LED Christmas lights

The most energy consuming of all holiday tasks is also the most energy consuming of all Christmas decorations, Christmas lights. They take forever to put up and if even one of them doesn’t work they’ll all go out. Luckily this is a case where the eco-friendly approach actually makes the job a whole lot easier, with the invention of led Christmas lights.

LED lights are illuminated by electrons in a semi-conductor material, rather than using a filament to conduct electricity like with incandescent bulbs. This means they won’t all stop working if one goes out, and best of all, they only use about one tenth of the power that regular lights do. They also don’t heat up as fast and are made of strong plastic connected with thicker cords. LED lights last longer and save more energy than regular ones, making them an environmentally friendly and money saving holiday must.

Home made and recycled decorations

Christmas decorations are produced in massive quantities each year, taking up a lot of resources and allowing for a great deal of waste material to be created out of last years old decorations. A way to avoid causing unnecessary waste is to recycle your Christmas decor. Instead of throwing things away, use them again in a creative way, such as hanging old Christmas cards in the window or making angels, snowmen or reindeer out of old lights. Also, when purchasing holiday items in stores, make sure that they are labeled bio degradable and renewable, and avoid toxic chemicals such as canned snow and Mylar tinsel.

If you want to bring some of the earth into your home and go green literally, decorate with natural things like real garlands and tree branches. Add color to your house by bringing in holly berries and poinsettias, this should give your home a wonderful festive feel.

Being green for Christmas can actually provide you with some great ideas and traditions to follow during the holidays. One old fashioned custom is to bake home made treats which you can turn into Christmas tree ornaments. Use natural scents inside your house by bringing in real potpourri, lighting non toxic candles and brewing cider.

A green Christmas is a truly wonderful idea, it brings peace on earth and is a well-spring for creativity. Instead of cutting in on your holiday fun, you’ll find it actually adds to it.

Sleeps to Christmas
Sleeps to Christmas is a countdown app that is great for those of us who seriously cannot wait until the big day.  When I was a kid, as soon as December hit, all I could think about was that magical day near the end of the month where I would undoubtedly receive at least a couple Ninja Turtles action figures. As I grew older, the novelty wore off. That is, until I had children of my own.  They are now ecstatic about the big guy coming to visit us this year and I am reliving my greatest childhood memories through them now. Whenever my kids ask me “how many sleeps till Christmas daddy?” I always just give them my phone.  The app has cute little drawings of Santa and a snowman so the kids totally dig that. You can choose any means of counting down to the big day from seconds to sleeps and it even has a few Christmas songs you can play to get you in the mood while you’re waiting.  There is a paid version of this app that has different characters holding the sign with the countdown and another song but you can try out the free version first and see if you need the other characters.

Trash the Tree
Trash the Tree is the perfect app for all you Scrooges out there.  It is a simple image of a Christmas tree all beautifully decorated with ornaments just waiting to be dominated.  It’s really quite relaxing smashing all the glass ornaments, and, if you’ve had enough egg nog, you might not even know it’s a game.  The smashing noises are quite therapeutic and this game alone might prevent one of your families biggest Christmas catastrophes so you might want to try it out if this time of year stresses you out more than any other.

Let It Snow
Although not legally sanctioned by Apple, if you have a jailbroken iPhone with cydia on it, you have to get Let It Snow.  It allows it so that tiny snowflakes can fall from the iPhones status bar all the way down to the dock.  They fall behind the icons but on top of the wallpaper so they won’t get in the way but they really do add atmosphere to the environment.  If you have this one, you can pretend it’s snowing anywhere in the world. The kids love this one too so you should dig into it if you have a jailbroken iPhone.

If you liked this, you might want to check out these:
Christmas LED Lights: Decorative Solutions for any Occasion [LiveJournal]
Rope Lights: Cabinet Lighting with a Twist [BlogStream]
LED Christmas Lights – Making Christmas Brighter [ArticleBlast]
LED Rope Lights – Functional and Beautiful [AssociatedContent]
Saving the Planet with LED Christmas Lights [Blurty]

This Christmas tree was huge I was afraid how to get it home. I was not expecting to buy a tree right then and there but he had to have this tree. So here is my husband carrying this huge tree up to pay for it. After we paid for it we brought it to the parking lot and did not think this through. Everyone that passed us look at us all weird. I bet they were thinking how are they going to get that home.

