Christmas Sayings For Cards, Gifts and Crafts

Use these short Christmas sayings on your stockings, cards and other crafts. These are all short enough to embroider quickly on felt ornaments, felt gift tags, or across the body of a fabric snowman.

Make your card out of felt this year in a Christmas shape and add tiny bells. The saying "Jingle all the Way" would be appropriate for embroidering on the felt card.

Christmas

Not just for Christmas cards, Christmas sayings can be stitched, printed, embossed, painted on wood crafts, put on a coffee mug, made as a sign, added to ribbon, used on a T-shirt or sweatshirt with fabric pens, made into a magnet, added to a Christmas ornament, used as a gift tag, applied to stickers or buttons, made into a rubber stamp, cross stitched on towels, used on web pages, sewn on a Christmas stocking, used as scrapbook sayings or added to picture frames.

Christmas Sayings For Cards, Gifts and Crafts

Let your children make their Christmas cards and use these sayings. Help them draw a cat and mouse in a stocking and use the "Meo-wy Christ-mouse" saying inside the card. Or take a picture of your dog wearing a Santa hat and use the saying "Santa Paws". There's so many uses for these short Christmas sayings:

ho ho ho

Baby's First Christmas

Peace on Earth

Angels Gather Here

Merry Christmas

Deck the Halls

Joy

Let it Snow

Noel

Rejoice

Seasons Greetings

We Believe in Santa

Peace - Joy - Love

Silent Night

Joy - Noel - Angels

Winter Wonderland

Happy Holidays

Jingle All the Way

Have a Jolly Christmas

'Tis the Season

Jolly Kriss Kringle

Christmas Blessings

I Believe

Think Snow

Merry Merry Merry

All I Want For Christmas

Celebrate the Season

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas

Good Tidings

Enjoy the Holly Days

Winter Welcome

All is Calm, All is Bright

Be Jolly by Golly

Under the Mistletoe

Yuletide Greetings

Sugar and Spice makes Christmas Nice

Holly Jolly Christmas

Meo-wy Christ-mouse

Oh, Christmas Tree

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

All Hearts Come Home for Christmas

Christmas Sayings For Cards, Gifts and Crafts

Find Christmas crafts, patterns, shapes and stitchery including Santa, Snowman, Nativity patterns, Angel crafts, Christmas tree patterns and more. Sign up for our crafty newsletter and receive a free copy of my new ebook "Merry Christmas Craft Madness".

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake

Christmas fruitcakes have been baked for centuries with the oldest known recipe dating back to Ancient Rome. Fruitcakes were a way to preserve fruits and nuts as well as a way to celebrate the harvest and seek good luck in the coming year. Jamaicans favorite Christmas cake is dark, spongy and heavy, with rum soaked fruit and rich flavor. Eaten only at Christmas the cake is a favored gift and family tradition.

Ingredients:

Christmas

* 1 lb. Raisins

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake

* 4 oz. Cherries

* ½ lb. Chopped prunes

* 2 oz. Cranberries

* 32 oz. Dark Jamaican rum

* 4 oz. Citrus peels

* grated rind of 1 lime

* 6 oz. or 1.5 cup flour

* 8 oz. butter

* 8 oz. sugar

* 4 eggs

* 1 tsp. cinnamon

* ½ tsp. allspice

* ½ tsp. Ground cloves

* ½ tsp. salt

* 1 cup wine/brandy

* 1 tsp. baking powder

* 1 tsp. vanilla

* 2 tbsp. browning

Directions:

Soak fruits, peels and rind in rum for two weeks before baking. In a separate bowl whip butter, sugar and browning until creamy. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl and mix well. In a third bowl beat eggs and brandy together until well blended.

Add egg mixture to creamed butter mixture and blend well. Strain and add fruits, keeping rum for fruity drinks. Gradually mix dry ingredients to batter and fold together.

Pour batter into a lightly buttered 9" cake pan and bake at 350F for 1-½ hours checking after 1 hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake

For further tips and ideas for cooking great and traditional food from around the world, visit Jamaican Recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com/jamaican-recipes.html]. Article submitted by Jen Carter, owner of the World Recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com] website.

Find more recipes & cookbooks at the One Dollar bookstore.

Christmas Quiz and Christmas Trivia Questions

A Christmas quiz has always been popular and is a great way to attract seasonal customers into your pub, bar or social club. In fact, hospitals and convalescent homes also run Christmas quizzes because there is something about them appeals to people.

Perhaps it's the time of year, and the feeling of familiarity that people seem to have with this holiday period, but whatever it is people will gladly try to answer some Christmas trivia questions who would run a mile from a general knowledge trivia quiz. This is in spite of the fact that many questions in Christmas quizzes are general knowledge, with only a fleeting association with the real message of this time of year.

Christmas

A question such as "In what modern country is Noah's Ark believed to have finally grounded after the great flood receded?" The answer is Turkey, and has an association with Turkey only in that people eat them at Christmas (turkeys, not Turks).

Christmas Quiz and Christmas Trivia Questions

A similar example of Christmas trivia is the question "On what date in 1223 did St. Francis of Assisi assemble the first Nativity scene?" Most would never have clue about the answer to this, but it is a Christmas Quiz, so why not take an educated guess at December 25th? And you would be correct.

So the very fact that we are dealing with Christmas trivia questions should enable us to take a guess at the answer with a good chance of getting them right. Not all answers will be December 25th, but knowing the topic narrows the choices down considerably, and that is one reason why more people will enter your Christmas quiz than just any old pub quiz.

Families also like to hold quiz evenings at this time of year. Generally, however, the questions are a bit too difficult for those not used to regular quizzes. Nevertheless, it is usually possible to pick the easier questions from a bought quiz, and then add some of your own to compensate.

The problem with quizzes is that there is a divide between those that quiz regularly and those that do not, and the regular quizzer will not be worried by questions that others would find difficult - particularly at Christmas when many will read up as much Christmas trivia as they can find before their local pub's Christmas quiz.

If you are considering hosting a Christmas quiz, you will need to keep the questions close to the capabilities of your customers. This is not easy to do, and most amateurs tend to pitch the questions either far too difficult or too easy. They take the view that if they can answer the questions themselves, and then it must be at the right level. Anybody can spot the false logic in that, and it is both easier and potentially more lucrative to pay for your Christmas trivia questions - or even for an entire Christmas quiz.

That is because if you set a bad quiz that is either too easy or too hard for the entrants you will have blown it for any future quizzes. There's nothing wrong with purchasing quizzes, and then slipping a few rounds of your own into them and seeing how they are accepted. Who knows - your may be a quiz setting Laureate, but you have to test the water first before taking the chance of compromising future quiz attendances.

There is no knack to setting Christmas quizzes, but there is setting them neither too easy nor too hard. I once attended a quiz that was doing fine until the last question which was to name the entire English rugby team that beat France in the Six Nations that week. That could result in a swing of 15-20 points (including subs) on one question, and is how not to set a quiz.

A Christmas quiz should not be too sports-oriented. Most people like music and movies with a seasonal theme, and you should have one round on the real Christmas message. Otherwise get started and the best of luck with your Christmas trivia questions.

Christmas Quiz and Christmas Trivia Questions

If you are looking for a Christmas quiz or just some great Christmas trivia questions, then check out the Quiz Guy Christmas Quiz [http://www.quizguy.com/christmas-quiz.html] on the QuizGuy.com [http://www.quizguy.com] website where you will also find other information on trivia quizzes and quizzing.

