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Post by lisacharlotte on Nov 27, 2016 16:25:36 GMT
No theme other than "Our Family". Fresh tree, lights (which i hate putting on and taking off, but, fresh tree so...), ornaments we've collected thru 26 years of marriage and travel including handmade from my DS younger years. It's eclectic to say the least. Some years i put up a fresh tree and don't decorate. I call it "natural Christmas" because i'm just not in the mood and no one else is volunteering to decorate.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 5:15:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2016 16:27:34 GMT
I have worked in decor and gift shops over the years and even worked along side a decorator in planning, wholesale purchasing, and decorating many, many trees of all sorts of themes. Tree theme planning starts in the fall, we order in January, start receiving in June, and had all merchandise on the floor by October 1st. Because of all this fuss, I love keeping my decorations simple at home. When it is time to decorate at home, I am over Christmas. haha My tree, if I do one, it is always fresh and has lots and lots of clear and white balls and other glass ornaments with some fun random ornaments sprinkled in. From a distance it looks mostly filled with clear ornaments but up close there are fun old Hallmark ones, kid made ones, grandma made ones, etc..etc..
If you want to see some pretty decorator style trees, search Raz Christmas on Pinterest. There you will see all the "steps" listed in the OP...the filler, ribbon, etc.
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scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,866
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Nov 27, 2016 16:31:49 GMT
About 10 years ago I bought a huge box (about 3 feet tall) filled with 6 layers of ornaments and filler. We open the box and just put it all up on the tree. Every few years we get bored from using the same decorations, so we use some cheap ornaments that I bought from Target.
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 27, 2016 16:34:24 GMT
I don't use the kind of filler described, but I know many who do, and change it up with style changes.
I put a layer of plain monochromatic balls on first that coordinate with my decorating theme. I have a stockpile in 2-3 colors with matching garlands/strings. Then all the special keepsake and general ornaments go on. It's simple way to change it up and keep traditions at same time.
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Post by k8smom on Nov 27, 2016 16:35:50 GMT
I LOVE to decorate the Christmas tree! and I love the Home by Heidi blog! Win / win! I think her instructions will produce a beautiful tree but I always just decorate by eye. White lights, red wooden bead garland, ribbon, ornaments, balls, and picks. Attachments:
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 27, 2016 16:41:19 GMT
@juniesmom that sounds like a dream job. Although it's rough how "dream jobs" can later minimize the fun in personal life. I'm going to google Raz, it's more enjoyable to look at pictures than do the real decorating.
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Post by littlemama on Nov 27, 2016 16:45:04 GMT
1. Assemble the tree. 2. Remember that you should have put the tree skirt under the tree before you opened the whole Damn thing up. 3. Let the branches fall out on their own, and then speed the ones that didn't. 4. Put ornaments on with wild abandon. 5. Watch dh spend a few days tweaking the ornaments.
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Post by just PEAchy on Nov 27, 2016 16:51:29 GMT
Our main tree is an 8 foot pre lit (colored lights) tree that I let the kids decorate. It has every thing from homemade preschool ornaments to a multitude of Hallmark ornaments to fragile bulbs. We have one from every vacation we've taken as well. I love it! There's no ribbons tinsel, or garland. I have smaller themed trees in several other rooms of the house.
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Post by darkchami on Nov 27, 2016 17:00:22 GMT
As much as I admire professional themed trees, I am a random decorator. Let's be real. I don't have the patience for all of those steps. The tree would never get put up if I had to cluster or wire in ornaments.
My ornaments have meaning. I can tell you the story of almost every single one. Some are from my childhood when my mom allowed me to have my own small tree. I lovingly chose an ornament each year to spend my allowance on in order to decorate alongside strings of popcorn. Some are from my first "adult" tree when I got my first apartment. Some are gifts from my students, including the angel from Alexandra and the reindeer from Max. Both of those "kids" are out of college now. There are the ornaments that we picked out on our honeymoon. There is a cat ornament that my mom bought and repainted to match the color of my cats. There are ornaments my husband and I have bought each other over the years.
It isn't a cohesive tree. Right now it is a little sparse because we bought a bigger tree two years ago. There is no depth or filler. I'm okay with that. No one is going to look at my tree and see it the way I do. It is a tree full of milestones and love.
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~Lauren~
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,876
Jun 26, 2014 3:33:18 GMT
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Post by ~Lauren~ on Nov 27, 2016 17:00:50 GMT
I'm a bit of a Christmas Tree fanatic...considering I'm Jewish. I have three different sets of ornaments that get rotated depending on what's happening that year. I have a gold/purple themed tree which is very elegant. You should have seen me preen the year one of my dd's friends gasped and said "that is the most beautiful tree I've ever seen". Then I have the "sweets" tree which I generally put up when Jackie will be with me for Christmas. It's ornaments and fillers that are all different types of cakes and candy. Finally, I have the "soft" winter wonderland tree done in light blues, lavenders and pale pinks. The topper is a snowy owl. I guess my style "depends", but it is never a mish-mash. There is always a theme.