Well, after spending hours in the parking lot a nice gentle man offer to stick in his truck and follow us home. Once we arrive at own home I paid the gentleman for helping us. I went inside to lay down a tarp so pine needles would not get all in the carpet so I wouldn’t be having needles for the next three years. Then I put the dog in our bedroom and closed the door. Meanwhile my husband was trying to get this giant christmas tree in our house. It was so big it would not fit through the front door. I made a comment to him what if we trim it up and cut some off the top. He looks at me and said ok we can trim it but you’re not touching the top of the tree. I was like “ok if you say so”.

He is standing out in our drive way trimming this tree up as I’m helping him. Then we got it through the door but barely he stands it up and it slammed the ceiling. Oh my gosh hunny it’s too big we really need to trim it. He looks at me and sighs ok I guess so I go and get a latter and trim the top.

Finally after this entire struggle we get it in the tree stand. I back up and look at it to make sure its straight and guess what it was leaning. We had to fix it and finally got it to stand perfect then came the fun part for me decorating it. I had so much fun doing it I had my daughter help me with the popcorn because that was her idea. I told her we could not cover the tree completely with popcorn due to the cat and dog. She giggled and said ok.

One day I got home from shopping and could not find the cat. So I saw a hole in the tree was like what in the world. I moved the branches a bit and there was our cat sound asleep in the tree it was the cutest thing I have ever saw. I went and got my camera and took a picture. Got them printed and they were our Christmas cards.

These trees grow quite slow so people tend to go for artificial palm trees that serve as outdoor and indoor decorative options for any occasion. Manufacturers do not make much attempt to conceal that they are imitations, and are often quite cheesy, but that matches the style one would go for with a ‘tropical’ Christmas. These are mostly fitted with chain lights and rope lights that illuminate the fake varieties during special occasions and after dusk. Manufacturers have even made available fake palm trees of diverse colors. This includes shades of red, pink, orange and blue. Fake varieties are available for indoor and outdoor use. They are offered in various trunk and leaf sizes. This allows customers to choose fake palm trees according to space availability. Fake palm tree kits are available with adequate nuts and bolts to place leaves, trunks, bases and fruits together. They can be fixed on asphalt, concrete and wood with the use of well-designed and durable bolts. In recent times, a number of businesses are using fake palm trees as a medium of advertisement and also as decorations at certain venues.

Many lighted palm trees are available in ready to assemble kits. Customers need to follow simple instructions to fit leaves, fronds, trunks and bases together. They are available with pre-programmed light sequences and can be purchased online or at local stores. Potential buyers should do some comparison shopping to determine a favorable price, for the features, product and guarantee that they are looking for. If a palm tree is not your pick for Christmas, check out the links below for more tips on Christmas ideas and decorations.

Christmas Decoration Ideas Page Listing

Protect your artificial Christmas tree for years

Pre lit Christmas trees, perfect for any home

Amazing Christmas Tree Toppers

Finding the Perfect Christmas Tree Stand

To properly store your Christmas tree and preserve its shape a proper Christmas tree storage bag is essential. There are several styles to consider. Plastic bags with drawstring tops make for the easiest of storage bags. There are Christmas tree storage bags similar to a duffel bag. There are also floor-style bags with wheels making it easy to move your Christmas tree from your storage to final set up. If you have decorated your tree to perfection and do not want to take the decorations off your tree, there are also stand up style bags with wheels that makes keeping your tree and decorations in tact, allowing the tree to be stored in an upright position. You need plenty of room to store your tree with this style of coverage.

There are also Christmas tree storage containers, which are made of plastic. This style can store your Christmas tree along with any extra indoor/outdoor lights and decorations. This type of container will help to keep your tree dust-free and protect it from incurring any damaged. Containers range in many different sizes. You are sure to find a Christmas tree storage container in a size that will accommodate your tree.

Another method to Christmas tree storage is having a custom bag made for your investment. While a little more expensive, it is money well spent. The kind of material of the bag and its construction is the key to a long lasting viable storage bag. A Christmas tree storage bag that is sturdy and well made is sure to hold up over the years. Inexpensive bags are sure to rip and puncture from the tree branches and you will find yourself having to purchase another bag. You have invested in your tree; invest in the way to store it. It is also a good idea to consider a storage container that is watertight and will keep insects and rodents from being able to get to the tree.

Christmas tree storage bags and containers can be purchased at retail stores and on line. There are many companies specializing in Christmas tree storage. They can show how to protect your tree for your enjoyment year after year. Take into consideration where you are going to store the tree. Will you be storing your tree inside, or outside, in an attic or garage? Maximum protection for your tree is the goal and should be the biggest consideration when choosing how to store it.

