Christmas Decoration Tips
When it comes to Christmas Decoration, we've been there, done that, now serving 231 tips in 14 categories ranging from Artificial Christmas Trees to Outdoor Christmas Decorations.
Choosing Large Nativity Sets
For many people, Christmas just isn't Christmas without a nativity scene. Large nativity sets that decorate the front lawn are a special way to share your enjoyment of the Christmas story with your friends and neighbors. With the many options available, you can find a nativity that will fit in any size yard and will match any design style.
One piece nativity scenes are compact decorations that are easy to set up. They are perfect for people who want to display a large lighted nativity in their yards but have limited space.
Plastic nativity sets are a great option for people who want durability and versatility. Since the people and animals are all separate figurines, you could opt to just use the nativity family some years and put out the entire set other years. This flexibility is very important for people who like to change the way they set up their yard displays each year.
Wire framed sets have the same benefits of plastic nativities with the additional advantage of offering an updated look. People who want a more modern looking nativity should be happy with wire sets.
No matter which set you choose for your yard, don't be surprised if it becomes a magnet for neighborhood children. What child wouldn't be fascinated by the story of Christmas reproduced in life size figurines?
Collectibles at Christmas and Year-Round
If you are looking for collectibles for Christmas and year-round, you may wish to consider collectibles that have Christmas themed items, as well as figurines that aren't Christmas themed.
- Precious Moments offers Christmas ornaments and figurines, as well as figurines that aren't Christmas related, all of which can be displayed year-round. Precious Moments figurines were created in 1978 and are made of bisque porcelain. These figurines feature adorable boys, girls and pets and come with a heartfelt message that relates to being a caring and loving person. Precious Moments figurines make great Christmas gifts as well. Charming Tails is another set of collectibles that include Christmas ornaments and figurines as well as figurines that tell the story of these little creatures with meaningful messages. You can purchase a Charming Tail that is sitting with a brightly colored lemon that can be given to your special someone because the message is, "You're My Main Squeeze."
- Hummel Figurines are also quite popular in the collectible world. Berta Hummel created drawings of children as a way to commemorate the children growing up around her in a German village. The drawings were eventually made into beautiful Christmas figurines. There are both Hummel Christmas figurines and ornaments, as well as Hummels that are not specifically for Christmas. Hummels make great gifts because they retain their value for years to come, so the purchase price is well worth it.
Multicultural Christmas Nativity Ideas
Many children do not realize that Christmas is celebrated differently in other parts of the world. From Yule logs to Saint Lucia, children in other cultures have special holiday traditions. Some of these traditions are centered around the Christmas nativity. Why not have a multicultural celebration this year with your children? They'll learn about how other cultures celebrate the holidays and they just may decide that they'd enjoy incorporating some of the different traditions into your family's Christmas celebrations in future years.
In Mexico, the nativity has a special place in Christmas activities. Entire neighborhoods celebrate with an event they call Posada. This is a tradition where children recreate Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem by having a parade of neighborhood kids go from house to house asking for shelter. Many times, they carry a nativity with them. The adults have already decided which house will invite the kids in and that family puts together a party for the children and their parents.
If you have a rich cultural heritage, you may prefer to look for traditions that your ancestors celebrated instead. To find out more about your holiday heritage, you should:
- Talk to older relatives to see if they have any heirlooms, such as a Saint Lucia crown that has been passed down through the family, to share with you.
- Check the Internet or call your local library to research customs celebrated by your culture.
Christmas Villages
Many people create elaborate Christmas village displays as one would do with model trains. One of the most popular Christmas village makers is Department 56. Department 56 makes several different Christmas villages, including their Snow Village, their Dickens Village, Department 56 North Pole and Department 56 Christmas in the City, Alpine Village and New England Village. These villages are all illuminated and when lit, cast a warm, beautiful glow throughout the room they are displayed in. There's something very special about Department 56 villages at Christmas time.
Each of these specific villages comes with buildings that you can buy individually, as well as village accessories, such as people and pets. Depending on the village you purchase you will get both brightly colored buildings and people, such as with the North Pole village, or you may decide on more muted colors, such as with the New England Village. Generally, the buildings in the villages cost about $75 each, however these villages will certainly become a family heirloom and will last for years to come.
Precious Moments Nativity Sets and Other Nativity Figurines
You've been collecting Precious Moments figurines for quite a few years. You even used a pair of these sweet little children as cake toppers on your wedding cake. Since you are such a fan of these adorable porcelain figurines, it is no surprise that you looked for a Precious Moments nativity when you decided you wanted a new nativity set.
The three piece nativity includes a boy and girl dressed as Joseph and Mary and a baby dressed as Jesus. The set has all the personality and sweetness that the rest of the Precious Moments figurines have and is sure to be a treasured addition to your collection.
If you collect other figurines, you may be interested in taking a look at Department 56's nativity set. This set is only available through bronners.com and is a wonderful addition to your Department 56 village display.
For people who enjoy adding new figurines to their collection each year, Jim Shore nativity pieces may be the perfect option. Jim Shore has several different nativity families. In addition, there are quite a few other nativity related pieces you can add to your collection. Wise Men, camels, shepherds, angels and even palm trees are available for these sets.