Thoughtful Christmas Greeting Messages

Telling someone that they are loved during the Christmas season is easy with Christmas greeting messages. Multiple greeting card companies are always thinking up new ways to make the Christmas season special, improving on the variety and type of messages that can be found inside their Christmas cards.

The Origin of the Christmas Cards Custom

Christmas

The custom of sending Christmas cards began in London in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole commissioned a card with an illustration by John Callcott Horsley. A batch of 1000 cards was printed off and sold for a shilling each. At that time the focus was more on the picture than on the Christmas greeting message inside. From around 1860, Christmas cards were produced in larger numbers As printing methods improved.

Thoughtful Christmas Greeting Messages

The Development of Christmas Cards

Traditionally, Christmas cards showed religious pictures illustrating parts of the Christmas story. The religious aspect became less popular in the late 19th century and cards became more lavish. At the turn-of-the century European Christmas postcards were introduced and remained popular for the next 10 years. And from then on designs and fashions in Christmas Cards and their greeting messages have developed through the hand-painted cards were popular during the 1920s and heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement, those making fun of poverty and prohibition during the 1930s, to more humorous cards that were introduced in the 1950s. Humor continues to be popular today, as does religious motifs, winter pictures, Father Christmas, or romantic scenes of life in past times.

Searching for the right words to express to others inside a card can be a lot of fun for many people and makes the holiday season all the merrier. Like the card themselves Christmas greeting messages come in various forms. Many are sentimental with expressions of love for a special person, some are witty and some are of a more religious nature. And then there are the plain "Have a Happy Christmas" type messages. The greetings displayed in the card can mean so much to not only the recipient, but to the sender, as well.

Creating Your Own Christmas Cards

For those that like to create their own Christmas greeting messages, many cards can be customized on computers, as well as through specialty print shops such as Ipads. Many businesses and organizations like to have their own Christmas greeting messages inside of their holiday cards that are sent to their customers as a form of personalized "thank you" for their custom during the year. Customizing Christmas greeting messages is a great way to go that extra step and make card selection a bit more personal and can be easily and cheaply achieved at Costco or Kinkos.

In the end, however, it is typically not the card that makes the season special, but the Christmas greeting messages that are within the card so choose them thoughtfully.

Thoughtful Christmas Greeting Messages

Pauline Travers is a mother of 3 and lover of Christmas time with the family. Visit her website for unusual christmas gift ideas [http://christmasdecoratingideas.net/gifts/] such as the luxury chocolate gift baskets [http://christmasdecoratingideas.net/gifts/chocolate-gift-baskets/] complete with customized gift cards and handmade wrapping paper.

Retro Christmas Decorations Capture the Upbeat Energy of the Postwar Era

Recreate the fun and flair of the postwar decades with retro Christmas decorations that capture the colorful, lighthearted mood of the era.

The fifties and sixties were a positive time in American history and nothing reflects the upbeat energy of the time like the holiday decor of the period. "Modern" was the key in all aspects of interior design, and the heavy, fussy prewar style of the thirties and forties was banished by clean lines, geometric shapes, and clear, bright colors. Nowhere was this more apparent than in holiday decorating, which took an abrupt turn away from time-honored tradition to glitzy, glittery, and frankly fun.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

The booming post-war economy brought a new level of affluence to the average American family, and mass manufacturing transformed items like glass Christmas tree ornaments from rare and costly heirlooms to affordable additions that could be picked up at the corner five & dime.

Retro Christmas Decorations Capture the Upbeat Energy of the Postwar Era

The nation's growing fascination with technology and the new manmade materials like synthetics, fiberglass, plastics really took off during the "space age" decades. In holiday decorating, natural greens vied with unabashedly artificial creations of tinsel, foil, or plastic.

No part of holiday decor changed more during the retro period than the Christmas tree itself. Once a hallmark of serious and meaningful tradition, the retro era saw the tree became a lighthearted and even whimsical showcase for personal expression. Artificial trees in sparkling mettalics or frosty whites and pastels became wildly popular during the period, often decorated in a single color theme. Perhaps the most classic of all retro Christmas images is the white or silver artificial tree, garlanded with tinsel and hung with gleaming silver balls, skirted with a blanket of fiberglass "snow", and illuminated by a slowly revolving colorwheel light that bathed it in a constantly changing colored glow.

Though Christmas tree lights were actually invented in the 19th century, they remained both costly and delicate and for almost half a century. But in the fifties manufacturing innovations made them both affordable and reliable, and they quickly became the backbone of both interior and exterior holiday decorating. Unlike the small and subtle lights that became common in the seventies, the tree lights of the fifties and sixties were big, bright color accents.

Just about every fifties Christmas tree had at least one string of bubble lights, a novelty that quickly became the epitome of retro holiday decor. Bubble lights consisted of a slender, pointed glass vial filled with a liquid (usually methylene chloride or lightweight oil) positioned above a colored plastic globe that housed a small light bulb. Because the liquid in the vial had a very low boiling point, the heat of the bulb was enough to cause bubbles to rise and create a unique "active" ornament.

Retro Christmas Decorations Capture the Upbeat Energy of the Postwar Era

Fill your home with the fun and flair of retro Christmas decorations this year - find out how at Vintage Christmas Decorations.

Christmas Games For Adults That Are Silly, Quiet, Fun and More

Who said Christmas games are only for children? Christmas games are for adults, too, and they don't have to be serious. After all, adults like to get their game on to relive a few silly childhood moments. Get the holiday fun started with these fun-loving adult Christmas games.

Silly Adult Christmas Games

Christmas

Does your group look for any excuse to be silly? Why not choose a Christmas game that is based on being silly? Give each team a pair of pantyhose and eight balloons. When the game starts, the team blows up the balloons to stuff into the legs of the hose. To ensure the game is totally fair, the pantyhose should be queen size and the teams of equal number.

Christmas Games For Adults That Are Silly, Quiet, Fun and More

The game is finished when someone gets all the balloons in the legs of the pantyhose, puts on the stuffed "antlers" and sings the first verse of the holiday favorite, "Jingle Bells". When everyone finishes the game, take photos of all your friends wearing funny antlers made of balloons and pantyhose.

Adult Relay Christmas Games

Do your friends enjoy relay games? Why not make your own Santa beard? Put out two oversize bowls filled with cotton balls and a jar of petroleum jelly. Dab petroleum jelly on each team member's chin. The 2 teams should each have around 5 people. The first player in each line runs to one of the bowls to grab cotton balls and stick them to their greasy chins. When they get as many cotton balls as possible stuck on their chins, the players run to the next player to give them a turn.

When the entire team is wearing a Santa Beard, they are the winners. This is another holiday game that really begs you to take pictures so you can show them off for years to come. Keep water and towels handy to remove the petroleum jelly when the game and photo session is over.

Quiet Christmas Games For Small Groups

Are your friends a small, quiet group who prefer less demonstrative games? Why not pack up a bag for Santa? The game starts when you say, "I packed a bag for Santa Claus and put in some socks." The next player goes on to say, "I packed a bag for Santa Claus and put in some socks and books." As each player continues they includes all the listed items and add their own item. When you miss an item on the list, you are out of the game.

Child-Inspired Christmas Games For Adults

Do your friends love to relive their childhoods during Christmas? Why not give your guests a chance to do it at your Christmas party with a fun game that reminds them of a childhood favorite? Make your own Christmas scavenger hunt with search teams of 4 or so. Create lists of items for the teams to return with.

