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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Holiday Decorating - Create an Old Fashioned Christmas With Your Kids


These days, it seems like Christmas has become very commercial. Remember the days of yesterday years by creating an old fashioned Christmas decorating theme that your children can help with. It is easy to do when you implement some of the simple ideas in this article.

Make a Christmas ball decorating from old Christmas cards.

Use one size glass to trace circles onto twenty different Christmas cards. Have your children help you cut the circles from each card. Next, cut out an equilateral triangle out of cardboard that fits within the circle. On the back of each Christmas card circle, use a pencil and trace the triangle onto the card. Fold the three edges created by the triangle outward towards the front of the card. This will leave you with three flaps on each circle. With a low temp glue gun, attach five circles together by gluing the backs of the flaps together on two sides, triangle points to the center, completing the ball top by gluing the first circle to the fifth. Glue an additional circle to the bottom flaps of each of the original five circles, creating a sphere. Set aside and repeat for the remaining ten circles. Glue the two then circle clusters together at open flaps to create the finished sphere. Add a string or holiday ribbon to hang your ball and adorn with glitter or bells to finish.

Create a lovely tree garland from strung popcorn.

Make a large bowl of popcorn and let it cool. Take a needle and thread and string the popcorn onto the thread by pushing the needle through the popcorn. Do not cut your thread until you push the popcorn down the length and decide how long you would like your garland. Tie off your end with a large knot and continue stringing the popcorn until your thread is full. Tie off the last end and carefully place the popcorn on your tree.

Buy Styrofoam Christmas decorations and add glitter.

You can purchase Styrofoam trees, sleighs, reindeer and more at your local craft shop. Help your children decorate the Christmas items with glue, glitter or sequins. Use the newly decorated holiday ornaments on your tree or on your tables.

Make a candy Christmas tree.

Take a Styrofoam Christmas tree and cover it with red and white peppermints. It is best to use the candy that is individually wrapped and then you can glue the top of the wrapper to the tree and overlap the candies. This way, when you take the tree apart, the candy could still be eaten safely. Make a bow and pin or glue it to the top of the tree.

Create paper snowflakes out of white paper.

You need to start with a square of white paper. Fold the paper in half twice, forming a smaller square. Next, fold the smaller square corner to corner to form a triangle. Make different size cut outs on all sides and then open the snowflake to see what you have created. Next, attach a string or thread to the snowflake for hanging. You can use these to decorate your tree, hang in windows or hang from your ceiling.

Gather pine cones and make a holiday arrangement.

After you gather your pine cones, you might want to spray some with a false snow flocking to make it appear like snow is on them. Display your pine cones in a glass bowl, jar or vase. Add holiday greens around the base along with a Christmas bow to finish off your arrangement.

Make single stem flower holders from Christmas balls.

Remove the metal hanger and tops from a Christmas ball. Use a file and lightly file down the rough edges of the stem of the ball. Fill your Christmas ball with water and put it in a small clay or ceramic pot. You should paint your pot to match your Christmas decorations unless you have purchased a festive pot. Next, add a single rose, tulip or poinsettia stem to each Christmas ball. This makes a very elegant Christmas floral vase.

Use deep stemware or ice tea glasses with candy canes as table decorations.

Simply hang small candy canes around the perimeter of the glass, with the main stem of the candy cane inside the glass.

Turn a picture frame into a wonderful holiday decoration with the help of your child.

Staple holiday ribbon of your choice on to the back of the picture frame and then drape the ribbons over the front of the picture frame. Next, cut out your favorite holiday scenes from Christmas cards and glue them to the ribbon. Any of these holiday decorating ideas, or even all of them, make great inexpensive alternatives that will help you bring an old fashioned Christmas theme into your home this holiday season.

And, if you've enjoyed this article and would like more helpful home decorating tricks and resources, try visiting http://www.wallpaperhomedecorating.com

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From Tammy Billings, the Wallpaper Home Decorating Blog Author, Interior Designer and Owner of http://www.USAwallpaper.com

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