Outside Christmas Decorations - How to Make a Christmas Light Show

The ultimate goal of anyone who loves to decorate their yard for Christmas is to set up a full light show that includes music. These shows can be difficult to set up, but they are spectacular to see and are well worth the effort.

Here are some steps to get your started on creating your own show:

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Do your Research.

Outside Christmas Decorations - How to Make a Christmas Light Show

Before going any further, be aware that setting up a Christmas lightshow as part of your outside Christmas decorations take a lot of time and patience. It can be a great hobby, but it's not as easy as plugging some lights in flipping a switch. So, if you are ready, keep reading.

You are going to need a few items to make this work:

1. A computer to do the programming.

2. A light controller with multiple channels. This is what controls the lights.

3. A software program to program the light controller. This will define when the lights turn on and off in relation to the music.

4. An FM transmitter to broadcast your music. Another option is a pair of speakers on your front porch, but it is unlikely that the neighbors appreciate the same song playing over and over again.

5. The lights! For a complete effect, this should include not just regular lights, but icicle lights, net lights and yard displays.

Organize and Plan.

Now you are getting down to the fun part. To make the show work, you will need to sit down with pencil and paper and design your system. Decide what music you want to play (preferably something that has to do with Christmas), and where the decorations will be. Your plan should include a drawing of your front yard, with sketches and notes on how the show will work.

Buy Your Equipment and Decorations

Now that you have your plan, you are ready to buy your decorations. This can get expensive fast, so do some research to make sure you aren't overpaying. I suggest going through the internet for the software and control box for the lights. A search in Google or Yahoo should yield several results and allow you to compare several options.

Test, Test, and Test!

It's important enough to say again: Test, Test, and Test! The first thing you should do is set up your controller for a single set of lights and make sure you can get it to turn on and off. Then get it to turn on and off to music. Then add a second set of lights and make sure you can get that one to turn on and off. See why this takes so long? It can be tedious, but the results are well worth it.

Set It All Up

After everything is programmed, it's just a matter of setting it up. Hang the lights, set up the displays, and plug it in.

Now, all you have left to do is sip hot cocoa and watch your neighbors scramble to get their decorations looking half as good as yours!

Good Luck!

Outside Christmas Decorations - How to Make a Christmas Light Show

Ryan Harris has celebrated 30 Christmases and has loved every one! He currently has a blog of tips and how-to advice for Christmas decorations at Outside Christmas Decorations.

Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations Are Moving Christmas Miracles

Once upon a time it seemed that only people who were really honestly wealthy could afford to decorate their homes with animated outdoor Christmas decorations. In most places there were only a handful of people who had the capital to create these displays in front of their homes.

For most of the rest of the people, if you wanted to see animated Christmas displays you had to travel to the mall. The displays that were there at Christmas time were often simply amazing. There were elves that automatically shushed the bad and noisy children with a single fingertip held to the lips. There were reindeer which moved their heads back and forth as if they were looking for Santa.

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There were little candy canes that seemed to dance in a sweet ballet always just temptingly out of reach of the children who waited in line for their chance to speak with Santa.

Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations Are Moving Christmas Miracles

But the department store windows were truly filled with animated wonders. Being safely ensconced behind panes of thick glass away from the prying fingers of curious children, the Christmas montages that were created by the stores' engineering staff were often miracles in themselves. And people would travel to the mall, just to see the animations.

But that era changed with the invention of the microchip. And for better or worse, now everyone can have their own animated Christmas display in front of their homes. For better, because the internet has made the availability and the price of these modern engineered marvels easy for anyone to obtain. And worse, because some people always think that no matter what the occasion, that more is better and they will buy every single animated Christmas display that they can put their hands on.

No matter, it is your home that you are decorating, not anyone else's house and you are free to roam the wilds of the internet to bring back Christmas treasure. If this sound a bit sentimental, that is very possible. The memories of animated Christmas displays are locked in many people's hearts and that is one reason why these Christmas items are so very, very popular.