You can keep the search local at your house or within the neighborhood area. Include holiday items in the scavenger hunt such as a red stocking, a sprig of holly and a small wreath. If you decide to extend the scavenger hunt through town, it gets even more exciting. Have your guests purchase a box of holiday themed cereal or take a picture to prove they visited the local Christmas tree. Be creative and make the hunt action-packed. Everyone loves this Christmas game because it reminds them of childhood. It's a great way to socialize because as everyone works together they get to know each other better.

Adult Kiss Christmas Games

Who doesn't love chocolate and kisses? Is that why Hershey's Kisses are such as hit at Christmas? Break your group into two teams with two bowls of Hershey's Kisses on either side of the room. Give each team a set of really big gloves or mittens. The first person in line runs to the bowls and must unwrap and eat the a Kiss wearing bulky gloves. Once done, the player runs back to tag the next person and give them the gloves. When all team members are the first to enjoy their own Kiss, the group wins.

Christmas Games For Adults That Are Silly, Quiet, Fun and More

One last thing -- Imagine the look on your child's face if they received a personalized letter from Santa. You can also include extra goodies with the Santa letter like Reindeer food. It's a gift that makes a strong and lasting impression.

Victorian Christmas Traditions - How the Victorians Celebrated Christmas

Many of the Christmas traditions and practices we enjoy the most can be traced back to the Victorian era, which covers the duration of Queen Victoria's ruling over the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901. During that period, the country experienced something of an emergence from its formerly Puritanical bans on extravagant celebrations. Naturally, people rather exuberantly embraced their newly merry and flamboyant celebrations, spawning a host of traditions. Many of the most popular Victorian traditions are still very much in practice today.

Perhaps one of the most popular Victorian Christmas traditions that is still observed today is the sending of Christmas cards. The practice of sending printed Christmas cards started in England and was a modification of the then customary writing of greetings by English children to their parents. The printed cards enjoyed huge success and later on became a contagious practice that spread from England to the rest of the UK then to the rest of the world. More than a century later, we still send Christmas cards by the truckload to destinations around the globe.

Christmas

The Christmas tree was not a British innovation, but history has it that the German husband of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, brought and introduced the Christmas tree from Germany to the United Kingdom in the 1840s. From Windsor castle, the tree's popularity spread rapidly, becoming even more popular in the US than it ever was in England, and now the Christmas tree is practically synonymous with Christmas, even though were banned by the Puritans as being far too pagan in its symbolism.

Victorian Christmas Traditions - How the Victorians Celebrated Christmas

Two London-based sweets makers, James Hovell and Tom Smith invented Christmas crackers in 1846. The confectionery makers wrapped their sweets in colored paper twisted around the shaft. The wrapped candies became further popular when love notes, small toys and other bits and pieces were also tucked inside the crackers.

The traditional visitations of carol singers also started in England during the Victorian era. Popular Christmas carols became crowd favorites. Among them were 'O Come All Ye Faithful', 'See Amid the Winters Snow' and 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'.

The next time you exchange gifts with friends and family, remember that the traditional Christmas practice was started during the Victorian era. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the middle class people started making hand-made toys that were then given to children for free on Christmas Day.

The hugely popular Santa Claus is a very characteristic Victorian tradition, as well. In England, Santa Claus was first known as Father Christmas, who was committed to giving out gifts to children on the eve of Christmas Day.

These are just a few examples of the more celebrated Victorian Christmas traditions. They surely add color and fun to everyone's Christmas.

Victorian Christmas Traditions - How the Victorians Celebrated Christmas

For some great Christmas Victoriana to add to your own holiday celebrations, there are wonderful Victorian Christmas decorations available, but some of my favorite collectibles are actual ephemera from the period, such as Victorian Christmas Cards

Emma Martin loves vintage collectibles, especially Halloween and Christmas decorations. You can visit her website at: http://www.retroholiday.com/

Inflatable Christmas Decorations - Simply the Best

Inflatable Christmas decorations are the latest trends in the Christmas decor, especially in yard decoration. The house looks visible and festive with these inflatable Christmas decorations which include blown up figures of Santa Claus, angels, sitting sleigh and other Christmas figures. These inflatable decorations are nothing but giant nylon or vinyl balloons. These are available deflated in varying characters, size and colors to decorate the house as per the chosen color scheme. These can be purchased in carrying cases along with electric pumps and when required can be inflated for decoration and can again be deflated for reuse.

Since these inflatable decorative items are mostly large in size and are made of heavy duty material to resist all kinds of weather conditions, these are best suited for outdoor decoration like lawns, roof, yard, porch, driveway and front door. Sometimes, due to up and down in the temperature, these characters may shrink and droop but an instant touch with the electric pump will make it stand upright again. And because of their 3D structure, they add a real touch to the Christmas decoration and the environment looks livelier. Waving Santa Claus figure can be placed beside the Christmas tree in the lawn or at the front door to welcome the guests.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

With these inflatable Christmas decorations, one can put his own ideas to decorate the house and the Christmas tree. The favorite character can be made Christmas tree topper. These are safe, easy to use and store and do not require too much maintenance. One of the advantages of these decorative characters is that these are very eye catchy. Various inflatable decorative Christmas characters include Santa holding the hand of Mrs. Claus, snowmen, reindeer, Nutcracker dolls and elves. One may also find famous cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Frosty the snowman and many more. These inflatable Christmas decorations can be used to impersonate Christmas stories and can also be decorated with lights to illuminate these characters.

Inflatable Christmas Decorations - Simply the Best

Inflatable Christmas Decorations - Simply the Best

Riaz J is a freelance writer who has written thousands of articles on various niches. He likes to share his knowledge with his readers and provide them with the best information on various topics. He also likes to write about paper shredder reviews [http://www.papershredderreviewsnow.com/] and heavyduty paper shredder [http://www.papershredderreviewsnow.com/heavy-duty-paper-shredder.html].

Choosing & Cooking Chinese Christmas Recipes

With the Chinese New Year being the most important event in the Chinese calendar, you'd imagine that Christmas got swept under the carpet. Not so, as celebrating Christmas becomes more popular throughout China.

Whilst you won't find the hype and shopping madness of Western countries, in major cities you'll see lights, trees and Christmas decorations on the streets and in stores. Christmas Day is not even a bank holiday in China, although it is in Hong Kong and Macao. Whether this is just part of the Chinese interest in Western culture, or a sales ploy by the big stores, who can say?

Christmas

With an increasing number of Christians, it can only be expected that more people will be celebrating the festive season in China each year. With little tradition and history, cooking for a Chinese Christmas dinner means you can cook any special occasion dish you choose.

Choosing & Cooking Chinese Christmas Recipes

However, there are a few suggestions we can make to get you started:-

• Peking Duck
• Cantonese Roast Duck
• Kung Pao Chicken
• Cookies
• Five Spice Peanuts
• Sesame Seed Balls
• Spring Rolls

Whilst many of the recipes above are traditionally eaten for the Chinese New Year, they will serve just as well for a Christmas dinner. As always with Chinese cooking, use the freshest ingredients, prepare them well ahead of time, so that all you have to do is cook!

An excellent resource is http://chinesefood.about.com/ which has lots of great recipe and food ideas for every holiday occasion including Chinese cookie recipes.

Choosing & Cooking Chinese Christmas Recipes

For further tips and ideas for cooking great and traditional food from around the world, visit Chinese recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com/chinese-recipes.html]

This article was submitted by Jen Carter, owner of the Worldwide Recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com] website.

Decorating Christmas Cakes

When most people think of a Christmas cake, the Yule log comes to mind. The cake is often one of many desserts spread on the dinner table after a huge family meal. Lately, Christmas cakes have more often been decorated cakes, depicting a snowy scene, Santa, or a Christmas tree.

