Christmas Tree TipsIf you buy a natural tree, check the ends of the needles. Rub some of the sprigs between your fingers. Cut 1 inch or so off the bottom before you put it into the stand, this will allow it to soak up more water and it will last longer.
Avoid Buying a Special Tree Disposal BagInstead of buying a special tree disposal bag, stand the tree stand on a large garden bag. Then put the tree skirt just goes over this.
No-Sew Tree SkirtFor an easy and economical tree skirt, I purchased a round holiday tablecloth (vinyl front, flannel back). I cut a small hole in the center and cut a straight line from the hole to the outer edge. It works great, is easy to clean & my kids love the design.
Blanket for a Tree SkirtInstead of using an expensive Christmas tree skirt, we have a pretty blanket we use at the base of our tree. A nice blanket is cheaper than most Christmas tree skirts.
Putting an Artificial Tree in a Christmas Tree StandWhen using an artificial Christmas tree many larger durable tree stands are too large. Buy some PVC pipe and cut it in small and equal pieces to place inside the tree stand to make a circle around the smaller tree base.
Put Your Tree in a PlaypenGot a toddler who won't leave the Christmas tree alone? Put it in the playpen. (the tree, not the kid)!
By Linda
Poinsettia Tree DecorationsSilk Poinsettia clusters tucked into the branches of your Christmas tree is attractive and cheap when you buy them at "after Christmas markdowns."
Half of a Christmas TreeIf you have limited space, use an artificial tree and place it close to a wall and leave the back branches off and decorate. It still looks good in less space.
You may want to attach a string to the middle of the tree for added support and put a tack in the wall and tie the string to it.
Baby's First Christmas Tree DecorationsWe had our first child in August. Christmas came the next day (it felt like it!) I had saved the baby shower cards and ribbon from the gifts. So I got creative like I always do and decorated my tree.
Dryer Sheets to Keep Cats Away from the Christmas TreeKeep cats away from the Christmas tree with fabric softener sheets. Encircle the tree with the sheets when you go to bed at night or when you leave the house and pick them up when you return.
Family Keepsake Christmas TreeFamily Keepsake Christmas Tree. This weekend, I saw the most lovely little Christmas tree. The decoration were a string of lights and then, the best part! It was covered with "things" from the family such as a silver baby spoon.
Free Christmas Trees - Make Your OwnFree Christmas Trees - Make Your Own. Trees don't have to be the traditional pine tree. Be creative and inventive. Almost anything can become a tree of sorts and the more unusual the better. It will bring back floods of memories for years to come
Themed Trees for Your Loved OneMaybe not every year, but as a special surprise, prepare a themed tree for your husband, partner, or child. One year, I made a Star Wars tree for my husband. I took a white plastic tree from the Dollar store, and decorated it with purple and blue lights.
Set Up Christmas Tree In The GarageWhen Christmas rolls around and it's time to get our tree ready to put up, I always share this tip with friends. Surprising how many folks have never thought of this idea, yet it's so simple.
Gather Pine Boughs from Christmas Tree LotsHave a yen for an Xmas tree but don't have the $ or space? Then gather pine boughs (branches) to you from the local xmas tree stands and garden centers!
Decorating Small Christmas TreesDecorating a tiny tree? You can use all sorts of odd things on it. I clipped a bunch of hair clips with red decorative buttons on them onto the branches of one small tree, just the right scale.
Baby Stockings for Christmas OrnamentsYou can find inexpensive packages of red, green or Christmas decorated baby and toddler socks and/or booties on sale now. Just sew a loop at the top of them to hang on your Christmas tree.
Controlling Christmas Tree DebrisTired of those flying Christmas tree needles? Control them by wrapping your tree in a fitted sheet. Before we bring our tree inside we first spray our tree with a hose to wash the dust and bugs off. Let it dry sitting in a bucket of water.
Substitute Wall Christmas TreeOne year I was unable to go to the Christmas Tree Farm with my children due to a broken foot. So I took long lengths of green garland and used it to zig zag a Christmas tree shape on the wall above a small bookcase.
Reuse Spiral Christmas TreeReuse by winding silk holly or ivy garlands around the spirals and then hang some small red felt hearts, green felt Christmas trees and white felt snowflakes.
Jingle Bell Alarm for PetsIf you have toddlers or pets who might get into your Christmas tree, tie some bells (craft store ones work fine) around the lower branches. If the tree is disturbed you will hear the bells jingle.
Tomato Cage As Outdoor Christmas TreeThese "trees" are great for apartment balconies as well. Take a tomato cage, turn it upside down, and bend the legs into the center. Wind one or two strands of Christmas lights around, securing with ordinary twist ties and voila! A Christmas Tree.
Taking Out the Christmas TreeFor easy removal of your Christmas tree, with a sheet on the rug to catch the needles, clip off the branches at their base with a sharp garden tool and put them in a garbage bag.
Warning: Cut Christmas Trees Are A Fire HazardSeveral years ago, I put up a cut pine tree for Christmas. Afterward, I took it out back to the burn pile and lit it with a match and one section of toilet paper. Within seconds, the fire was out of control, and so hot that I could not approach it.
Decorating a Christmas Tree With LightsLights add so much to a Christmas tree. And putting them on can be a lot of fun. But when it comes to taking them off after the holiday, now that's another story altogether!
Use Women's Skirt as Tree SkirtFor an inexpensive Christmas tree skirt, buy a knee length secondhand ladies skirt. Just select one in the appropriate color you desire.