Fun Nativity Sets
Nativity sets do not have to be traditional table-top sets. It can be something more fun and unique, such as a cookie cutter Nativity set. Why not let the kids bake cookies in the shape of the Nativity to give as gifts? People will surely enjoy getting and eating an edible gift that represents what Christmas is all about. At less than $20 for a Nativity cookie cutter set, you may have a hard time thinking of a more reasonable gift, or a yummier one.
Or how about making a set out of playdough to make as ornaments that keep from year to year? The dough will harden and with the application of a simple pottery glaze found at any craft store, you can then keep these fun treasures forever.
Another fun Nativity scene is a holographic Nativity that can be used indoors or outdoors to celebrate the Nativity. Indoor/Outdoor nativity scenes such as these come with lawn stakes, stand and a power cord to ensure easy set up. You can even display a plastic Nativity on your front lawn. Gone are the days of the fake looking plastic lawn ornaments. Today's plastic Nativity sets are realistic and are a fun way to represent the Nativity outdoors. Nativities are a holiday tradition for many households but the nativity display itself can be different, unique and fun.
Complete Your Display With a Nativity Stable
You carefully arrange your nativity set on your Christmas tree skirt and take a step back to admire the result. While the figurines are beautiful, it seems as though something is missing. Perhaps the problem is that they are dwarfed by the ornament covered tree. You move them to the coffee table, the mantle and the bookshelf. No matter where that lovely nativity scene is set up, it looks wrong. You're staring at the figurine when you realize the problem. You didn't shop for a nativity stable.
Nativity stables are a great way to provide a backdrop for your figurines. They add realism and interest to the nativity display and are a great way to make the Christmas story easier for children to understand.
You can find beautiful olive wood nativity stables in very simple designs or with lovely hand carved details. These stables have a rustic simplicity that will allow the nativity figurines to shine. Moss covered stables are another rustic option.
If you would like to find a stable that matches the style of your cozy country home, you may want to take a look at a Jim Shore stable. These stables are designed to match Jim Shore nativity sets but can be purchased separately if you want to use your current nativity set.
Choosing the Best Artificial Christmas Tree for Your Space
Choosing the perfect artificial Christmas tree can be a daunting task, especially if you really have no idea what would work best for you. First you need to decide where you want to put the tree. If you have limited space you will want to consider a smaller tree that doesn't take up too much space. You don't want the tree to overwhelm the room it is in. If you live in a small apartment or house then a four to five foot tree may work best for you simply because its size will not be too much for a small area.
If you have a large space to work with then a larger tree would be an obvious choice. If you have a small tree in a large space, the tree can get lost in the space and you don't want that to happen. You want your tree to be a focal point in the room, not a tree that disappears because it's too small. If you have high ceilings you can pick an even taller tree than you would if your home had standard size ceilings. Artificial Christmas trees can be slim or wide and again, you won't want to get a very wide tree if you have a very narrow space to put it.
In addition, you will want to take into consideration the price of an artificial tree. The more expensive the tree the longer it will last and the more realistic it appears.
Indoor Christmas Nativity Scenes
You'd like to start displaying a nativity each Christmas, but you aren't sure if there is a set that will work with your home's décor. Actually, with all the Christmas nativity sets available, you're going to have to start worrying about narrowing down your choices, instead.
For people who are short on space, miniature nativities are a smart idea. You can find a set from Jim Shore that fits easily into an area as small as a foot and includes a stable and individual figurines. If you want a nativity that is even smaller, maybe a nativity contained in a nut shell will work. Elaborate nativity ornaments can hang on a tree or an ornament stand.
If you are concerned about storage space, but you prefer to display a set that is larger than some of the miniature options, perhaps a set of stacking nativity dolls will work for you. These dolls create a substantial display when they are un-stacked, but the entire nativity can be stored in a single doll when the Christmas season is over.
For people who are more worried about the style of the nativity then space, there are many different options. Iron, wood and porcelain figurines provide a wide range of materials from which to choose. You can find country Jim Shore nativity sets, folk art Russian figurines or elegant Fontanini designs.
Choosing a Children's Nativity
You know from past experience that children and Christmas figurines don't mix. However, as you carefully arrange your fragile nativity set on the mantle, you can't help but notice how disappointed your children seem. When your littlest child whispers that she wants to see the baby Jesus, you realize that you need to shop for a durable Children's nativity set for her to enjoy. You are delighted when a quick search reveals several suitable models, including a delightful large nativity that uses children for all of the nativity characters.
Before you buy your children a nativity, you may want to consider a few important issues. To be sure you select the right set, you should:
- Think about whether your kids are old enough to keep things out of their mouths. While miniature sets are a cute idea, they may not be a smart choice for families with children under four years of age.
- Consider durability. Unless you are going to supervise all interactions with the set, you should opt for a set that cannot break or be damaged easily. Even sturdy carved wooden pieces can be chipped if your children decide that the shepherds should get in a fight.
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| Jerry Mayo |