Over the past few years, cake decorating has become a widely recognized hobby and art form. Popular television shows have sparked increased interest in this art and have inspired people to take classes and start making cakes on their own instead of buying them.

Christmas

While the outside of the typical Christmas cake has evolved with the time, the same family favorites still lie on the inside of the cake. Today's cakes, while covered in buttercream or fondant, can even be flavored with mint flavoring oil for that seasonal flair.

Decorating Christmas Cakes

Your cake will come out much better if you plan out the design in advance. Draw a sketch to see how it will look and to get an idea of what colors look good together. If you have time, you can practice new cake decorating techniques in advance, but when it comes to a more complicated cake, you will need time for gum paste decorations to dry. Depending on the weather, some can take up to a week to harden. This also depends on how large your gum paste figure is.

If you don't want to get too complicated, here are a few ideas that are relatively simple. You can decorate any shape cake with Christmas presents made from gum paste. Just form a cube out of different colors of gum paste. Cut up thin strips of contrasting colors to attach to these cubes. Using a little gum glue to adhere them, lay these strips on the cubes in a criss cross pattern. You can even form a small bow for the top of the presents. For a Christmas tree cake, you can either buy the tree cake pan or carve the cake out of a sheet cake. Frost it in green and decorate with small candies.

Another simple idea is to make a Christmas holly cake. The green and red holly contrasts nicely with a simple white cake. To make the holly, you will need gum paste and a holly leaf cutter. Tint some gum paste a dark green, roll it out thin and cut the holly leaves. For each grouping of holly, you'll need three leaves. Dry the leaves on crumpled aluminum foil to give them a more natural shape. Tint gum paste red and roll three pea sized balls for each holly grouping. When all the gum paste decorations are dry, spray them with confectioner's lacquer. Arrange 3 leaves together so they fan out and place the berries in the center. Attach your gum paste leaves and berries with gum glue. You can either place several leaf groupings around the edge or create the entire edge of the cake out of holly.

To create a simple wintery scene, make white chocolate snowflakes to decorate the cake. Either draw or print out pictures of snowflakes, tape them down and tape plastic wrap over them. Pipe melted white chocolate using the #4 cake decorating tip and place them in the freezer for 5 minutes. Carefully peel them off the plastic. They can either lay flat on the cake or you can stick them into the icing and make them stand up.

Decorating Christmas Cakes

Theresa Happe is a baker, cake decorator, and author of http://www.cake-decorating-corner.com, a website featuring cake photos with detailed instructions for all occasions, and cake and icing recipes.

Outdoor Christmas Decorations - How to Stand Out in Your Neighborhood

Creating an Outstanding Outdoor Christmas Display

As you become aware of the vast selection of outdoor Christmas decor items that are available to you by shopping online, you will want to create a Christmas outdoor display that will dazzle your friends and neighbors. There are thousands of unique holiday decor items, made to be used outdoors, available to you as you browse through the websites of some of the online merchants that specialize in outdoor Christmas decor items. I hope that the information and ideas in this article help you make a real statement in your neighborhood and actually WOW everyone who sees your property and your Christmas display masterpiece.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

No matter what you are decorating the quality vendors that you can find online have you covered. You can find great Christmas decorations and Holiday displays made especially for outdoor use so you can create any theme for any application. Your LED outdoor Christmas lights and other Christmas decorations will look great in front of your home or business, or as a part of a public display at a park or shopping center.

Outdoor Christmas Decorations - How to Stand Out in Your Neighborhood

Advantage of Using LED Outdoor Christmas Lights

Many of the new Christmas decor products, made for outdoor use, are lighted with energy-efficient, long-lasting LED lights. These lights will outlast dozens of the traditional C-7 or C-9 Christmas light bulbs. The LED lights will also burn cooler reducing the fire hazard associated with the traditional C-7 and C-9 light bulbs. Because these LED lights last longer, they will also drastically reduce the time you have been spending replacing burned out light bulbs. Also the energy savings when you use LED lighting with your outdoor Holiday displays can be up to 98% over using traditional light bulbs. You can dazzle your neighbors and friends and still be green at the same time.

Safety is an important consideration when you are dealing with lighted Christmas decorations. You want to always check to be sure that your lighted items, controllers, timers, extension cords, and other related item used in your Christmas lighted displays are all UL Listed. Many of the cheap imported electrical item are not UL Listed and should be avoided.

Include Inflatable Christmas Decorations in Your Display

You may want to include brilliant life-size or smaller yard art displays in your outdoor Holiday display creation. These items may be lighted or might require independent illumination. There is a wide range in size, construction, and cost when it comes to inflatable Christmas decorations. They can range from simple inflatable nylon or vinyl figures to lighted and animated high-end yard art items. Including inflatable or other yard art items in your display can add real dimension and presence to your creation.

It Pays to Buy Quality

One of the things that is important when purchasing items for your outdoor Christmas display is to buy quality products. When you buy quality products from reputable online vendors, you will have Holiday decor items that will last you for many years to come. Since these items will last so long, you can continue to add to your collection every year so your display will become even better will each passing Holiday season.

Another of the great features of quality outdoor Christmas decorations is that they are easy to install. Quality products will come with all of the parts and accessories that you need for a quick and easy assembly and setup. Also they will be easier to take down and store for the next Holiday season.

Summary

We are confident that you are going to create one of the best if not the best Christmas yard displays in your neighborhood. We hope that the information in this article has been helpful to you. We wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment from creating your outdoor Holiday display.

Outdoor Christmas Decorations - How to Stand Out in Your Neighborhood

Paul E. Dulin, Business Owner and Internet Business Coach. I have a background in sales, advertising and marketing. It has been my life's goal to help people find and get what they are looking for. What I am doing now gives me great satisfaction because it fulfills my goal.

Thank you for your consideration, Paul

Christmas Decorations for the Home

Putting up Christmas decorations is one of the most enjoyable parts of the holiday season. As the lights and tinsel go up, a house can be transformed into a cozy, festive place that brings cheer to the family and makes holiday guests feel welcome.

Christmas trees are perhaps the most traditional form of decoration. Although artificial trees are easier to maintain and require less cleanup, a fresh-cut tree lends a delightful scent to the home.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

Real or artificial, trees can be decorated in a variety of ways. Simple white lights or electric candles make for a subdued and simple look. Blinking coloured lights are fun for kids and kids-at-heart.

Christmas Decorations for the Home

If maintaining lights is a bother for you, you might want to consider getting a pre-lit Christmas tree. With a pre-lit tree you don't have to worry about untangling strings of lights each year.

You should also consider LED lights, they are 90% more energy efficient than incandescent ones and last for up to 35,000 hours. Another option is to buy a fibre-optic tree that glows from top to bottom, without any standard bulbs to worry about at all.

A Christmas tree is also a great place to showcase commemorative ornaments or handmade decorations, especially those created by children over the years.

Other traditional decorations such as candles, wreaths, and garlands can put the finishing touches on holiday décor. The evergreens in garlands and wreaths signify the enduring power of nature through the chill of winter and make the home look welcoming and attractive. Again, these can be bought either real or artificial.

Taking the time to fill the house with Christmas decorations makes the holiday season much more cheerful and the change in atmosphere can help bring calmness and joy to an often busy time of year.

Christmas Decorations for the Home

I like to write about all things green, and come winter time Christmas trees and decorations provide plenty of food for thought.

Christmas Decorating Ideas

For most people, Christmas decorating ideas are normally limited to decorating the tree and the living room and making the dining-room table look beautiful. But, what if you are throwing a Christmas party or have invited friends or family to stay for the holidays? Then, extending your decorations to include the rest of the house is well worth the extra effort.

