Putting lights on the Christmas tree may not be the most glamorous part of tree decorating, but the glittering results are worth the effort. Tip: When choosing lights for your Christmas tree this year, consider buying LED lights. They cost a bit more, but they stay cool to th ...more
In this how to video series, learn how to string Christmas lights on a Christmas tree from expert Matt Cail. Matt will show you how to test Christmas tree lights, how close to an outlet to put a Christmas tree, how to untangle Christmas tree lights, where to start stringing Ch ...more
Some people put up their holiday decorations as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Some wait until Christmas Eve. Right now, the only thing in my whole apartment that would tip you off is a tiny little fake tree on the counter. I've been planning on decorating all month, but I have ...more
Start by fluffing your Christmas tree to make it look fuller, and then string on the lights (use one hundred lights per foot in height of your tree). Then weave some ribbon through the branches of your tree. Beautiful and festive!
If you're tired of using the same old ornaments on your Christmas tree year after year, then it's time to experiment with borax snowflakes. It's not only a fun decoration to make, it's a great science project to try out with family and friends. All you need for to make DIY cry ...more
Want to add a little holiday cheer to your living space without breaking the bank? Get a clear glass bowl, fill it with extra Christmas ornaments or clementines, and you have an instant holiday-themed centerpiece for your table. Ta-da! Illustrated below are 8 more DIY holiday ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to decorate your Christmas tree like a pro. Before you do anything else, put something together that is going to look good that you can place in your tree. Put in different types of flowers, bushes, and garland to make a pretty piece to place ins ...more
Decorating for the holidays can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work if you let it get out of hand. Keep it simple and try and use as many things as you have around the garden, like tomato cages. When you combine tomato cages with a few other unlikely objects, an ...more
Love folding origami? Then what better shape to fold for Christmas and the New Year than a star? A symbol of divinity as well as light and life during the dark days of winter, a star also makes great decor for Christmas trees and garlands. Take a look at this video to see how ...more
No matter what your holiday preference, you're probably aware that Christmas is now just days away. By now, you've already decked your halls with boughs of holly (either physically or virtually), thanks to our last holiday app roundup. With that in mind, let's take a look at ...more
The concept and structure of Christmas hasn't changed much since its inception. In its infancy, Christians recruited Roman pagans by associating Christmas with the Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival in honor of the deity Saturn (also held in December). The pagans had long w ...more
Chestnuts are roasting on an open fire, which can only mean one thing: Christmas is nearly here. It's the time of year we're supposed to spend with family and friends, but usually we spend it stressing out over what to buy everyone on our list without going over budget, or sho ...more
Learn how to create a string of 3D, multi-colored Christmas lights and turn them into a custom pattern brush that you can draw with along any path. Make Christmas lights in Illustrator. Click through to watch this video on layersmagazine.com
Around the holidays we use pretty lights and candles for everything: We hang shiny white lights on our Christmas tree, dangle them outside along our windowsill, and add candles to floral centerpieces. But how do you light a centerpiece when the candle is in a tight space and ...more
John White, Dona Ana County Extension Agent, Teddi Peters, Master Gardener, and Southwest Yard and Garden demonstrate how to make a Christmas tree from a tomato plant cage for the holidays. The cage will already have a tree like form. Attach electrical tape around the prongs. ...more
Before your guests enter the front door to your Christmas party and before they witness the beautiful swags of garland, lights, and the Christmas tree, the first thing they're going to see is your wreath. Make their first impression a good one by creating this easy rustic "No ...more
General Electric isn't known for their Christmas lights, but maybe they should be, because their GE Color Effects are pretty awesome. Especially the LED Color Effects G-35 String sets. And especially when someone named Darco hacks them. Darco, whose real name is Robert Sun Qu ...more
Christmas decorations aren't cheap. From outdoor lighting to fir trees, decorating for the holidays can break the bank. That's where ingenuity comes into play, like hacking battery-operated Christmas lights, modifying lighting patterns and building Christmas tree ornaments fro ...more
Christmas is almost over— all of the presents are unwrapped, all of the prime ribs have been eaten, the whole family's drunk off eggnog— and soon it will be time to forget about Christmas until next year. Once the party's over, you're stuck with cleaning up all the shredded w ...more
Make sure this year’s live holiday Christmas tree is not only pretty, but safe, too. Here's how to safely put up a real, live Christmas tree. You will need: a fresh tree a tree stand water a ceiling hook a piece of wire tree lights blue masking tape LED tree lights heavy-gaug ...more
If you have a DSLR, you can take some interesting photographs of Christmas trees and holiday lights this year. Here are six different ways to achieve a special effects look for your Christmas photographs by adjusting the settings on your camera.
