Posts Tagged ‘christmas tree’

Click Here for great deals on traditional bulbs or specialty lighting such as icicles, flickering lights and bubble lights.

Click Here for great deals on LED lights in all shapes and sizes!

On a tight budget? Click Here for wholesale prices on traditional lights, LED lights, mini lights, commercial grade lights and more.

Here are a few simple things you should consider before purchasing Christmas tree lights…

~The first thing to look for are lights that are UL rated for your purposes, indoor or outdoor use.   Pretty simple, it will be  stated right on the packaging or advertisement.

~Now, decide on your color scheme.  Are you going with an all white-light elegant look or the cheerful multi-colored lights?

~Next, do you prefer steady lights, blinking lights, or the option to change settings?  There are light sets available with a whole range of functions from quick blinking, slow blinking, trailing, flickering and so on.  If you prefer steady lights make sure you have that option as well.

~Finally, are you on the LED bandwagon?  LED lights will cost you more up front but they are definitely worth the investment.  I don’t know about you but I have spent plenty of money on inexpensive, traditional light sets only to have them in the garbage after a season or two. I do not consider that saving money.

LEDs  offer amazing efficiency so if you use a large amount of lighting throughout your house your electric bill will benefit from the investment.  Also, LED bulbs last an incredibly long time.   Some claim 50,000 – 200,000 hours!  They do not get hot so they are safer, especially around children.  And the biggest benefit….if one bulb goes out it does not affect the entire strand!!!!! That alone is worth its weight in gold, isn’t it?!

If you can’t afford to jump into LED lighting with both feet then consider just purchasing a set or two every year to get you started.    But, if you are combining LED and conventional lights  limit yourself to 3 strands connected together or you could blow a fuse.  If you are using only LED lights then you can connect up to 20 strands together – just be sure they are all LED.

Happy Lighting!

By the way, if you see this gift icon it means that the website being mentioned is a great place to find the perfect christmas gift for a loved one OR yourself!!

Here are the best places to shop online for your ornaments…

Blown-Glass Christmas Ornaments

Blown glass is a long time favorite for christmas ornaments.  They are delicate and elegant and capture the light from your tree to make a truly beautiful effect.  Glass ornaments are not just limited to ball ornaments.  As you can see here, glass can be made to capture just about any character and come out looking beautiful.

*Ornament Shop – this site offers a large variety of unique glass ornaments.  Better yet, they will personalize any ornament for you.

*BestOrnaments – a large selection of hand crafted glass ornaments including the exclusive and difficult to find Tannenbaum Treasures and many more all backed by high standards of customer service.  This is where you will find unique and individual designs that you can hand pick for your own personal collection.  Best Ornaments uses top quality artisans from Austria, Poland and Germany as well as importing collectibles from Europe.  Only the best at this site.

*ChristmasDecorations&GiftsStore – here you will find lower prices on an enormous selection of glass ornaments.  You can pick from individual ornaments or packages of matching ornaments.

*Ornaments To Remember -  artisan crafted in Europe and probably the most unique blown- glass ornaments you will find anywhere.  If you have a favorite hobbie or passion chances are you will find an ornament to represent it at this site.  Highest level of customer satisfaction policies and they donate their profits to The Learning Community.  Excellent site for finding a unique gift!

Miniature Christmas Ornaments

Miniature christmas trees are an awesome way to express your creativity.  Everything from spices in the kitchen tree to bows and soaps in the bathroom tree, even the kids can have a miniature tree of their own to express themselves with.  You will not find any shortage of miniature ornaments for every mini tree in your home - take a look…

*HookedOnHallmark - a huge selection of miniature keepsake ornaments from the well known and trusted people at Hallmark.  They even have their mini ornaments available from every year dating back to 1988 and at very reasonable prices.

*ChristmasDecorations&GiftsStore – a wide variety of minis available.  You’ll find lower prices here to accommodate a tight budget.  Many available as boxed sets.

*Bronners – Bronner’s in Frankenmuth, Michigan was founded in 1945 and is the world’s largest christmas store open year round.  They have been around for a while so they are of course no stranger to customer satisfaction.  Their online store offers a modest selection of miniature ornaments but their website is a  lot of fun to look around in.

*MiniChristmas – this site is all mini!  They have a fun selection of items, they even offer crocheted snowflakes and icicles and many other items you probably never knew existed in the world of miniatures.

Vintage/Antique/Collectible Christmas Ornaments

Vintage or antique ornaments set a unique tone to a tree.  They tell an amazing story of days gone by and spark reminiscence in the heart.  A wonderful addition to the spirit of christmas.  Collectible ornaments bring about the opportunity to set a christmas tradition.

*Christmas 4ever – high quality customer service,  a truly unique collection of vintage/antique collectibles and the history behind them.