The hall is where we welcome guests, and the place where people tend to gather together during big parties, which makes it the obvious area for additional decorative displays. You don't have to put together anything especially lavish or elaborate - just a few simple touches to create the right atmosphere. Arrange fat church candles of varying heights in a large shallow dish on hall table and surround the candles with foliage and berries to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. A nice touch would be to hang a big bunch of mistletoe close to the front door and decorate pictures and mirrors with swags of greenery.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

Small bowls of wrapped candies, fruits, and seasonal nuts not only look beautiful but are useful to have on hand for impromptu gatherings. Likewise, pots of strongly scented winter flower bulbs, such as hyacinths and cyclamen, placed on landings, windowsills, and even in the bathroom, will give your home an air of being all dressed up for visitors.

Christmas Decorating Ideas

The kitchen is often overlooked when it comes to Christmas decorating ideas, and yet, when there is a party in the house, this rooms seems to be attracting your guests like a magnet. However, kitchen decorations should be kept to a minimum because of its more functional role. You can simply suspend colored baubles from the hooks on a dresser, which will look pretty and add to the sense of the occasion.

If your kitchen is part of the open-plan space, then you can extend your living-room decorations to the kitchen area by stringing a few twinkling lights along the shelves or put a big vase of sculptural twigs hung with glossy red berries.

Another way to spruce up the spare room is to use decorations similar to those on the Christmas tree to create a small garland for the mantelpiece, to tie to the handle of the closet, or hang above the mirror.

To decorate dressing table and bedside tables, put aromatically scented candles surrounded by circlets of evergreen foliage on them. Handmade organza Christmas stockings filled with spicy potpourri would be a great alternative to lavender pillows and small dishes of traditional potpourri.

Christmas Decorating Ideas

Among Christmas decorating ideas for your bedroom, adorning the mantelpiece, if you have one, would be the obvious choice. All that you need is some scented candles that you can mix with selected Christmas decorations to remind you first thing in the morning that Christmas is on its way.

Homemade Christmas Decorations Using Doilies

I'm not sure why, maybe it's the weather we are getting at the moment but I was searching online for Vintage Christmas Decorations and came across something I couldn't wait to share with you.

I love to decorate my house at Christmas time and have already started planning. I realize it's still August but I just can't help myself.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

My Christmas theme is Vintage. I include antique Christmas ornaments and homemade Christmas decorations to give my decorating that cozy, warm yet traditional feel.

Homemade Christmas Decorations Using Doilies

If you love the look of Vintage Christmas Decorations you are going to love this very inexpensive and easy decorating idea!

One word... doilies.

The next time you go to your local thrift store or flea market, keep you eyes open for those delicate small doilies and purchase a bunch of them. Chances are you will find several and for a very low cost.

Grab all different sizes, bring them home and wash them. Let them dry overnight then on a covered surface with a foam brush or small roller, coat both sides of doilies with undiluted fabric stiffener until just saturated and let dry overnight. After your doilies are dry press them with your iron and hang at different lengths in your window using thread to monofilament.

I've made my own paper snowflakes in the past but I think this year's Christmas is going to have extra, extra Vintage Christmas charm!

My only thought right now is, why didn't I think of this!

I hope you try this easy, inexpensive Christmas craft and tell me how you liked it.

Homemade Christmas Decorations Using Doilies

I am excited to be able to work from home so I can have more time to do what I love including: house boating, food, friends, animals, and helping others get their business off the ground and on the right path. It brings me great joy to play a part in someone else's success.

I also have a passion for Vintage Christmas Decorations, Antique Christmas Ornaments and Homemade Christmas Decorations.

Please feel free to stop by my Blog to get more great Christmas decorating ideas http://www.vintage-christmasdecorations.info

Russian Christmas Decorations

The legends of centuries are captured in traditional Russian Christmas decorations, reflecting a long history of splendor and struggle.

Christmas Day is celebrated on January 7 by the Russian Orthodox Church and is traditionally an occasion of both family festivities and solemn religious ritual. However after the revolution in 1917 the observance all religious celebrations, including Christmas, was banned throughout Russia.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

Though the ban remained in place for 75 years, the spirit of the holiday season survived and the new year became the emphasis. The ban was lifted in 1992 and Christmas is once again openly observed and celebrated.

Russian Christmas Decorations

Among the most treasured and traditional of Russian Christmas decorations are ornaments and figurines based on three ancient and legendary characters, Saint Nicholas, Grandfather Frost, and Snegurochka.

Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas, the Greek holy man whose kind and giving spirit eventually became the model for Santa Claus, is beloved in Russia. Known as the protector of the weak and defender of the oppressed, St. Nicholas is an integral character in Russian Christmas.

In the most traditional icons, paintings, ornaments and figurines, St. Nicholas is portrayed as an Orthodox Bishop, but in more modern representations there is more resemblance to Father Christmas (a Christianized version of the pagan legend Grandfather Frost).

Father Christmas/Grandfather Frost

An even older figure with strong pagan associations, Grandfather Frost was was adapted to Christianity as Father Christmas but became a symbol of New year celebrations during the 75-year ban on religious celebrations.

Many of the myths and legends of Grandfather Frost live on in the modern stories of Santa Claus. Accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka, he was said to deliver gifts to good children, driving a sleigh drawn by teams of white horses. He is generally pictured with a long white beard, wearing long red or blue robes trimmed in white fur.

Snegurochka the Snow Maiden

Snegurochka also plays a starring role in one of the most enduring Russian holiday stories, the legend of the snowmaiden. According to the story, a lonely couple made a figure of a little girl from snow and prayed that for a child of their own. The snowmaiden came to life as Snegurochka, and she lived happily with her new parents until spring, when she came to them in tears and said she must return to the land of snow. Her parents couldn't bear to part with her and her mother held her fast, but the child melted away in her arms. The parents grieved all through the spring and summer, thinking she was gone forever, but when winter returned she reappeared and they were overjoyed. And every year thereafter, she remained with them to brighten the long Russian winter, and returned to the Land of the Snows when spring came.

Snegurochka ornaments and figurines are prized and popular Russian Christmas decorations. She is generally portrayed as a young princess, richly dressed in flowing robes and sometimes accompanied by a bird or rabbit.

Russian Christmas Decorations

Like beautiful Russian Christmas decorations, silver Christmas ornaments add the perfect touch to any holiday decor. Find out more at Vintage Christmas Decorations.

Fresh Ideas for Outdoor Christmas Decorations

People often go for tours to other places to spend their Christmas vacation. The main reason their tour is sometimes to see the extravagantly decorated houses and shops of people during this season. The decoration includes sparkling lights, illuminated in green, colored lawns and Santa Claus, animated train sets, and last but not the least, a beautiful Christmas tree, whether real or artificial.

The decoration of a normal lawn in winter can turn it into a wonderland which may have in it a jolly snowman or the sight of a reindeer that merrily runs on the freshly fallen snow. A well decorated Christmas tree brings joy and happiness to people and the surroundings as well. Also, a beautifully organized house, both indoors and outdoors, is a great environment in which to spend the Christmas season, and to leave an impression on friends and family as well as yourself.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

So what can you do to make your Christmas decor better? Given below are few suggestions to help you out in your Christmas plans of outdoor decoration, thus making the normal surroundings appear bright and full of life, all geared up for a celebration of the family.