People like to relive the good times they had in the Christmases of their youth. And there is really no better way to do that than by creating a beautiful and scenic tribute to the holiday season in the front yard with lovely animated outdoor Christmas decorations. And when you can find them on the internet at a really good discount price, then the Christmas season just made itself glow a little bit brighter.

Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations Are Moving Christmas Miracles

The internet is ready to serve up a big bunch of bargains on outdoor Christmas decorations with just a little bit of searching online. Visit www.DiscountChristmasShop.com for some of the best bargains on discount Christmas shopping.

The History of Christmas Ornaments

In A.D. 336, an early Roman calendar first mentions December 25 as the date of Jesus' birth. This date was likely influenced by the year-end pagan festivals to celebrate the harvest. Celebrations included specially prepared meals, decorating of homes, gift-giving and singing. Gradually, pagan traditions became a part of the Christian celebrations. Most Christmas traditions such as the Christmas tree and ornaments came from central Europe. The earliest German Christmas trees were decorated with food; apples, onions, pears, nuts, candies, and fruits were placed on a tree.

In the 1800s, glass ornaments were first made in the Lauscha, Germany. This cottage industry involved the entire family. Generally, men did the glassblowing, women did the silvering and the children helped to paint and finish them. These beautiful new glass ornaments began to replace edible decorations.

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In Victorian times, Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, a German, brought the tradition from Germany to his new home in England. Soon all of England was in on it.

The History of Christmas Ornaments

In the 1840s, Europeans immigrating to North America brought with them their Christmas traditions. Prior to that time, Christmas was not widely celebrated in North America. As society became more prosperous, ornaments became larger in size and the colors become more vibrant to reflect the new wealth.

F.W. Woolworth was the first North American retailer to sell glass ornaments. The story goes that he was not too sure about this new product line. However, Woolworth changed his mind by 1890 when he was selling million worth of ornaments in his five-and-dime stores.

Until 1925, virtually all hand blown glass ornaments were manufactured in Lauscha, Germany. By 1935, more then 250 million Christmas ornaments were being imported to the United States. After WWII, the Lauscha area became a part of East Germany. Many glassblowers fled to West Germany and the industry declined. Around this time, Japan and Czechoslovakia began producing ornaments for the North American market

In the 1960's, glass ornaments went out of fashion when the aluminum tree adorned with ornaments of similar shape and color became the rage. Many traditional ornaments were thrown away during this period.

What to Look for in Antique Ornaments

If you're lucky enough to still have any vintage ornaments, hang on to them.

How to tell vintage versus new. Earlier ornaments were smaller than today's modern ornaments. They were usually done in soft colors with hand painted details. You'll notice that the paint may be faded or distressed in areas on vintage ornaments.

Hand blown versus machine made. Remove the stem from the base of the ornament. Ornaments that are hand blown will have an uneven base because the glass blower cannot make a clean break. Modern machine made ornaments will have a smooth even base.

Where to find vintage ornaments. Ebay, flea markets, church sales and garage sales are all good hunting grounds for vintage ornaments.

Prices

Prices can vary from - 0 depending on the ornament and where you buy it.

Symbolism

Fruit and vegetable shapes symbolize the harvest.

Birds represent the biblical messengers that bring God's love and peace to the world. Birds were also symbolic of good luck and good fortune.

Pickle shapes signify luck.

Fish shape is an early Christian symbol for Christ.

Reflectors ornaments (ornaments with geometric concave indentations) during Victorian times, were often called witches eyes and were placed on the Christmas tree to fend off any evil spirits.

Star shapes represent the Star of Bethlehem.

The History of Christmas Ornaments

Martin Swinton does antique appraisals and estate sales in Toronto, Canada. He has worked at an auction house, furniture restoration company and for ten years owned an antique shop. He does caning, cording and rushing repairs, teaches courses on antiques and appears at community events. He can be reached by visiting http://www.takeaboo.wordpress.com

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Halloween

Halloween is nearly here once more, and if you're like many people, you'll be making a Halloween pumpkin lantern. Carved vegetable lanterns, or Jack O'Lanterns as they're often known, are part of an ancient tradition that originated with the Celts. However the original lanterns made by the Celts in Europe were usually made from turnips, swedes or mangelwurzels. Halloween lanterns made from pumpkins only became popular relatively recently, after the Halloween holiday started to be widely celebrated in the US, where pumpkins are plentiful. They have since gained popularity elsewhere in the world too, thanks to the relative ease with which they can be carved, and the brilliant orange glow they produce when lit up.

