enjoy my decorations as long as usual. One of my other daughters just shakes her head and tells her friends it looks like a winter wonderland in the house.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/22/2008 10:06:47 AM
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kohls356
Posts: 368
Joined: 8/22/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: karlie
quote:
Do you decorate it based on a color scheme
Now I do! Now that the kids are grown, and I'm more less on my own with the decorating thing, I've let my neurosis take over, and I match it to my decor. I decorate it in blues and silver with touches of cream, and clear lights(my livingroom is in blues and cream). I enjoy it so much more when it blends in with my decor rather than stands out like a red and green beacon that doesn't belong in my livingroom! It still looks very festive, just a little more subtle. I even wrap the presents in blues and silvers so they coordinate.
I love this color scheme, I think it is so pretty, but it wouldn't go with my house.
I guess I should add that when the kids were younger they helped but they don't really like to that much anymore. They might help a little but they have other things they would rather do. Even with help it can take me up to 5 hours to do one tree. That is from start to finish and a few breaks. Now that I am older I do like my tree to look just right and they would rather just decorate it and be done with.
This year I am saving the trees til last to and putting up my other decorations first.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/22/2008 11:52:25 AM
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karlie
Posts: 16433
Joined: 4/10/2005
From: Central California
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quote:
I did a "cookie" tree and it was such a favorite that I have been repeating it the last few years (and since I have all the stuff, it's just easier). I have cinnamon "gingerbread men" ornaments tied to the tree with jute. Many antique red and green handled baking utensils, a vintage cookbook, vintage spice containers, lots of related stuff I have picked up in antique stores through the years. It looks so very cute when it's done.
That sounds totally adorable! 
quote:
I love this color scheme, I think it is so pretty, but it wouldn't go with my house.
Thanks! I do love it, but it wouldn't be something I would stick with if my livingroom wasn't already blue.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/23/2008 6:20:59 PM
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prolifepj
Posts: 723
Joined: 9/12/2008
From: just over yonder
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When I lived with parents, we decorated the Christmas tree with all the handmade ornaments and such that we - my neices and nephews and all had made throughout the years - I always had a smaller tree in my bedroom that kept a theme.
Now we have 2 trees, both will probably be themed by color. 9&1/2 ft tree and 6&1/2 ft tree - red, creme, gold silver are the colors. The rest of the house will probably match. I am cheating this year and will probalby try to copy one of the trees I did for a store. When/if I do the whole marriage/family thing, I'll probably go back to the cutsie tree we always had growing up - I miss it sometimes, but I LOVE THEMED TREES! Last year, everything was peppermint! From the tree, bannisters, mantle, tables, curtain ties, candy, hot chocolate AND smell - all peppermint! OOO no, almost forgot, we did the front part of the house in snowman everything. This year will be more fun with the decorations of an additional housemate!!!!
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/23/2008 7:14:43 PM
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BeeLuvsAva
Posts: 1237
Joined: 10/23/2008
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When I was a kid my parents would let us decorate the tree, there is six kids in my family, and every year my mom would take us out and we each got to pick out a ornament, and then we would each make one, so that about 12 ornaments every year, ha we had a HUGE bin full of them, and our tree was always fun to look at, there was just so much on it.
Now I usually color coordinate, this year it's red and silver, although since it is my daughters first Christmas I am going to start the same tradition that my mom had, although I picked her ornament out, but when she is old enough she will do it on her own.
Last year for Christmas my mom gave me all my ornaments that I made as a kid, I now use them around the house as Christmas decoration, and I have a few framed.
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We enjoy warmth because we have been cold.
We appreciate light because we have been in darkness.
By the same token, we can experience joy because we have known sadness.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/23/2008 7:47:28 PM
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csl7037
Posts: 2060
Joined: 3/24/2008
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I do about the same as what kohls356 does above. The kids' tree is about 5-6' with all their homemade ornaments, things from school, and other fun things we've found the last few years. I do try to buy them one new one that means something each year (for whatever they're into). I let them pretty much decorate this one but then I have to go back and spread stuff out and get the top covered and any bare spots they left (their 7 and 9 and can't quite reach it all).
But in the living room is my tree. It's a 12' artificial because it goes in the peak of our vaulted ceiling. I got tired of trying to find a real one that big every year so I broke down and got this one. It's decorated in angels and filled in with white and gold balls and bows. Every couple of years I'll buy a new (bigger) angel for the top and "demote" the previous top angel to somewhere in the tree. So I've got four or five pretty big angels stuck in the branches and I love them all. I have the little angel that topped my family's tree when I was a kid. It cheesy and tiny but it means so much to me!
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/23/2008 8:20:22 PM
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karlie
Posts: 16433
Joined: 4/10/2005
From: Central California
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quote:
Some years (when I have the time and energy) I make lebkuchen (spice cookies) with red and white icing to hang on the tree as well.
Oh yummy! Mine would never make it to the tree 
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/24/2008 9:33:56 AM
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csl7037
Posts: 2060
Joined: 3/24/2008
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I just realized, since dh took a new job last Spring, his boss wont be buying me my Swarovski ornament this year. I think I have five of them from like 2002-2007. BUMMER! They're my favorites. Maybe I can talk dh into buying it for me - I see it online for only $60. Crazy, I know.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/24/2008 12:27:09 PM
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zoebob
Posts: 8860
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: land of limbo
Status: online
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I found ornaments with names on them and found 2 of them with my late-brother's name on it (not a common name). I bought one for me and one for my parents. The kids each will have 2 new ornaments from me this year.
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RE: If you put up a Christmas tree... - 11/24/2008 4:16:32 PM
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uncabeeil
Posts: 5548
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Joisey. Got a problem wit dat?
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quote:
Is there some theme to your tree? My goal is an all Lenox tree. Actually, it's a tree covered with the Lenox holiday pattern bell ornaments, which they no longer make, so I'll have to settle for just all Lenox. I'm about halfway there.
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