Fresh Ideas for Outdoor Christmas Decorations

Decorations for outdoors at Christmas are available in various sizes, styles and types, with or without lights. Once you venture out to shop for these, you will find that there is a huge variety of styles to make a selection from. But make sure that the decoration is not overdone, which will make it look quite tacky. So the important thing is to get a proper balance of decorations which gives out the feeling of the spirit of the festive season ahead. The actual challenge lies in the selection of proper ornaments outdoor which would gel well with the neighborhood and surroundings.

Most common and attractive outdoor decorations are the ones having animation like a scene of Christmas where St. Nicholas waves to people on a cart drawn by reindeer on the snow. Some other decorations in the market include a snowman that is ever-smiling, and there are always lots of pre-lit Santas to choose from. Also popular are holographic decorations for the lawn, such as like Snoopy or the Charlie Brown, Snowman, Holly or a Bell, Santa Claus, or a 3-dimensional Christmas tree placed in your lawn.

The outside of the house can be made to look alive and bright with proper decoration, but if you are going for an elegant but an attractive look, here are some suggestions you will need to follow:

Stick to one theme, and do not try to mix various themes. This will help in giving an interesting look to the outside of your house. So a flashy kind of decoration should not be combined with something light. Then, if you choose a nativity scene, opt for conventional characters to make it look simple and lovable. If you go for a modern theme, get hold of the newest decors available in the market to reduce the chances of clashing with neighbors' choices. A greeting message at your front gate or door is always a warm Christmas welcome.

Fresh Ideas for Outdoor Christmas Decorations

For a great selection of outdoor nativity sets [http://www.xmas-ornament.com/NativityOutdoorSets.htm] and unique Christmas Ornaments please go to Xmas Ornaments

Outdoor Christmas Decorating Ideas Using Animated Santa Decorations

Whether your outdoor Christmas decorating ideas include decorating so brightly that your yard and home can can be seen from space or are more modest, an easy and fun way to illuminate your home with holiday cheer is with animated Santa decorations.

Show off your creativity by bringing a part of the North Pole to your home with animated Santa outdoor inflatable or LED Light displays. An illuminated outdoor Santa inflatable is a fast and fun way to add to your holiday lights. Surprise your visitors with Santa waving from either the inflatable in the yard or from the Santa LED in the yard or from the roof. Either way, your holidays will be brightened with these animated lighted decorations. See link at the bottom of this article for additional animated Christmas decorations including tabletop trees and animated deer yard art.

\"Christmas Lawn Decorations\"

Things To Consider

Outdoor Christmas Decorating Ideas Using Animated Santa Decorations

When deciding on adding a Santa decoration to the outside of your home this holiday season, consider the following:

• Where will the Santa decoration be located, on the roof or the yard? Most outdoor inflatable decor is secured in the lawn using stakes. The benefit to this decoration is that it inflates quickly and within minutes you have a festive holiday addition to your outdoor decor. Decorating with a Santa LED display can be used in the yard or in the case of Santa in his sleigh display it would be great to install it on your roof.
• Is the Santa display animated and will it light up? Animated decorations are fun to watch and provide amusement for all ages. Seeing Santa wave from his sleigh, the rooftop, or on top of a Christmas tree is exciting fun for all. Most yard art is capable of being lit, however some inflatable displays are unlit. Having the decorations illuminated offers the enjoyment of seeing Santa both during the day and at night.
• What is the size of the Santa display? There are various size Christmas lawn decorations to consider when selecting your outdoor Santa decorations. Check sizes of the displays to make sure you will be happy with the overall look of your holiday decorations.

Inflatable Santa Yard Decorations

Have an animated Santa rise from a Christmas tree, or driving an SUV from your yard within minutes. Inflatable Santa outdoor decor is easy to set up using built-in motors, is weather resistant, and easy to store. Making these decorations easy to use and enjoy are that they self-inflate, and collapse easily either for when not in use or for storage. Next year take out of storage, plug-in and within minutes and with the greatest of ease Santa bringing holiday cheer to your outdoor decor.

Outdoor Christmas Decorating Ideas Using Animated Santa Decorations

Animated Santa LED Light Displays

Including an animated Santa LED display to your outdoor decorations certainly dazzles, adds excitement and brings cheer to young and old alike. Large, bright, and animated, these light-emitting diode (LED) displays are also energy savvy. Using up to 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs will give you reason to smile and wave back to Santa knowing you are saving energy. Since LEDs are more durable your lighting investment can last up to 10 times longer. But just in case replacement bulbs are usually included in the kits. Look for additional items that are generally included with outdoor LED displays such as a manufactures warranty, hardware for roof top mounting, and an installation guide.

When deciding to add to or start your outdoor Christmas decorating. consider including animated Santa decor as part of your lighting extravaganza. For additional ideas on creating an outdoor winter wonderland using animated Santa decor visit http://www.AnimatedChristmasDecorations.blogspot.com.

Victorian Christmas Decorations

Lush and lavish are the key concepts in Victorian Christmas decorations. Rich colors, luxurious fabrics, and splendidly over-the-top embellishments make this style the epitome of sumptuous holiday elegance.

The Victorian period (1837-1901) was known for strict rules of behavior that regulated everything from etiquette to morality, but the styles, fashions, and tastes of the day were anything but Puritanical. In both Europe and the US a burgeoning middle class were enjoying the economic effects of the industrial revolution, and they reveled in displaying their newfound affluence.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

In an era when even everyday items were often ornately decorated, the holiday season was an annual explosion of color, shine, and exuberant rococo profusion. Here are some tips for giving an Victorian air to your holiday decor.

Victorian Christmas Decorations

Use color to set the mood

The Victorians loved color and used it everywhere, sometimes in combinations that we would find surprising today. But very bright shades (including the fire engine red and apple green that we associate with the season now) were seldom seen in the decorations of the era. Colors that are typical of the period include deep gem tones of red, blue, green, and purple, along with shades of gold and cream.

Suggestion: try decorating your tree with ornaments in deep gem tones, and replace bright tinsel garland with swaths of broad burgundy red ribbon. Add accents with cream-colored bows and shiny gold balls or figurines.

Suggestion: if you don't care for deep tones, try going with pastel theme. While not as historically accurate, light shades of dusty pink or blue mixed with cream and ecru and highlighted with plenty of gold can create a breathtaking period look. Strings of pearly beads make a dazzling accent to a pastel holiday theme.

Lots of greenery wherever you look

Boughs of pine and other greenery were a basic component of holiday decor during the period. Carefully arranged with fruit, flowers, candles, and ornaments or woven into garlands, greenery was everywhere.

Suggestion: hang pine garlands wherever you can - festooned on staircases, surrounding doorways, and draped over mirrors and mantlepieces. Weave broad ribbon, silky fabric, or thick gold decorative rope through the branches and decorate with bows, flowers, figurines, ornaments, and tiny wrapped packages.

Suggestion: strictly speaking, electric Christmas lights aren't really part of period holiday decor. But they're very much in keeping with the decorating spirit of the era, and using slightly gold-tinted mini lights creates a warm glow reminiscent of candlelight.

When in doubt, embellish!

The Victorians had a real "more is better" ethic about decorating, particularly when it came to decorative ornamentation. The question was rarely "which one should I use?" but rather, "How many can I fit into the space?" This is particularly true of the holiday decor of the period.

Suggestion: to capture the mood of the era, go lavish with everything and decorate everywhere. Don't stop with hanging the garlands and decorating the tree. Make arrangements with flowers, candles, ornaments, ribbon and greenery on tables, mantles, piano tops, shelves; every flat surface is eligible. And don't think in terms of "either or" - think "both and" instead. When you're creating an arrangement, use bows and ornaments and fruit. Or pearls, flowers, and lace. Or bows, ornaments, fruit, pearls, flowers, and - well, you get the picture.