Pumpkins are very versatile and can be carved and decorated carved in any number of ways and it's very easy to produce a lantern that will make a beautiful addition to your Halloween decorations.

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There are two basic approaches you can take to decorating your pumpkin. The first is to carve a face or other design into the flesh, and the second is to paint the pumpkin's surface. You might then like to embellish it further. Of course, you can always combine these approaches, and produce a more ornate and unusual pumpkin!

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Halloween

Carving Your Pumpkin

Halloween pumpkins are usually carved, so they can be used as lanterns. Carving a pumpkin can be as simple as creating a couple of triangular eyes and a mouth, or, if you are feeling adventurous, you can make a more complex pumpkin lantern intricate features or other patterns, such as cats, spiders, ghosts, etc, or even non-Halloween motifs. To carve your pumpkin, cut off the top (if you're going to illuminate it with a candle) or the bottom (to provide access for an electric light cord), scrape out the flesh, draw your design onto the surface of the pumpkin, and cut around the outlines with a sharp knife or other carving tool. You might find it useful to pare the interior surface of the pumpkin back in the areas you will be cutting. Your pumpkin is then ready to be lit up.

You can either design your own pumpkin carving pattern, or you can use one of the many that are available (very often for for free) online. Pumpkincarving.com is one site that I recommend if you're looking for more ideas and inspiration.

Painting Your Pumpkin

Painted Halloween pumpkins are not as common as the carved variety, but they are becoming very popular. Painting your pumpkin gives you more flexibility than carving it, and you can create stunning painted Halloween designs that are guaranteed to get a reaction. Don't worry if you think you can't paint - you don't need to be an artist to create beautiful painted Halloween pumpkins! See my site (link in the resource box below) for details of an excellent guide to pumpkin painting, called Pumpkin Painting, Anyone Can Do It. Really! With this handy guide, you'll be producing brightly painted pumpkin masterpieces in no time! Painted pumpkins are also very popular with children, as - unlike with carved pumpkins - they can create their own pumpkin designs very safely and with minimal assistance.

Embellishing Your Pumpkin Further

If you really want to go to town, you can jazz up your carved or painted pumpkin even more. Try sticking on some glitter or sequins, or draping it with strings of sparkly beads. Just be sure not to use flammable materials.

Employ any or all of these pumpkin decorating ideas, and you'll soon have a beautifully scary Halloween pumpkin that will make a fantastic centrepiece for your home!

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Halloween

Melania Karel is entranced by all things supernatural and Halloween-related, and is webmaster of Halloween-o-Pedia, a treasure trove of spooky information and resources, including information about pumpkin painting and other forms of decoration.

Christmas Yard Art - Make Easy Yard Decorations for Christmas

Creating Christmas yard art can be as simple as using a Christmas shape template with accessories added. A grouping of different shapes in holiday colors can look very festive in your yard.

First, find a shape that you want to use. Search the internet for "Christmas tree shape" or "Christmas tree template" for example. Enlarge the shape or draw it freehand on a piece of plywood. Christmas trees, presents, ornaments and stocking shapes work particularly well.

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Cut the shape out of the plywood. Sand the edges if needed. Paint the entire shape on both sides in a base color.

Christmas Yard Art - Make Easy Yard Decorations for Christmas

After the paint is dry, using another color of paint add touches like stripes to an ornament or color the toe and top of a stocking shape.

If you are making more than one shape to go together as a grouping, it looks nice to pick a color pallet and stay in those colors. Like red and green are nice and bright. You could paint 2 shapes in red and 2 shapes in green. Another suggestion is using gold, silver and white.

