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Post by jeremysgirl on Nov 28, 2016 1:00:31 GMT
You know I used to do a gorgeous theme tree every year. One year my tree was flocked in black and had CD all over it and other music themed decorations. I used to love doing a grand tree every year. Then kids started bringing home stuff from school. And I realized that I wanted only our stuff on the tree. So I went through all my beautiful Christmas ornaments and I only chose the special ones. Ones I had made. Ones the kids had made. Ones that had been given as gifts. And handed down from mom and dad. And thats what I let the kids decorate with now. We even make sure we get a lopsided real tree. Lots of colored lights. Always that horrible tinsel that leaves a mess everywhere but kids love. And candy canes. I love my total hot mess of a tree. And I'm happy to post a picture when it's done.
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Post by genny on Nov 28, 2016 1:06:16 GMT
Very random and ecclectic. usually white lights but last year when we pulled them out not one strand worked so I ran up to dollar general for more and all they had was colored lights so that's what we used. I have several sets of colored balls in different sizes that DH and I have had for about 20 years. We first put on our 'fun' ornaments that we've collected over the years or that the kids made or picked then fill in with our colored balls. Nothing fancy, but it's always beautiful and it's meaningful to us - we don't decorate until we are all home to participate. Turn on the 70s Christmas specials and make hot chocolate and get to it!
However, I am super excited for this year because I FINALLY found the big old fashioned bulbs like we had on my tree as a kid in the 70's and early 80's. And they are glass!
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,312
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Nov 28, 2016 1:18:48 GMT
Whenever our now-teen was younger, our main tree (9ft, pre-lit, clear lights, cascading) was an eclectic mix of homemade, character, & sentimental ornaments, various shaped/colored cookie cutters, & red balls with a fragile angel topper. It took hours to decorate.
Now that we vacation during the break & the childhood (homemade & bought) ornaments are considered a source of embarrassment, this tree is simply decorated with clear glass ornaments & colored (any combination of matte red, grey, pewter, brown, black, neutral/gold) balls with an elegant finial topper. The cookie cutters now decorate a small tree in the kitchen with a whisk topper; a small sports themed tree can be found in our teen's bedroom with small pennant topper; & a girly tree is in my craft room with a crystal star topper. Decorating takes a fraction of the time.
Happy holidays!
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Post by georgiabeachbum on Nov 28, 2016 1:20:38 GMT
We have a prelit tree and all sorts of ornaments from when I was a child, Some grandkids have made and some we've collected from our travels. Did buy a new tree skirt this year. Grandkids 14 and 16 put all the ornaments on any way they please. This year we put the big tree in the sunroom and smaller tree in living room.
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howjudiofyou
Junior Member
Posts: 80
Location: Niagara Falls, NY
Jun 26, 2014 21:37:54 GMT
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Post by howjudiofyou on Nov 28, 2016 1:21:50 GMT
Normally, my tree is vintage Shiny-Brite ornaments on a white tree with colored lights, but we have a new very hyper kitten and a new artificial tree this year. So our theme this year is kitty-proof Cheap plastic balls from Target and Home Depot.
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 28, 2016 1:24:15 GMT
We put up four trees. The large one is put together much like Heidi's (we use a homemade, flu tree skirt). The one downstairs is white with red and older ornaments. The two on either side of the hutch (4ft) are 1. handblown glass ornaments traditional colors and 2. snowman tree with mostly blue and white ornaments. My major rule with ornaments is just to hang like ones in triangle formation. And then I hide the pickle.
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Post by peasapie on Nov 28, 2016 1:34:38 GMT
I am so enjoying these posts and especially the photos. So inspiring and dreamy. I have a little wooden Swedish Christmas tree my son made for me a few years ago, and I put all the homemade ornaments on that tree. I don't have a great photo of it, but here it is. Attachments:
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Post by georgiabeachbum on Nov 28, 2016 1:36:29 GMT
Granddaughter and I started a shoe themed tree a few years ago because I am a serious shoe addict. This is the one I put in living room this year. A slim silver prelit 4 footer.