Victorian Christmas Decorations

Victorian Christmas not your style? No problem! Consider Christmas folk art decorations to bring simple elegance, natural beauty, and family-friendly warmth to your holiday decor. Find out more at Vintage Christmas Decorations.

Best Christmas Decorating Ideas for Your Front Yard

Decorating your yard is just as important as beautifying your home interior during the holidays. It will give the kids more reason to have fun in the yard and at the same time give your neighbors a peek of your holiday theme decorations. But most importantly, it will add a fun and festive atmosphere to the overall look of your home which is perfect for the holidays.

If you're worried about budget, there are plenty of ways to create amazing Christmas yard decorations without shelling out too much money. First off, you don't have to buy new items to decorate your yard - you can purchase from garage sales, thrift stores or consignment stores. In the end, it won't be about the price you paid for these decorations but how you used them using your creativity.

\"Christmas Lawn Decorations\"

You can also try shopping online on sites like Amazon.com and ebay.com as they offer great bargains on Christmas decorations, whether used or unused. Lastly, it is best to plan beforehand and shop ahead of Christmas shoppers. Mall prices usually spike up as the holidays approach, so it is best to shop for Christmas décor early on.

Best Christmas Decorating Ideas for Your Front Yard

When it comes to your Christmas yard decorations, go for something simple yet sophisticated. Keep in mind that moderation is the key - if you overcrowd your yard with too much décor you'll end up spending more than planned and yet fail to achieve the goals of a good display. Most importantly, put safety ahead of everything else as it is the kids who spend more time playing in the yard.

Decide on a theme

Decide on a theme and stick to it. Doing so will help you save time and money because you know exactly what you're going for. If you're more of a traditionalist, go for iconic Christmas images like Santa Claus and his reindeer or Frosty the Snowman. You can also try making the nativity scene of baby Jesus as your centerpiece.

Add some greenery

Adding live and natural greenery, as well as wreaths will add a classic touch to your Christmas yard decorations. You can put up a big wreath on your main door and decorate it with flowers, pines and bows the color of your yard décor color scheme. Alternatively, you can hang small wreaths outside each window.

Light it up

Any holiday yard decorations won't be complete without Christmas lights. Whether you're going for simple white lights or those candy-colored ones, they're sure to add a warm Christmas glow and finishing effect on your yard decorations, especially at night.

Best Christmas Decorating Ideas for Your Front Yard

Mary James loves writing about Christmas topics and creating websites about them. Her latest website showcases some great Christmas lawn decorations, and you can see them at christmaslawndecoration.net

Decorate the Outside of Your Home For Christmas

Decorating the outside of your home for the holidays can turn into an expensive venture if you're not careful. But it doesn't have to be. A popular and simple way to bring a warm glow to the outside of your home during the holidays is to decorate using luminarias along the pathways, sidewalks and driveway of your home.

A luminaria is a votive candle set inside a small decorative paper bag weighted with sand. The bags are usually colored and often perforated with designs through which the candle inside shows as bright pinpricks of light. The custom of luminarias comes from Mexico and was practiced in New Mexico for many years before spreading throughout the United States. It derives from a similar holiday custom of the Pueblo peoples in New Mexico. On Christmas Eve they build a bonfire, called a luminaria, outside each house.

\"Christmas Lawn Decorations\"

Take a look around your home and decide where you want your luminarias to be located. Measure the length of that pathway or sidewalk, and then double it as you'll want both sides of the path to be lit. Calculate how many luminaria bags you'll need. Plan on placing them approximately nine inches to two feet apart; the closer together you place them, the more bags and votive candles you'll need and the more light they'll produce.

Decorate the Outside of Your Home For Christmas

You can purchase red and green lunch-sized bags if you'd like, or you can use brown lunch bags. The regular brown lunch bags are a bit more transparent and will allow a bit more light to shine through.

If you're feeling creative, you can stencil a design on the side of each of them that faces the pathway, and cut them out. Angels and stars are popular and actually quite simple to design. . Stencils are available at crafts stores or in the school and office supply aisle of discount stores. You might also find something in your home that you can trace and make a pattern from.

Purchase enough sand to put about two cups per bag. You might want to consider purchasing candle votives in short glass candle holders so the flame is contained. It's important to keep safety your top priority when using luminarias to decorate with. Make sure you set the candle down deep enough in the sand that it is secure. They work best in dryer climates, which makes it imperative that you keep a close eye on them and make sure they don't tip over and are kept away from debris that can easily catch fire. Don't use them on breezy nights, and if the snow or rain starts to fall, try to get them inside as soon as possible so they aren't ruined.

Luminarias add a nice, soft glow to the outdoor area of your home and give it warmth. They're a wonderful touch for a Christmas open house or party, and are inexpensive and easy to make. If you choose to use the colored bags and cut stencils into the sides, they also light up the indoor areas of your home nicely. Just make sure they're placed in areas where small, curious hands or animals can't accidentally knock them over. You can purchase scented votive candles such as cinnamon or sugar cookie, which would add another dimension to your holiday decorating scheme.

Decorate the Outside of Your Home For Christmas

Some of the best quality Christmas resources and articles can be found on-line at http://www.businessstartworld.com/christmas Search for Christmas tips, advice and insider secrets from experts. More articles and tips can also be found on http://www.businessstartworld.com/new-year

Icy Outdoor Christmas Decorations

I have found a way that you can transform your landscape in to an icy Christmas wonderland for pennies. If you have water and a freezer you can create a look that is very elegant and classic or whimsical and fun depending on the garnishment you use. These decorating ideas will survive longer in northern climates; however the icy touches on patios and centerpieces in a warmer climate will be a refreshing look for a holiday party.

Luminaries
A beautiful inexpensive and impressive way to light a path to your door is luminaries. The whole paper bag with a candle always seemed a bit risky but here is an easy solution that is safe and makes a great statement.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

Ice luminaries
Supplies:
1. 2 containers one smaller than the other, I have used everything from milk cartons to plastic bowls that nest inside each other. You can use just about any container and add a balloon with a rock in it for weight. The important thing is that one container is bigger than the other.
2. Water
3. Freezer, outside works if it's cold enough.
4. Various greens, berries, etc.

Icy Outdoor Christmas Decorations

Pour water in the larger container, put smaller container inside. You want water to be on all sides as equal as possible as well as under the smaller container. You will need to weight the top container as it will usually try to float. Add greenery, berries, sticks or any other embellishments you want to the water between the containers. This is optional. Your luminary will be pretty either way.

Put them in the freezer at least over night, the time needed will be determined by how thick the layer of water is between the two containers. When completely frozen remove the smaller container, add some warm water to the smaller container if you are having trouble taking it out. If you used a balloon for the center can just pop it. Add a candle and presto, changeo you have a luminary.

Just a side note: One year I made them votive size and put them in a tray with fresh greenery and roses for a centerpiece. They look great and help keep the greenery and flowers watered.

You can also make Ice Globes; fill a balloon with water and freeze. They will freeze from the outside in. Check them regularly; you want the "shell" to be frozen but the center to be liquid. Once you have a solid shell you can take them out and pop the balloon. Drain the remaining water out of the center cavity and you have your globe. You will have to chip an opening. This is an easy task. Now add your tea lights and you're done. You can make these any size. Use your imagination, make a glowing ice snowman or pile them up in a pyramid...Line your driveway, sidewalk or patio. You'll love the effect.