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Post by lisae on Nov 27, 2016 17:14:27 GMT
I no longer do a large tree, just a small tabletop tree. I do, however, my staircase garland and my fireplace garland. The decorating style is similar to what I did for a real tree. I tuck in ribbon around or down the tree. I use some type of foundation ornament like large glass balls all of one color. Then I add my large ornaments. Most ornaments I have in at least 3 of a kind, usually 5 of the same one. Then I add the small stuff. Here are videos on the garlands that I did this year: staircase garlandmantel garland
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 5:15:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2016 17:26:02 GMT
I love a professional looking tree. But I am not talented at recreating the look. Last year I bought a 4 ft white tree with milti lights. It's so beautiful! It was the first time I've grouped ornaments and I really liked the look.
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Post by craftsbycarolyn on Nov 27, 2016 17:52:09 GMT
When the kids were little I used ornaments that they made or picked out. After they all moved out, I separated them and gave each girl a box of their ornaments. 2 daughters use them on trees and one daughter uses themes.
Now I do themes. Two years ago, I used a white tree and made it a snowman with ice skates, stick arms and a top hat. I also used a big green tree with only Santa ornaments, red and white. Last year I just used my white tree and a couple new ornaments and used only things with pearls and diamonds.
I haven't decided what I'm going to do this year.
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,034
Jan 29, 2016 3:02:55 GMT
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Post by used2scrap on Nov 27, 2016 18:00:22 GMT
I'm a bit of a Christmas Tree fanatic...considering I'm Jewish. I have three different sets of ornaments that get rotated depending on what's happening that year. I have a gold/purple themed tree which is very elegant. You should have seen me preen the year one of my dd's friends gasped and said "that is the most beautiful tree I've ever seen". Then I have the "sweets" tree which I generally put up when Jackie will be with me for Christmas. It's ornaments and fillers that are all different types of cakes and candy. Finally, I have the "soft" winter wonderland tree done in light blues, lavenders and pale pinks. The topper is a snowy owl. I guess my style "depends", but it is never a mish-mash. There is always a theme. Those all sound lovely, in their own way!
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acian7223
Full Member
Posts: 149
Jul 13, 2016 14:31:42 GMT
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Post by acian7223 on Nov 27, 2016 18:11:51 GMT
I absolutely love the look of "magazine worthy" trees. But I'm such a sentimental person that I could never do that in my own home (though maybe one day I'll have enough room for more than one tree) 😉
When I moved out my mom gave me *most* of my special/handmade/personal ornaments, but kept a few for herself. It was a lot of fun last year to tell the stories of each ornament to SO as we decorated our first tree together 😊
When I was younger (like 7 or 8) my family lived in a split level home. And we had a big Christmas tree in the living room with most of our ornament. But we also had a smaller tree in the entry way with all of our Minnesota Vikings ornaments. So, kind of a theme tree, but maybe not magazine worthy 😉
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Post by 2peaornot2pea on Nov 27, 2016 18:27:04 GMT
The theme of our tree is 'sentimental eclectic'. Ornaments my kids made when they were young, ornaments from vacation travels, hobbies, favorite holiday movies, etc. I love our tree.
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Post by roberta on Nov 27, 2016 19:11:11 GMT
Eclectic is my style. I have collected ornaments since the seventies. I joined the hallmark club the first year but dropped it somewhere around 2009. I collected swordski (sp?) after that until a few years ago. I also have many homemade ornaments, and ones from trips and to commemorate special occasions as well as ones from my childhood. I also have the Berta Hummel ornaments.
Even with a large tree they do not all fit so I put on what inspires me while I am decorating.
I have a bit of a routine. I put the large ones on first to fill in any spaces. I always put some deep into the tree to get it depth and fullness. The crystal ornaments are placed near lights as well as the few mirrored ones. Then I fill in the rest of the tree. I usually rearrange some when I am "finished" to balance it out. I use multicolored small lights, no ribbon, no garland, no tinsel but I do use icecicles. Last year we did not put the tree up because there were numerous family issues but this year we will probably have two for the first time. One will be a theme tree.
ETA: I use small branches cut from the bottom to fill in any areas that need green. It is the same idea as using the filler and picks but with a live tree.
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scrappert
Prolific Pea
RefuPea #2956
Posts: 7,760
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Nov 27, 2016 20:36:36 GMT
I inherited my mom's per-lit tree with white lights. SO likes colored lights, so I string those on there, too. And my mom collected snowman ornaments, so that's our theme now.
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
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Post by Mystie on Nov 27, 2016 20:44:42 GMT
Sometimes I get out all our mishmash of ornaments and enjoy the memories. And some years I only use my vintage Shiny Brites for ornaments. I usually put on small wired ribbon bows no matter what, usually red but this year I think I am going to mix in some tartan plaid bows. I like to use fluffy white sparkle garland and white lights when I use my Shiny Brites, colored lights and sometimes tinsel icicles when I'm doing the eclectic memory tree. I have used berry picks before, when I've picked them up cheap at Michael's. They definitely add a nice filled look.
