Christmas Decorating: Eye-Catching Outdoor Displays
One of the most delightful parts of Christmas is driving around looking at all the outdoor displays in the neighborhood. Decorating your yard for Christmas can be quite time consuming. The time is well spent when you consider how many people will enjoy your eye-catching outdoor displays.
Lights are probably the most important part of an outdoor Christmas display. Many lights today are usable indoors or outdoors. When using lights outside, be sure to purchase ones that are designed to withstand wind, rain, snow, and cold temperatures. Before hanging the lights, check for burned out bulbs and loose ones. Make sure your ladder is secure before climbing up to hang the lights. If you don’t like climbing a ladder, there are tools which can help. Look for them in the holiday section and purchase the ones which meet your needs.
Wreaths are always a nice addition to outdoor decorations. There are many styles to choose from. If you like the natural look try one with live greenery. If you plan on using the wreath again next year, you may want to opt for one with artificial greenery. When choosing your wreath or accessories, consider the style and color of your home. Generally speaking, a wreath with high contrast works best. It will also need to be large enough to be seen from the road.
A tree or bush in your yard makes a great foundation or backdrop for displays. Find lights that are the right size for the plant. You don’t want the bulbs to weigh down the branches. Again, be sure the lights are made to be used outdoors. Use simple plastic ornaments that sparkle in the lighting you’ve chosen. They are safer and withstand temperature changes better than glass ornaments.
Large figures are popular outdoor decorations. There are several types to choose from. There are inflatable figures, plastic statues, wooden silhouettes, wire frame figures, etc. Regardless of which type you use, you’ll want to make sure people see your display. Showcase your figures with either string lights or floodlights placed in strategic places.
Sometimes simple and smaller displays are better. If the yard is too cluttered, things may be missed by people driving by. A couple of smaller displays, which have been placed in the right areas, can make as much impact as a whole yard full of decorations. This is especially true if you have a small yard.
Whether you choose to decorate your yard with wreaths, figures, or ornaments, you will want to make sure the display catches the attention of people who drive by. Use the Christmas decorating tips above to create eye-catching outdoor displays, which the neighbors will love.
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Grab a few indoor decorations for your home. Great for gifts too!
4 Ideas To Make Thanksgiving Day Special
Make your Thanksgiving Day celebration more than a family meal. Thanksgiving is always a great time to take advantage of having your loved ones in one place. Here are some ideas to make your Thanksgiving Day special.
Thankful Cards Make a card for each family member who is attending your Thanksgiving get-together this year. On the card, tell that person what you love most about them, and why you are thankful for them.
These cards can also be used as place cards. To do this, make sure you add each person’s name to the front of the card and keep the message short. If you use the thankful cards in this manner, consider making the cards small so they don’t take up a lot of room on the table.
Family Recipe Books – Have each family member bring the recipe for the dish they bring to your Thanksgiving Day celebration. After your celebration has ended, compile the recipes into a book. Print the books from your computer or have them printed at your local print shop.
To make these books extra sturdy, punch holes in the sides of the pages and add them to a three-ring binder with a nice personalized cover. These recipe books can be given to family members a week or so after your gathering or you can wait and present it to them as a Christmas gift. The choice is yours.
Family Scrapbooks – Ask family members, who attend your Thanksgiving Day celebration, to choose a recent photo of themselves; have a copy made for each family represented at the gathering; and bring the photos to the Thanksgiving celebration. The pictures can be a school picture, picture from work, or family photo. Be sure to have a digital camera handy for people who forget their pictures.
Purchase a mini scrapbook or photo album for each family attending. Consider buying stickers, markers, and various scrapbook supplies to help each family make their scrapbook special. This is a great family activity to begin after the holiday meal.
Family Recordings - Invite older members of the family to sit and talk about what Thanksgiving was like when they were young. Encourage them to give details and talk about loved ones who are no longer with you. Use a camcorder to capture the event or create an audio version to share with other family members.
Please keep in mind when recording that many older family members may not like to be “in the spotlight.” In order to make your “speaker” comfortable, you may have to do your recording out of their field of view. The key is to have them focused on the conversation rather than the camera or microphone.
Whether you choose to make thankful cards, recipe books, family scrapbooks, family recordings, or something else, do something to make Thanksgiving Day special for your family members. Older family members will love spending the time with everyone and younger members will have a memento of special people and times.