Follow this video to view suggestions on how you can decorate a Christmas tree. It is best to start placing the lights first. Try to space them evenly and you can secure them in place by means of crafting wire. When you finish with the lights start decorating the Christmas tre ...more
In order to make a miniature baby doll bottle to be used in a dollhouse, you will need the following: orange paint, white paint, a paintbrush, and a light bulb from a string of white Christmas lights. The light bulb must be a standard light bulb. It can't be a replacement bulb ...more
Video games and art have somewhat of a sticky relationship. Many video games have large teams of talented artists doing amazingly creative work, and yet the art community is only just beginning to utilize video games as art (sometimes). Perhaps if video games were shown not ju ...more
If it's your first Christmas, you might be wondering what the best way to decorate the tree is. While every tree and set of decorations will be different, this tutorial shows you a few basic principles (such as always put the Christmas lights on first) to decorating a lovely a ...more
During the holiday season most of us have a Christmas tree up in our living rooms, filled to the brim with sparkly ornaments and twinkly lights. But the Christmas spirit tends to be a bit damper at work, where the most jolly it gets is making a makeshift post-it note Christmas ...more
The holidays are here and all of us here at Phone Snap hope you're spending them under a nice warm roof with some yummy food and great company! For this week's Phone Snap challenge, we want you to utilize your cell phone to capture some holiday spirit. Whether it be the gifts ...more
No matter how big or small your Christmas tree might be, you can use this tutorial to make an attractive and festive holiday tree! You will need Christmas lights, wire and your favorite ornaments, tinsel, ribbon and other holiday decorations.
This holiday season, don't go the old-fashioned route when decorating for Christmas, stay in the present. To see how to joyfully adorn in the present, and no I did not say "presents," just check out this video on how to decorate a Christmas tree in a contemporary style. Timot ...more
Looking to wish upon a lucky star? Why spend all night waiting for a shooting star to fly by when you can make one yourself? In this tutorial learn how to origami a wishing star out of paper. These stars are very cool and make great decoration for any occasion. You Will Need: ...more
Halloween is just around the corner! Check out this instructional decorating video that demonstrates how to use Christmas tree light bulbs to illuminate a jack-o-lantern pumpkin. This tutorial explains how to prepare typical Christmas lights for elucidating a pumpkin. Follow t ...more
The treetop isn't the only place where you should place a Christmas star. Make your entire Christmas tree shine bright this holiday season by crafting this dual-colored woven origami star. Attach it to a string to turn it into a Christmas ornament that can be brought out year ...more
Popcorn garland is a classic holiday decoration for your Christmas tree. Try these tips to make stringing your popcorn garland easier, and see alternative decorations to add sparkle to your garland.
Watch this instructional crochet video to crochet a miniature holiday Christmas tree. Use any type of thread and crochet needle to complete this project. You will also need a tapestry needle to sew the Christmas tree into a hanging ornament. Add small embellishments with red y ...more
'Tis the season for Christmas tree decorations and everybody's favorite board game— SCRABBLE! Okay, that was too ebullient on my part. I have to admit, as much as I love a good game of holiday Scrabble, I consider myself to be somewhat of a Christmas grinch. At least, when i ...more
Save money on your Christmas decor this year by making your own Christmas ornaments! Create elegant decorations for almost no money at all by quilling Christmas snowflakes. All you need is a little bit of glue and plain printer paper. Attach a string to hang it up on your tre ...more
Looking to make this Christmas a DIY Christmas? Why not make your own Christmas tree skirt, customized to fit your personality and home decor! Nothing says it’s Christmas like a beautiful Christmas tree. Now you can decorate the area below with a handmade Christmas tree skirt ...more
It's the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas lights are up, stores are crowded, tacky knit sweaters are making an appearance, and there's the constant smell of something delicious baking in the oven. In this week's Phone Snap Challenge, spread some holiday cheer by show ...more
If you're not sure where to start with the Christmas decorating, just watch this video! Remember to check your Christmas lights to make sure they work properly, and pull out all the Christmas ornaments. Use paper clips as a cheap alternative for decorative hangers, and get mor ...more
Thanksgiving. It's sadly over. But happily replaced by the Christmas season! My apartment complex is already full of the Christmas spirit. Wreaths are tacked up on wooden doors, windows contain strands of bright and colorful lights, and there's even a few nearly decorated con ...more
This learning how to make a raffia angel. Once completed they can be used for gifts or a decoration on a Christmas tree. Supplies needed are: pipe cleaner, glue sticks/glue gun, scissors, wire cutters, pliers and embellishments. Wrap raffia around twice. Tie off, and leave som ...more