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Post by malibou on Nov 27, 2016 20:50:49 GMT
Pre-lit Danish/Scandinavian.
J
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Post by darkangel090260 on Nov 27, 2016 21:05:32 GMT
Blues, silver, white and some purple.
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Post by workingclassdog on Nov 27, 2016 21:10:46 GMT
As much as I admire professional themed trees, I am a random decorator. Let's be real. I don't have the patience for all of those steps. The tree would never get put up if I had to cluster or wire in ornaments. My ornaments have meaning. I can tell you the story of almost every single one. Some are from my childhood when my mom allowed me to have my own small tree. I lovingly chose an ornament each year to spend my allowance on in order to decorate alongside strings of popcorn. Some are from my first "adult" tree when I got my first apartment. Some are gifts from my students, including the angel from Alexandra and the reindeer from Max. Both of those "kids" are out of college now. There are the ornaments that we picked out on our honeymoon. There is a cat ornament that my mom bought and repainted to match the color of my cats. There are ornaments my husband and I have bought each other over the years. It isn't a cohesive tree. Right now it is a little sparse because we bought a bigger tree two years ago. There is no depth or filler. I'm okay with that. No one is going to look at my tree and see it the way I do. It is a tree full of milestones and love. I love my random decorating tree, that said I do admire those professional looking trees. First I have no space to put up more than one big tree and no space if I decided to change 'themes' that said, I love my Hallmark ones, ones that the kids make, etc. If the ones that the kids make are iffy.. they kinda go to the back of the tree.. my Hallmark ones, and ones that I have bought for whatever reason, fill my tree.. I can pretty much tell a story about each one. My boss started getting me ornaments on his travels and I love those as well. I should do a book about each ornament! lol... My kids have no idea and hopefully they will someday appreciate it.. I do like the idea of putting down a throw under my skirt so it isn't laying flat.. give it some poof to it...
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~Lauren~
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,876
Jun 26, 2014 3:33:18 GMT
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Post by ~Lauren~ on Nov 27, 2016 21:11:16 GMT
Here's my winter wonderland from last year Here's the year before:
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,034
Jan 29, 2016 3:02:55 GMT
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Post by used2scrap on Nov 27, 2016 21:14:40 GMT
Those are stunning!
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Post by Hayjaker on Nov 27, 2016 22:41:18 GMT
No theme other than "Our Family". Fresh tree, lights (which i hate putting on and taking off, but, fresh tree so...), ornaments we've collected thru 26 years of marriage and travel including handmade from my DS younger years. It's eclectic to say the least. Some years i put up a fresh tree and don't decorate. I call it "natural Christmas" because i'm just not in the mood and no one else is volunteering to decorate. I had a "Natural Christmas" tree last year and hated it. I've complained about my kids letting me down so much throughout 2016 that they are primed to decorate this year! My tree is eclectic, sentimental, and colorful with white lights.
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,500
Jun 30, 2014 12:52:45 GMT
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Post by ellen on Nov 28, 2016 0:01:27 GMT
My style is whatever the kids put up - so that means every fun foam ornament they ever made is on my tree as well as all the random ones that we've accumulated over the years.
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,767
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Nov 28, 2016 0:11:42 GMT
Son's room is a sports team tree. All his faves are represented and he puts a hat on the top.
Daughter's room is a bright and cheery tree. All fun ornaments made with bright colors like turquoise, pink, lime, etc.
The master bedroom tree is a natural theme with berries, chalkboard deer cutouts, grapevines stars, wood slices, and wood snowflakes.
Loft tree is all the handmade school ornaments the kids made over the years. This is my favorite tree.
Main living room tree is 10 feet tall and a mismatch of family memories. There are red wooden bead garlands, berries, etc.., that pull it all together.
I would love to get a tree for the den with all of our yearly photo ornaments on it.
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Post by peasapie on Nov 28, 2016 0:53:57 GMT
I LOVE to decorate the Christmas tree! and I love the Home by Heidi blog! Win / win! I think her instructions will produce a beautiful tree but I always just decorate by eye. White lights, red wooden bead garland, ribbon, ornaments, balls, and picks. Wow. That's an amazing tree!
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Post by chaosisapony on Nov 28, 2016 0:55:10 GMT
I just put ornaments or tree picks in places where it seems like they would look good. I don't specific themes or color schemes or anything although I might like to in the future.
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Post by canadianscrappergirl on Nov 28, 2016 1:00:25 GMT
My tree is a combo of decorations from my child hood and hubby's, from when we first married, ones my kids made as kids and ones I buy every year to add to my eclectic collection. I have lots of snowmen ones and primitive type ones.
I do use fillers. Bought some new ones this year at Michaels. I started using g them after attending the Festival of trees.
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