Crystal Branches
Plant sticks and branches in your flower pots. You can "crystallize" them if you live in a place with freezing temperatures. Using a spray bottle filled with water mist them periodically. Eventually they will be come encased in ice and have the appearance of crystal.

Ice Ornaments
You can also use your ice and candy molds to make ice ornaments. You can hang them from trees or your potted sticks and branches. Lay a ribbon, wire or string in the mold when you freeze for a hanger, these also make an excellent addition to your holiday centerpieces.

Ice Wreaths
Use a Jell-O mold to make an ice wreath. For years this trick has been used to keep the punch cold but why not make it a hanging wreath. Add cranberries, greenery and/or some water proof ribbon. Orange, lime and lemon slices look great also if you are using a nontraditional color scheme. Simple and stunning. These can be very heavy if you use too much water so make them thin. (You can always make more.) These look especially good on light posts or porch railings.

All these icy ideas can be adapted to enhance any current theme or colors you use. Your imagination is the only limit to all the applications that are possible. Enjoy! Merry Christmas!

Icy Outdoor Christmas Decorations

For more low cost Christmas Ideas: www.holidayhomemade.com [http://www.holidayhomemade.com].

Lori Franklin aka "Christmas Queen" as her family and friends call her goes cuckoo for Christmas. It is not unusual for her to begin decorating in October. Her house will host a multitude of Christmas trees and many parties for the holidays with the finale on Christmas Eve when Santa comes to bring gifts for all.

Popular Christmas Traditions and Christmas Decorations in Spain

Throughout the world, Christmas is one of the most well known holidays. In Spain, as well as in many other countries, this holiday focuses on the celebration of Christ's birth. It is a time for families to gather together to celebrate and share the joy of the season with song, dancing and family meals. Christmas trees and handmade decorations, as well as the Nativity scene are familiar sights. Although these traditions are common in many countries, there are some aspects of the Christmas holiday which are unique to Spain.

Leading up to the Christmas holiday, the Spanish celebrate a tradition called "Hogueras" (bonfires). This is a celebration of the winter solstice which is the shortest day of the year. At this time, people jump over a bonfire, symbolizing a protection against illness. Also during the winter solstice, swing sets are constructed to be used by the people in the belief that by swinging high they will cause the sun to move higher in the sky.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

On Christmas Eve, tiny lamps are lit in the windows throughout the villages, representing the stars in the Christmas Eve sky. At midnight, bells are rung in each of the villages, calling everyone to "La Misa Del Gallo", the Mass of the Rooster. It is called this because the rooster was known as the first of the animals to announce Christ's birth.

Popular Christmas Traditions and Christmas Decorations in Spain

After the midnight Mass, Christmas dinner is served. The traditional holiday meal includes "Pavo Trufado de Navidad", which is Christmas turkey with truffles. Roast lamb, suckling pig, duck, and seafood such as lobster, shrimp, trout and salmon may also be served, depending on which part of the country one is in. Traditional desserts may include marzipan, made of honey, almonds and eggs, and polvorones, which is a sweetbread. Nuts, dried fruits, and caramel custard are among other desserts served. No meal is complete without a drink. Cava is the Spanish champagne, and it often accompanies the Christmas meal.

In many countries a visit by Santa Claus is an important part of a Christmas celebration. However, in Spain, this is not the case. The children do receive small gifts from "Papa Noel" on Christmas, but this is not a big part of the festivities. Instead, they celebrate January 6, which is the Three King's Day, a day commemorating the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the Baby Jesus. On January 5, the children take part in a parade to see the Three Kings when they come to their village or town. When given the chance, they ask the Three Kings for the presents they are hoping for. On the eve of this special day, the children leave their shoes out where they are easily found. They are filled with straw and carrots for the camels on which the Wise Men travel. On the next morning, the straw and carrots are gone, replaced by presents. On this day, a special dessert is served, the "Roscon de los Reyes" which is a large circular cake. It is decorated with candied fruits, which represent the jewels which were on the Three Kings' robes. There is a surprise baked into the cake, and whoever finds it becomes the king or queen of the house.

Spain's celebration of Christmas is similar to the manner in which other countries celebrate it with Christmas trees and Christmas wreaths.. But by also having its own unique traditions, a visitor can gain insight into the people of Spain and their lives. Knowing the traditions of various countries such as Spain can give one a new appreciation of the Christmas holiday around the world.

Popular Christmas Traditions and Christmas Decorations in Spain

Karen Jebbia is the owner of Acadia Wreath Company. Acadia Wreath Company, based in Bar Harbor, Maine, which handcrafts a fresh Maine balsam fir Christmas wreath, Christmas Centerpiece and Kissing Ball which are shipped directly to customers and corporate clients throughout the United States.

Unique Christmas Decorations That Stand Out

Christmas decorations are of so many types. There are decorations you have outside your house. There are things your decorate your mantelpiece with. There are Christmas wreaths you hand outside the door. And there are the decorations you put on your Christmas tree,

Lets start from the outside. Decorating your house with lights is the preferred thing. In today's age of global warming and inconvenient truths, why not get something like a 50 Multi Pinecone Christmas LED Lights Set. A typical set would be with a bunch of Led lights set across around eighteen feet. There is a spacing of about four inches between the lights. These are United States UL approved lights, for 120 volts performance. These are long lasting and energy saving, compared to normal lights. That takes care of the late evening and night.

\"Christmas Decorations\"

If you stay in warmer climes with no threat of snow, your daytime Christmas decoration could consist of some special new attractive potted plants displayed in your driveway or at your front door or patio.

Unique Christmas Decorations That Stand Out

Christmas wreaths may be fresh as well as artificial. Typically evergreen plants have been used to make Christmas wreaths. Plants like holly, ivy and mistletoes, not only remain green throughout the year, but also bear fruit in the winter. So a wreath made of these at Christmas, signifies new and everlasting life, in keeping with the story of Jesus. Today with the degreening of the earth, there are concerns of destroying trees, and so we have very natural looking artificial wreaths that are now available to decorate your door. You can also make a wreath yourself from dried plants and branches, and decorate it with berries. This is a biodegradable thing and one need not worry about adding to the plastics of the world.

Finally we come to the decorations inside your home. LED lights may also be used to light up the area around and within your Christmas tree. While Origami Christmas decorations made personally by someone in the family would undoubtedly be the best thing, in today's world, of both parents working and school pressures, it's probably a great idea to plan in advance and buy your Christmas Decorations from some special places.

There is a "twelve days of Christmas" ornament collection from Vaillancourt Folk Art. Twelve distinctive and wonderful figurines depicting the twelve days of Christmas, maybe collected through the year, so as to not cause a dent in the pocketbook in December, and makes a great addition to your Christmas display.

Some exquisite red, yellow and green Chinese lanterns are popular Christmas decorations as well, and these come with wonderful designs that gleam brightly when the lantern is lit up. St Nicholas figurines, and a black Santa can add something new to the usual decorations. There are figurines of a knight in shining armor, there is a Santa-coming-through-the-chimney figurine, and there are interesting chandeliers you can hang on your tree, with a Joyeux Noel Angel presiding from atop the tree.

Should you be planning to do a nativity Scene, there are several glass ornaments, and Vaillancourt Folk Art chalk figures that you can use.

Unique Christmas Decorations That Stand Out

All of these unique Christmas Decorations [http://www.rogersgardens.com/Christmas-Decoration.asp] are available from the website RogersGardens.com. There you will find a great selection of unique Glass Christmas Ornaments [http://www.rogersgardens.com/Glass-Christmas-Ornaments.asp] as well as a wonderful selection of Christmas-related folk art ornaments.