*Grossmutters Christmas Attic – this site is for the SERIOUS COLLECTOR.  The site owner is Swiss but has a site version in English.  True collectors’ items, many from the early 1900’s, ranging in price from $60-$600.  If you are a true collector you will find this site amazing – enjoy!

*BestOrnaments – vintage glass ornaments at affordable prices.  BestOrnaments is a quality seller with good customer service.

*Lenox - if you don’t know the Lenox name you need to.  Lenox is a market leader in beautiful, high quality collectibles.  I personally have a collection from them and the pieces are stunning.  They offer christmas collectibles and so much more for great gift giving.  Personalization of your purchase is always free.  Top notch customer service.  Excellent site for finding a unique gift!

Wooden Christmas Ornaments

Wood workers do amazing things.  This is probably the category where I have seen the most variety and also the most custom work.  All very beautiful and all very resonably priced.  Enjoy looking around these sites!  Each one offers a very unique style of ornament making so you may want to peek at all of them before picking your favorite.

*Tree Treasures – unique, wooden, hand-painted and/or hand-carved.  You won’t find these in stores.  But you may find a unique gift for someone special and they do offer personalized ornaments.  Excellent site for finding a unique gift!

*Laser Crafters - WOW!  These ornaments are laser crafted and beautiful.  Even more impressive, they can make you an ornament from your own custom drawing!  What a great gift, check it out!  A family owned business since 1993.  Excellent site for finding a unique gift!

*Crafty Owl - hand carved christmas tree ornaments with an old world look and feel.  Reminiscent of vintage German wood decorations – these are really beautiful.  Each is a one-of-a-kind original, signed and dated.  Definitely something special here.

*Special Mention! – the Crafty Owl offers a beautiful and unique piece that makes an awesome gift and a new tradition for a child.  Check out their Reindeer Whistle!  I love it and you will too.

*The Wood Butcher – what an amazing selection of christmas themed and also not so ordinary ornaments.  A huge variety of original, hand-made wooden ornaments at excellent prices.  I am always happy to support a ‘maw-and-paw’ owned business such as this.  They are also happy to do custom work for you.

Fabric Christmas Ornaments

When I first went hunting for fabric ornaments I thought I was going to come across very simple, ‘made-it-in-homec-class’ looking crafts.  Boy was I wrong, check this out…

*The Ornament Girl - finding a place to purchase fabric ornaments online took some digging.  Most places offer fabrics or patterns to do it yourself.  It was worth the effort when I found this site.  These handmade quilted christmas ball ornaments are stunning.  You simply must see these!

Ceramic Christmas Ornaments

*Ornament Shop – a variety of ceramic ornaments to choose from, many of them can be personalized.  Ceramic ornaments are classic and beautiful.  They have a delicate look but can withstand a bit more than glass.   Ornament Shop offers different types of ornaments so just type ‘ceramic’ in the search bar at the upper right corner and you will find what you are looking for.

Personalized Christmas Ornaments

Putting a name or a special date or saying on a beautiful ornament brings it to a whole new level.  It adds a special touch of thoughtfulness.

*Personal Creations – this site specializes in personalized gifts and ornaments.  They offer a wonderful variety of different ornaments, all very beautiful.  I especially like the ‘family’ ornaments.  Good customer service here.

*Ornament Shop -  this site has an enormous selection of ornaments, from glass to ceramic.  If the personalized name cannot fit on the ornament itself they will attatch a small heart shaped gold tag to the top of the ornament.    FREE shipping when you buy 5 or more ornaments or gifts.

*Lenox – stunning, high quality pieces from a market leader.  Every ornament is like a piece of fine china-simply beautiful.   Personalization is free.  FREE shipping on orders over $75.

*Santa’s Ornament Shop – this is another site with an enormous selection – ornaments for sports, music, occupations, memorials, weddings, pets, special interests, military and so on.  Good customer service and FREE shipping when you buy 5 or more ornaments.

There are endless options when it comes to the type of ornaments you can adorn your Christmas tree in.  You can mix it up and use a wide variety of different ornaments or you may want to follow a theme.  If you follow a theme, which will  it be?  Elegant glass ornaments or nothing but animal ornaments?  Just about any theme that you love is available as an ornament – from Thomas Kinkade to Lenox and Vera Wang – You really can’t go wrong no matter what you choose to decorate your tree with.

Carol Gibbs of Colonial Williamsburg Visual Merchandising shows how to decorate your Christmas tree using ribbon.

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A tutorial on how to use deco mesh to decorate a tree for Christmas. This synthetic mesh is great for custom designer wreaths, garlands, bows and much more. Visit us at DecoPolyMesh.com for a wide range of mesh products.

ProMak also in the year 2010 presents most beautiful Christmas decoration and Christmas trees in the world. More you can see on the website www.promak.si