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After much anticipation, Christmas Eve would finally arrive and it was time to decorate the tree. Dad would set up the tree and Mom would unwrap our cherished ornaments. Mom would tell my brother, sister, and I to sit quietly and wait for our turn to hang our very own special ornaments. We were so excited that it was hard to contain ourselves, and of course one of us always slipped and giggled! Mom would decorate the tree and finally it was our turn. Each of us would take what the others thought was an eternity to hang our ornaments and then we all would add the tinsel.
As I grew up and had a family of my own, I realized that I, too, was passing down this very tradition to my children. My husband would set up the tree and I would begin the unwrapping of the cherished ornaments. Of course, I would save the very special ornaments for our daughter and son to add as the final touches to our tree. I could feel the same sense of excitement and anticipation from my children as I experienced as a child.
Now I have grandchildren and my daughter invites me over to watch her and her family decorate their tree. I get all choked up as I watch her unwrap their cherished ornaments and see my grandchildren waiting to hang theirs. I know this special tradition will continue to be passed on for generations to come and precious memories will be made that will last a lifetime!
Here are some tips for decorating an artificial Christmas tree:
1. Choose your Theme and Color Scheme
2. Add Ribbon for Extra Color and Texture.
You will need at least 15 yards of ribbon to cover the front and back of a 7-1/2 foot tree.
Start at the top of the tree, on the left side, and place the end of the ribbon against the trunk of the tree then bend the end of a branch over it. Go about five inches away from the first attachment of the ribbon and bend another branch over the ribbon, leaving some room in the ribbon to make what is call a “poof.” Continue this pattern all the way around the tree, dropping about seven inches down the tree as you begin to make the second, third and fourth times around the tree. (As you go around the tree your ribbon will need to be attached one-third of the way in the branch toward the trunk, instead of against the trunk itself.)
For added interest, you can go in the opposite direction (starting at the top of the tree) with another color of ribbon from your color scheme, crossing over the original ribbon.
3. Tree Topper: Create Your Own!
Choose at least two different colors (or shades of the same color) of picks to go with your tree theme; picks need to be at least 18 to 20 inches tall. Place one color pick at the top of the tree beside the trunk itself on the front, back, left and then right side of the tree. Next take a second color pick and do the same thing in the empty spaces beside the front, back, left and right sides of the top of the tree, making sure to place this pick slightly lower than the first. Continue to add different picks of the same color scheme for added fullness, if desired. Pick choices: Flowers, feathers, branches, balls, berries.
4. Artificial Flowers or Berries
Choose at least one type of artificial flower to complement your tree color scheme. If you used flowers in your tree topper, you may want to use them here as well. Place your artificial flowers on the branch, with the point of the stem toward the trunk of the tree. For a 7.5 ft. tree you will need at least twelve stems (if they are larger flowers, such as poinsettias). For smaller flower choices, you may need as many as twenty stems. If your theme is nature-inspired, you may opt to place flowers and berries on the branches.
5. Ornaments
Choose one or two ornaments that are solid colors to go with your color scheme. If you have a larger tree you may use larger ornaments. Begin at the top, on the right side of the tree, placing ornaments in between the ribbon and continue down the tree in a zigzag pattern. Hang the solid color ornaments further back in the tree to pull your eye in. Next add other ornaments (that are in the same color scheme or specialty ornaments such as birds, snowmen, santa or other items) that go with your theme. Scatter these closer to the ends of the branches throughout the tree for added interest.
6. Have your children hang their special ornaments and create your own family tree decorating memories!
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