For the stakes, use 2 wooden dowel rods or steel rods for each. Paint these to match your shape. Attach them to the shape with small u-shaped brackets that can be attached with screws. Look for conduit hangers to use as the u-shaped brackets.

Now add some accessories to the yard art. For a Christmas tree shape, string 3" gold bells through some wire and decorate the tree. 3" gold bells are available at craft stores. Add a weatherproof gold star on top.

Add 3" gold metal bells to a Christmas ornament shape. Just string 3 or 4 on wire and let them hang down. Or gather the bells near the top and add some weatherproof holly.

Yard art in the shape of Christmas presents can be easily adorned with outdoor ribbon and the 3" bells.

Another neat idea for yard art is to add "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays from" and your name on a plaque or added to an ornament shape.

Yard art doesn't have to be fancy. Just plain old Christmas shapes do an excellent job!

Christmas Yard Art - Make Easy Yard Decorations for Christmas

Get more free plans for Christmas yard art and Christmas yard decorations. You will also find the Christmas shape templates you need to create your outdoor Christmas decorations, along with plans to purchase for wood yard art.

Tips And Ideas For Office Christmas Decorations

Office Christmas decorations are a great way to have some office fun and add some holiday cheer to your office staff and co-workers. Office Christmas decoration will improve the overall mood and make work more fun for you and your colleagues. Here are a few tips and ideas to help you choose your office Christmas decorations for the holidays.

• First make sure that you are allowed to decorate your work area or the whole office.
• Remember that your co-workers may not have the same attitude towards the holidays make sure that you don't do it in a way that might be considered offensive for others who don't celebrate Christmas I advise you to discuss plans for Christmas decorations with the entire office staff.
• Make it simple because you are all busy and don't have much spare time.
• Install a Christmas themed screen saver and wallpaper on your computer.
• Use Christmas lights to decorate your workspace or cubicle. It's better to stay away from blinking lights because they may distract you and your co-workers.
• Hang a wreath on your desk or door. Make it small and simple as possible.
• Place Christmas plants with present bows tied around them on your desk and others on the floor.
• Place a small artificial Christmas tree in your office lobby or on your desk.
• Get some Christmas themed office supplies.
• Play Christmas music from your computer.
• Hang stockings for everyone in the office. and encourage every body to personalize his/her stocking by adding his/her name.

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Tips And Ideas For Office Christmas Decorations

Tips And Ideas For Office Christmas Decorations

If you liked these tips, please read more on office Christmas decorations tips and Ideas.

Creative Halloween Costumes For Women

It's almost October 31st again, and that means time for all the ghouls, ghosts and goblins to come out for that fun holiday called Halloween.  Each year, people get to dress up in silly, creative, sexy and recent event-inspired costumes to celebrate Halloween for a few days or a week.  It let's most people bring out their wild and crazy sides as they can assume the identity of another person, celebrity, character, animal, mythical creature, monster or inanimate object.

If you're a female looking for Halloween costume ideas, look no further.  We've got some creative ones for you that won't take too much work or accessories beyond what you already have.  You don't want to go as the typical boring French Maid, Cheerleader, Nurse or sexy witch.  Instead you want something original, clever and unlike anything anyone else is wearing!  One example is to go as the "Cheating Wife".  You can wear pantyhose with the back of your skirt tucked into them, messed up hair and smeared make up, with your bra on the outside of the shirt.  Another idea you might try is the horror movie victim, where you have a similar look to cheating wife, only with fake blood on your clothes and face, with some tears in your clothes as well.  You could also go as the stood-up prom date, simply by wearing a prom style dress with smeared make up as if you've been crying.  That will gain you attention and pity all at once!

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Of course you might not want to go as a female who's been dumped, cheating or part of a horror movie.  You may decide instead to go as something hot, sexy, and exciting to really get everyone's attention.  When it comes to Halloween, you want to be the one who gets noticed, rather than simply blending in with everyone else!  Happy Halloween!

Creative Halloween Costumes For Women

Creative Halloween Costumes For Women

Make sure this Halloween holiday you're wearing one of the Hottest Women's Halloween Costumes there is.