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Post by melanell on Nov 28, 2016 1:44:29 GMT
My tree is decorated in the style of kindergarten, with a touch of first grade. The last several years we've only decorated the tree with the kids' ornaments. They are primarily non-breakable, so while my younger son was between the ages of crawling and accidentally creating mass destruction, we thought that was a good option for us. My ornaments are my thing. So i don't want to risk them. I left them on hiatus for a few years when DS#1 was small, too. then they got to come see the light of day for about 2 years and back into the furthest corner of storage again. This year I think bring back out my own non-glass/china/etc. ornaments. The kinds that may break, but that can be repaired.
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 28, 2016 1:44:31 GMT
Normally, my tree is vintage Shiny-Brite ornaments on a white tree with colored lights, but we have a new very hyper kitten and a new artificial tree this year. So our theme this year is kitty-proof Cheap plastic balls from Target and Home Depot. Can you tell me how you were able to photograph your tree so beautifully?
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Post by melanell on Nov 28, 2016 1:46:51 GMT
Normally, my tree is vintage Shiny-Brite ornaments on a white tree with colored lights, but we have a new very hyper kitten and a new artificial tree this year. So our theme this year is kitty-proof Cheap plastic balls from Target and Home Depot. This is exactly what we did the first year DS #1 was crawling. he didn't have enough ornaments to fill a tree, and I didn't have enough non-breakables of my own, so we bought all new plastic ornaments. They make for a pretty tree! Yours looks gorgeous. Save
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 28, 2016 1:51:42 GMT
While I think some of the themed trees I've seen are lovely, they aren't what I would want. They seem too generic, too impersonal, too "retail store display" for me. I have the most random collection of ornaments and they don't all fit on our main tree anymore so now I put up multiple trees. I have ornaments from when I was a kid, some from when DH and I were first married, many that were given to me by my sister or my friends, some that I bought for DD, some that have her photos in them, some that she made, some that I made. Every single one holds a Christmas memory.
I like handmade primitive (snowmen, Raggedy Anns, angels, Santas) ornaments, Shiny Brite replicas, Hallmark ornaments, Disney ornaments. I only like colored lights (although I did let DH put white lights on the outside of the house). No beads, no garland, no tinsel, no ribbon, nothing too matchy-matchy. Every year we use the tree skirt that a dear little old lady friend of my mom's crocheted in the 70's. It has the most garish neon red yarn on the edges and cute kitschy Christmas designs crocheted around it. I love using it because I know how much love went into making it and my DD just told me this weekend that she loves it too.
ETA: All of the breakable ornaments must be above "lab tail wagging" height or our bigger dog will knock them right off and / or break them!
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Post by melanell on Nov 28, 2016 1:51:57 GMT
My ornaments are so individually special to me, that even if I did ever do a real theme, I'd just divide up what I already own by theme. I could easily do a "toy" theme, a "kitchen" theme, a "vintage glass" theme, and a "retro sequin ornament" theme as well as numerous color combo themes. (And I'd still have enough left for my "kindergarten with a bit of preschool" theme. )
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Post by LisaDV on Nov 28, 2016 1:52:48 GMT
lesley, gorgeous tree. I love the pops of red. myshelly, you are my hero! I used to do the "belongs in a store" trees. Then came kids that wanted to put on the ornaments. Unfortunately I didn't separate out dh's premarriage ornaments from mine and ours. So the darth Vadar and the fish made it up that year. It brought all of them such joy. We also went to Chicago's Christmas market each year and let the kids pick an ornament each. DD has an owl collection with over 17. DS has a much more eclectic collection that I prekids would not have allowed on my tree. One day I'll get back to the fancy tree, but we'll always have the happy heartfelt one too.
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,706
Jun 28, 2014 17:36:35 GMT
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Post by Dani-Mani on Nov 28, 2016 2:02:12 GMT
All my ornaments and decor for each tree matches the room the tree is in. Fake boxes with matching wrapping paper too. The junk tree has all the sentimental things and real gifts; it's in the family room and matches nothing. here is the living room tree: Attachments:
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Post by birdy on Nov 28, 2016 3:09:07 GMT
Ornaments from DH and I when we were kids, ornaments from our grandmothers' trees, homemade ornaments from our kids, homemade ornaments from our moms, and ornaments that have been given to our kids over the years.