Whether you’re the type to hang welcoming wreaths all year round, or you just prefer to stick to major festivities such as the Easter season or Halloween (to name a few), nothing can compare to the glory and tradition that comes each year with the hanging of Large Christmas Wreaths. Adorning one’s home with evergreens has long been the symbol of the eternal, unbroken cycle of life and nature, which is perfect for the winter holiday season. Although Large Christmas Wreaths are partially associated with Christianity and the celebration of Christmas, this isn’t their whole purpose. During mid December, when most homes become lavished in wintery decorations, it is the time of the Winter Soltice. The circle shape to the wreath represents the endless cycling of the seasons, and the promise that light will soon return. Whether you’re hanging the smallest of door-bound wreaths or the mighty Large Christmas Wreath, all wreaths have deep meaning to those who display them.

If you would like to know how to make your own vibrant symbol of the snowy holidays, these next few steps should be of great assistance!

How to Prepare Your own Large Christmas Wreath:

Tips for obtaining and handling fresh evergreen branches include pruning from your own trees or purchasing branches from a floral shop, wearing gloves at all times when handling evergreens, and using floral wire to attach your decorations. Cedar, redwood, oak, fir, pine and magnolia are great greens to use. Also, remember to gather holly or other red berries for your wreath collection. To begin the wreath building process, simply follow the tips below.

The first step is to make a base using wire coat hangers. Wrap the hangers together at the hook end and cover with floral tape.

Second, cut several 8 to 10 inch (or longer if you prefer) branches of greenery to act as the “body” of your wreath.

The next step is to use lightweight floral wire to secure the branches to the wreath base. Overlap the stems and keep adding stems until the wreath base is lush and fully covered.

Lastly, secure desired decorations with floral wire or hot glue. Remember, to achieve a classic winter holiday feel, to fasten holly and other red berries to your finished wreath. Also, if it is so desired, attach a seasonal bow to any point on your wreath. It is important to know that red isn’t the only other holiday color that can enhance a Christmas wreath. Varying shades of green, gold, and even silver add a touch unlike any other to make a normal wreath utterly glow. And spraying with a frosty or glittery spray also adds an element of shimmer to this holiday decoration. Breathe life into your creation by hanging it over a doorway, above windows or garages, or even (as sometimes observed) on the front bumper of automobiles.

All of the above steps can be utilized to accommodate wreath making all year round. However, to obtain the classic Christmas wreath, stick to greens, reds, golds and silvers, which will give beautiful sentiment to the winter holiday season, all season long.

Originating in Germany during the 19th century, artificial Christmas trees were created by using goose feathers attaching them to wire branches and dying them green,wires were wrapped around a dowel which acted as the tree trunk. The branches on the tree were spaced widely,with petite little berries placed on top that acted as candle holders. Having the branches widely spaced assisted in eliminating the possibility of a fire , also enabling individuals to place more ornamentation on the tree.
In the early part of 20th century the artificial goose feather Christmas tree made its way to the United States.
Ranging from 2 inches to 98 inches tall, the trees were sold in major department stores through the mid 1920′s, becoming popular because the tree did not shed and many did not have to make a trip to the Christmas tree lot each year.

Brush Bristle Tree

The brush bristle tree was was popular in the 1930′s and was actually created out of brush bristles,also dyed green the trees had there advantages over feather trees and were able to hold more ornaments. The brush bristle tree remained popular through 1958 when the aluminum tree was announced.

Aluminum Christmas Tree

The aluminum Christmas tree was made completely out of aluminum, the branches were attached to a aluminum or wooden pole.The aluminum Christmas tree was not green but silver and could be assembled in approximately 15 minutes. Now considered vintage you will still find the aluminum Christmas tree in a handful of homes today.

Artificial Christmas Trees Now

Today many trees are made out of 100% recycled plastic and are more durable, they are fire retardant but not fire resistant. Made in China many trees come pre-lit,there are designer trees, fiber-optic trees and regular artificial trees that allow you to be creative. Christmas trees can be “frosted or “glittered” and designed for outdoors use with UV additives.

Upside down trees were originally used as a marketing ploy, they enabled the consumer to get close to the ornaments that were for sale, however they became a part of the holiday season and are now offered in three varieties, they can either be bolted to the ceiling, bolted to walls or they can stand alone.