Vinyl Tablecloth as Tree SkirtI no longer have to worry about a skirt for my Christmas tree. Last year, I bought a round vinyl tablecloth on clearance after Christmas for $0.79. I found the center of the tablecloth, cut a slit to that point and cut a small circle out of the middle.
Add Colored Lights To Clear Prelit TreeWe have a clear prelit tree. Then we take a strand of color lights, and start at the top. We run them up and down as we go around. It is best to have 2 people for this. Then if we want more lights, we run a set starting at the top going around until we get to the bottom.
Add Colored Lights To Clear Prelit TreeWe have a clear prelit tree. Then we take a strand of color lights, and start at the top. We run them up and down as we go around.
Bells For Christmas Tree Defense From CatsWe have always had cats and they have a tendency to want to explore the Christmas tree. We got around that by using an abundance of bells on the lower limbs to serve as an early warning device.
Christmas Tree for the KidsIf you have small children who won't leave your Christmas tree alone, the best thing you can do is give them a tree of their own, with their own unbreakable ornaments.
Holiday Pine Boughs Instead Of A TreeIn my small apartment, I have never had room for a standing Christmas tree. In order to have the tree experience, I use pine boughs from the local Christmas tree stand and put them in vases and decorate them!
Improving an Old Artificial Christmas TreeTo improve an old artificial Christmas tree, prepare one roll of lace ribbon and wire. Cut the ribbon into 12 inch long sections. Crumple the ribbon at the middle and tie it with a small wire. Fifteen ribbons are good for a 7 foot Christmas tree.
Baby Shoe Christmas TreeMy dear sister-in-law has a new baby. She is a little over a year old. They have taken a little medium tree and made a little "Baby's First Shoes" Christmas tree in one of the rooms.
Repairing White Base Fuse Light on Pre-lit TreeI had a row of lights out on my pre-lit tree and found the light in the white base called (non replaceable) by the manufacturer, was blown. I looked online, but couldn't find anything on this fuse light.
A Fun Christmas Tree DesignI like my tree to look different every year and we switch between real and artificial trees.
Keeping Toddlers out of Christmas TreesIt may be early, but here's one solution to the inevitable toddler getting into the Christmas tree and gifts. Put the tree and gifts in the playpen, or put up a gate across the area where the tree and gifts are or will be!
Putting up a Pre-lit Christmas TreeAfter reading several posts, I got some ideas but wanted more details on the "how to plug in the lights" and found this video that was very helpful.
Keep Cats out of the Christmas TreeMy cat doesn't like the smell of citrus. I take the tree shaped car deodorizer, orange scent, and hang them from the bottom branches.
Christmas Tree for Your CatPut a small tree up for your cat, maybe 3 feet. It's really dependent on the room you have, but remember cats want something to climb. Hang some low hanging cat safe ornaments from the bottom with a few filled with catnip. You may want to anchor the cat's tree to the wall or ceiling.
Alternative Christmas TreesGrowing up, there were a few years that we didn't have enough money to get a Christmas tree and we ended up getting creative. We decorated a twig one year. Made a tree out of lights on the wall another. We tacked up CDs in the shape of the tree on the wall and we have decorated houseplants.
My First Artificial Christmas TreeThis is the first year in 44 years that I didn't put up a fresh cut Christmas tree. My son suggested it and I caved in and said yes. He bought it and I could not believe how easy it was to set up. But, it just did not look right to me.
Decorated Tabletop Christmas TreeAt Christmastime when you are making bows for various places in your home or outside, save all the scraps of the ribbon that you use. Use them on a small table top Christmas tree that would be for a tablescape.
Wrap LED Starry Lights for Twinkling StarMy old Christmas Star Topper does not have any lights. I really like how the new toppers have twinkling lights but they cost $20-30.
Use a Blanket as a Christmas Tree SkirtIf you are on a budget, a Christmas tree skirt can be pricey. Instead, you can use a blanket as your Christmas tree skirt and get more use from the blanket. Christmas skirts will sit in storage for most of the year anyway. Afterwards give your blanket a nice wash after being on the floor for a month or so.
Mardi Gras Beads As Christmas GarlandUse them on a small Christmas tree as garland. I have a small tree I put up in my dining room, and I put small ornaments that would get lost on my big tree on it. Instead of tinsel or garland, I loop Mardi Gras beads of all different colors together and drape them around it. They shine, even when the lights aren't on.
Decorating an Artificial Tree with EleganceI always had a beautiful full fresh real Christmas tree until I became alone. It was just too much! So with my artificial tree, I had to start getting crafty with it! Let me show you! I went to the Dollar store and bought bunches of poinsettias & sprays of holly. I filled in all the spaces with these bunches and added a few sets of extra clear lights!
Food Containers for Ornament StorageI have submitted something similar here so I will just share this. Today I took my tree and ornaments down so I could do a project. I have been keeping these wonderful grape boxes for a while now. I also have this apple box from 2016 and wanted to share how you can use food containers for all kinds of things.
Christmas Tree Ornament Hanger For Hard To Reach BranchesI've been using this yardstick and BBQ fork for years to assist with hanging Christmas tree lights, ornaments, garland etc. on the hard to reach top branches of my Christmas tree. I used to try to hang things on the high branches by standing in a chair and leaning to reach the tall areas. The yard stick with the BBQ fork taped to the end of it is easy to use and handle when trying to manipulate strings of lights or whatever, right where you need it.
