Begin Planning Christmas in April - Part 5
Outdoor Christmas Decoration
Don’t buy anything yet. Measure your front yard and decide what types of decorations you want and where you would like to place them. Take photos and then draw sketches where you would like to string light, garlands, and where you might like to place decorations on the roof of your home. If you don’t want to light up the entire front yard, then find a focal point and begin your planning right three. Use trees or bushes that serve as the centre thereby taking a more systematic approach, which will prevent you from having to move items around later.
When you have a plan and have used all the tools, such as the drawings from the photos and where you want to place the decorations and lights, and then take inventory of what you already have at home. Check through absolutely everything. Your outdoor lights and ornaments must be in working order. HINT: If you are going to be buying new lights this year, find strands with built-in timers, or consider buying a connecting timing device. This will get rid of the hassle of remembering to turn off the lights and will save on energy bills.
Check for burned-out bulbs and replace them. They will drain electricity from the entire string of lights and ultimately make the other bulbs dimmer or even blow prematurely. Look for frayed cords, extension leads, and check the packaging and read the instructions carefully, always look to see that the manufacturer has labelled the item as approved for use in exterior locations.
I must tell you about a couple of superb online sites that are really worth taking a look at OzFreeOnline.com because it has hundreds of classified ads that have just about every conceivable thing you can imagine for sale. Before you go shopping online for anything, go to this site first. Join up, search, and then begin shopping. If you don’t want to decorate the exterior of your home this year then have the experts at xmas.com.au, they have the most spectacular pages to browse; perhaps you might even get some ideas.
Do not use any item outdoors unless it is designed for exterior use, and be vigilant about testing outdoor electrical receptacles. If you spot a problem while you are taking inventory, then you will have plenty of time to repair the items before you begin to fix or replace them when the end of November comes around.
Outdoor Christmas Decoration
String lots of fairy lights about, through trees, bushes, and on the front of the house and around the eaves. You can by gorgeous little candles with a tiny battery in them and these can be glued on to branches with a hot glue gun.
Some of our favourite types of lights with which to decorate outdoor trees are icicle lights. Icicle lights are clear strands of bulbs made to resemble frozen shards of ice. For a tree that is truly unique, we recommend hanging several strands of icicle lights all over the limbs and then adding a few crystal or glass ornaments for effect. Once you are done, your tree will resemble a winter-wonderland fantasy.
You might even want a life-size Nativity scene. You can make your own with old store dummies. If you are handy with a sewing machine, you could run up the clothes easily, since they drape and have no real pattern to them. Straw to put in the cradle can be purchased from the pet shop and you could place a down light on the entire scene.
At xmasdelights.com.au, they have some fabulous ideas for decorating the exterior of your home, just log in, and browse; you will get loads of ideas. OzFreeOnline.com is always reliable and has the expertise to keep you interested in searching through their hundreds of ads online. Don’t leave until you have found exactly what you want for you Christmas decorating project. You may even find an optic fibre Santa Clause. These can be great fun and need not be too expensive. Large inflated Santa’s and Snowmen are gaining popularity too and can have a spotlight streamed on them. Christmas is a special time for Christians and I am pleased to say that many Non-Christians join in the ceremony too.
So please enjoy your families and decorate indoors and outdoors as if you may never do it again. Take photos or film with a camcorder, so that your children will always have the memories, particularly if they have helped in the decorating. Just make sure that you choose safe items that will not give someone a nasty shock if they touch them and read all the instructions on packs to make sure you assemble any decorations with care. Always use safety first. HINT: Do Not Forget The Christmas Wreath on the Front Door.
About the Author
Barbara Thorp recommends Ozfreeonline Classifieds, online ads posting site and more!
Sewing Christmas flower decorations
|
|
SIMPLICITY CRAFTS CHRISTMAS ANGEL ORNAMENT PATTERN~9375 $3.88 |
|
|
Vtg 80's Butterick 4075-Christmas Ornaments UNCUT $5.99 |
|
|
Simplicity Crafts Pattern 7549 ANGEL Tree Topper Ornaments Christmas Decor FF $2.99 |
|
|
Vtg Bernat Snowman Angel Santa Christmas Ornament Sewing Craft Kit $6.60 |
|
|
PIX!! OOP! CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS STOCKINGS GARLAND SEWING PATTERN Butterick 3615 $12.99 |
|
|
McCall’s 8443 Primitive Christmas Ornaments Stockings Wall Hanging Pattern $15.29 |
|
|
Christmas Ornaments Sewing Pattern Stocking Dove Heart+ UNCUT McCall's 3426 $3.99 |
|
|
SNOWMEN PATTERN Craft Ornaments Christmas Heart Stars $4.99 |
|
|
70s Vtg Xmas Holiday Ornament Santa Wall Hanging Stocking Card Holder Pattern $3.50 |
|
|
Orichid CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT - Novelty Theme Buttons - by Dress It Up - All Crafts $0.99 |
|
|
1994 book OH CHRISTMAS TREES ~ 80 projects, ornaments, decorations ~ 160 pgs $9.99 |
|
|
CHRISTMAS PLAID APPLIQUES BEAR AND ORNAMENTS $3.99 |
|
|
Christmas Stockings + Ornaments Embroidery Crewel Victorian SEWING PATTERN NEW $7.95 |
|
|
My Christmas Zips Pattern to Make, Ornaments & Jewelry, Indygo Junction $10.00 |
|
|
McCall's 8683-Christmas Wreath, Tree Skirt, Stocking and Ornaments Pattern UNCUT $4.99 |
|
|
Primitive Pattern McCall's Crafts 7772 Tree Stockings Ornaments Wreath Christmas $6.99 |
|
|
Christmas ornaments gingerbread man designs pattern $8.99 |
|
|
Santa Mouse Christmas Ornament Pattern $5.99 |
|
|
Primitive fabric Christmas collection ornaments craft pattern $1.50 |
|
|
McCall's Sew Pattern 6641 Heart Sole Country Christmas Angel skirt Boot Ornament $10.00 |
|
|
Wizard of Oz clothespin People Ornaments Craft Kits $8.99 Follow the yellow brick road with Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin man and the Cowardly lion. This clothespin craft kit by Montanye Arts includes all four Wizard Of Oz ornaments. Our clothespin ornament craft kits are easy to build and make a fun family craft. They come complete with easy to follow, fully illustrated instructions. Glue and paint are sold separately. Shapes are not precut but are simple cir... |
|
|
Holiday Living Music Box - Check Description for Style $29.97 This Holiday Time Music Box Series has a Grinder, Sewing Machine, Victorola, and a Telephone. They are all wind up music boxes. Each one is sold seperately.... |
|
|
Dollhouse Miniature Walnut Sewing Machine ... |
|
|
Sew Much Fabric Christmas Ornament $6.95 ... |