When the kids grow up, they're taking all their ornaments and I'm dividing the rest in 1/2 for each of them. Then I'm going to do a tree with gold and red ornaments.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,368
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Nov 28, 2016 3:17:28 GMT
Before the divorce, my tree was very sentimental with all the handmade and homemade ornaments, the ones we collected on vacation, etc. During the divorce, my soon to be ex came over and picked out all of the ornaments he wanted to take with him. Then I had my sons pick out all the ones they wanted. Anything that was left I donated to charity.
Then I started doing themed trees. Some years I change it up, other years are repeated. Depends on the energy level and how much time I have. Last year was all teal and silver and I really enjoyed it. That will be repeated this year. Last year I got rid of all my artificial trees (I had 3 that I had collected) and just purchased a new tree for this year. I decided on a 6 1/2 foot skinny tree with all clear lights. I love one tone lights but you really can't find a tree with anything but all white or multi-colored. I love the trees with the lights attached because putting on the lights is the very worst part of decorating the tree.
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Post by PEArfect on Nov 28, 2016 6:33:18 GMT
Step 1: fluff the branches Step 2: check lights Step 3: assemble tree layer by layer laying the lights horizontally back and forth on each layer Step 4: add star to top Step 5: add ribbon Step 6: let my daughters adorn it with all of the ornaments they desire, which is always way to many! It's a hot mess, but we love it! A lot of the ornaments are sentimental.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 1:49:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2016 7:01:36 GMT
I'm a decorator at heart. Went to design school and all that. I absolutely love to decorate, but hate doing the tree for some reason. So I invite everyone over and let my decorator at heart daughter decide how it will be done. Then everyone chips in and gets it done. We have all of my parents' old stuff from when I grew up and 35 years of our own stuff too. So she has lots of design options in how she wants it done. The house is going up for sale, so I'm trying to decide if we'll bother with it at all this year. Thanksgiving was probably the last holiday we all get together in this house. Time to pass the torch.
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howjudiofyou
Junior Member
Posts: 80
Location: Niagara Falls, NY
Jun 26, 2014 21:37:54 GMT
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Post by howjudiofyou on Nov 28, 2016 10:35:53 GMT
myboysnme-I shot the photos on my phone. My Galaxy 6. The top photo was with natural light during the day and bottom photo at night with only the tree lights on.
I love seeing everyone's tree photos. I am enjoying this thread.
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Post by georgiabeachbum on Nov 28, 2016 11:36:10 GMT
Ornaments from DH and I when we were kids, ornaments from our grandmothers' trees, homemade ornaments from our kids, homemade ornaments from our moms, and ornaments that have been given to our kids over the years. When the kids grow up, they're taking all their ornaments and I'm dividing the rest in 1/2 for each of them. Then I'm going to do a tree with gold and red ornaments. This is what my Mom did. When us kids got married, she let us pick ornaments to take to our first tree. These included some that we made as kids and they all held special meaning for us. Mom did keep some ornaments of course.
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joelise
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,649
Jul 1, 2014 6:33:14 GMT
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Post by joelise on Nov 28, 2016 11:48:52 GMT
White lights, white, clear, crystal, glass and silver ornaments, all different shapes, sizes and objects. This year I have copper wire lights and copper leaves also. I don't use ribbons and I've never heard of "filler".
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,663
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Nov 28, 2016 14:20:46 GMT
Lights, bigger stuff, smaller stuff
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schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
Jun 28, 2014 0:26:58 GMT
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Post by schizo319 on Nov 28, 2016 14:38:24 GMT
Real tree, lights, glass balls (frosted in red and gold), then the sentimental ornaments and the ones that DH and I have been collecting since we first moved in together 18 years ago.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Nov 28, 2016 15:14:59 GMT
Real tree. White lights. Purple, silver and crystal decs only.
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