Face it, when it comes to the holiday season buying a Christmas tree can be a bit of a pain. Always going out and trying to find a tree that is just right, then lugging it back home and setting up the lights and decorations. While at the same time little pieces of pine needles ...more
During the darkness of the winter months some bright and spirited holiday decorations can really add holiday cheer to a home. This Christmas, try making this festive tree and light table piece because you can never have too many decorations. Step 1: Clean and dry baby food ja ...more
Got a box full of Christmas lights but don't exactly have a picturesque rooftop to hang the lights from? Or, have too many Christmas lights and too little space to decorate with? To bring festive cheer to your living space, you can place Christmas lights on top of fireplace l ...more
The most annoying thing about Christmas lights is when one bulb blows, the whole string stops working. There's no easy way to tell which one is out when it's a huge strand, so it can take forever to fix. Mehdi Sadaghdar figured out that zapping the Christmas lights with a pie ...more
It may finally be dying down a bit, but there are still plenty of cat lovers addicted to Grumpy Cat, who has surpassed her internet meme stardom to move onto books, calendars, and even a soon-to-be film. For those of you who just can't get enough of the crotchety-faced Tardar ...more
You've found the perfect tree — or so you think. As hard as we try to display an ideal tree each year, both plastic and pine can disappoint, especially when you're shopping on the cheap. Whether you use an artificial or authentic Christmas tree, sometimes you discover gaping, ...more
Christmas is just a few weeks away and the decorating has already begun. The centerpiece for most home during the holiday is, of course, the Christmas tree. But let's face it—that tree can be a big pain in the ass to decorate. You'll run out of tinsel, your lights will be too ...more
Christmas means decorating trees with store-purchased ornaments and tinsel, decorating stairwells with store-purchased garlands, and decorating the exterior of your house with store-purchased lights. These days everything you need can be puchased pre-made somewhere, and while ...more
Being Jewish is kind of tough this time of year. Folks are putting up their lights, stringing popcorn and cranberries, and decorating trees. Those of us who don't celebrate Christmas start to feel a wee bit left out in the cold. Yes, some families give out presents on each of ...more
Video: . Today I bring you my first Christmas themed video!Here there are some DIY ideas to decorate your room for the holiday season. They are really easy and affordable so I hope you like them! The first one is really really simple and you will need: A glass vase Golden gli ...more
Stars are symbols of hope and light during the holiday season, probably the reason why lots of folks dress the top of their trees with this single most important holiday emblem. So what better origami project to fold this Christmas than an origami star? Take a gander at this ...more
The first day of Hanukkah is here, the day you start lighting the candles of the menorah. So, why not ditch the wax and light the "lights" this year? (Skip ahead to see the LED menorah) Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that lasts eight days from the 25th day of Kislev, which th ...more
There's no better symbol for Christmas than the evergreen Christmas tree. A symbol of the preserverance of life and light during the dark and short winter days when everything else is dead, the tree is a beacon of hope. Check out this crafting video to learn how to craft an o ...more
The only thing better than eating a cupcake is eating two cupcakes, and the only thing better than eating two cupcakes is, as it follows, eating three. So imagine the way your kids' faces will light up when you bake them these gigantic Christmas tree cupcakes! Made of not one ...more
Remember baby Maggie from "The Simpsons" and the adorable Christmas tree-shaped star bodysuit to Lisa's sax recital? Babies look cute in almost anything but somehow wrapping them up in star-shaped blankets/costumes puts them at their cutest. Watch this video to learn how to c ...more
Christmas is the time to splurge— not just with presents and food— we're talking decorations. It's that time of year when verdurous fir trees take up half of your living room, when waving elf figurines silhouette your front windows, when Rudolph flies from the rooftops, Santa ...more
If you're lucky enough to have a large, winding staircase, there's no reason not to dress it to the nines for this holiday season. Make sure that your party guests' jaws drop to the floor once you open the door by decorating your staircase with this gorgeous golden splendor th ...more
I am writing this quick post in response to the recent earthquakes and tsunamis that are affecting Japan. As soon as the news broke, and we began to hear of tsunami warning for our area, I immediately realized how under prepared I was for a natural disaster. The thing that dro ...more
A presenter from The Home Depot gives you several tips and professional secrets on how to hang your indoor Christmas lights making this tricky process a little bit easier. She takes you through the selection of lights, planning and the installation of lights. -It's easier to ...more