Easy to assemble, many branches today are color coded enabling an individual to put the tree up in a matter of minutes. Stands are normally also included.

From 2001-to 2007 over 17.4 million artificial Christmas trees have been sold in the United States there are
those who will debate that artificial trees are harmful to the environment and others who claim that PVC used in the trees have recyclable potential. Those who are going green realize it takes 7-10 years for a ‘real’ Christmas tree to mature and they remove dust and pollen from the air. An artificial tree can be used over and over again not taking from the environment,but protecting it.

Have an outdoor garden or pathway you need to lighten up? Rope lights are a perfect way to make your pathway or outdoor arrangement safer and more beautiful at night. Have an office or room with round or odd ceiling moldings? Use rope lights to wrap around the room to make it more inviting and elegant. Rope lights can be used almost anywhere and by anybody.

Rope lights are versatile and can be installed almost anywhere. Many Christmas attractions use rope lights to make intricate displays in high volume. Rope lights can be used almost anywhere from closets to chair moldings, steps, book cases and even the ceiling! Rope lights are espcecially beautiful when used outdoors on railings, decks or any other landscaping scenery.

Light ropes usually last around 25,000 hours before they go out. This means that if you had your rope lights on every day for four hours a day, you could get 17 years of life out of your rope lights! Because rope lights are so versatile, they are easy to cut and splice to fit your needs. Almost anyone can alter or change the lights with just a few tools. Rope lights can be found in a variety of places from businesses, to residential abodes.

For this kid you can use rope lights to brighten up their rooms at night and give an adventurous atmosphere. Because rope lights are so plyable, they can be fused together to make shapes and figures often seen during the holidays. These special can add a unique color and flavor to just about any room, yard or pation you can imagine. Rope lights are great for getting creative and funky.

Using rope lights is a great way to get the family involved and let everyone in on the project and able to add their own flare to the area. You really can just go grazy with rope lights.

While it is not recommended that rope lights be submerged in liquid, they are waterproof so you need not worry if your light display gets a little wet while tending to the garden or splashing around the pool.

Mounting clips can be used (typically one clip per foot of lighting) to add that extra something to your design space. Rope lights give that special shine to your space that shows off your inventiveness, creativity and passion for your home and/or work space.

Rope lights can be dimmed! This is just an added bonus to the already incredible value rope lights provide. You can set any mood you’d like while thinking outside the box.

As they gain popularity, rope lights are sure to find their way into or onto your home in the very near future!

Pink LED Christmas Lights

LED Christmas lights are available in many different sizes and colors making your decorating needs met as easily as possible. Sizes range from traditional mini lights, M5′s (raspberries), C6′s (strawberries), C7′s, C9′s, and even battery operated LED Christmas lights. It doesn’t matter where you plan to decorate this year, you can find the perfect size to suit your needs and space.

Color choices are also abundant when it comes to LED Christmas lights. Everyone has their own personal tastes and styles, along with color schemes. Red, green, blue, purple, pink, amber, and white are all common color choices for the holiday season. Combining the colors for a vibrant and colorful combination is a popular choice. Multi colored LED Christmas lights are one of the top selling items when it comes to Christmas. Another popular demand is among pure and warm white. Pure white is bright, by bright I mean very bright! They have a blueish tint to them and can been seen from a distance for sure. Warm white LED Christmas lights have more of a soft or yellow tint to them, more of a glow than a vivacious burst of color.

Rope light made with LED Christmas lights are also a great way to decorate for the holidays. Easy to bend, shape, and put up, LED rope light has the same effect on your energy, saving you a ton, and less wires and bulk hanging around your house. You can’t go wrong with rope light! LED Christmas lights will save you a ton of money and energy.

LED Christmas Rope Light

Blue Icicle Burst LED Christmas Lights

When you’re this far North, the Aurora Borealis shines something fierce making our Christmas lights look very lackluster in comparison. One day, we will reach this point with our home lighting displays. Unfortunately, that will be the same day we receive numerous tickets for light pollution and disturbing the peace.

If you liked this, you might want to check out these:

Commercial Christmas Light Decorations: Use LED Lights to Save Money (Amazines)
How to Store Christmas Ornaments (LiveJournal)
Cooking for Christmas – Sugar Cookies (Start4All)
Easy Tips on Finding the Best LED Christmas Lights (BlogStream)
Prelit Christmas Trees – A Time Saving Investment (Snipsly)
Battery Operated LED Lights at the End of the Tunnel (212Articles)