Just curious ---

I'm letting the kids do the tree this year - usually, I decorate with a theme of some kind - but they wanted colors this year - so I gave them construction paper, scissors, glue, glitter and a table in the middle of the room after the tree was up with lights. Other than my white lights - it has several strands of colored lights too --- and all kinds of paper ornaments, some box ditties, some glass ornaments in vivid colors, and a white star on the top...

I guess it is a 'theme' of sorts - kids and color --- lol

It's gorgeous!!!

So what does everyone else do???

Jan

I have always had a "theme" tree Jan. I have had everything from Angels, to old fashioned -- modern -- high tech -- to just lights -- to only "homemade". I have had every color you can imagine.

Go figure. Now that I have no kids living with me I have done the "toy" theme this year .. little stuffed bears (I made) complete with toy train .. darling.

Can anyone say "empty nest syndrome"?? I miss my kids!!!!!!!!!! whaaahhh ..

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

DZZZ

<small>[ December 07, 2003, 11:30 PM: Message edited by: Diamonzzz ]</small>

Don't usually have a theme. I have a gazillion Hallmark ornaments going back to 1977 (they started making them in 1973) and the children demand certain ones.

4 years ago, I asked the children if they would like a tree done in origami animals. They said no. And changed their minds in November. I said it couldn't happen...not enough time. But I could do it for the next year.

So, I went to work and folded and folded and folded and folded different animals - for 12 months.

Then, while they were at their dad's for Thanksgiving weekend, I put up the tree. Put clear lights on it. Used some wonderful Italian holographic curling ribbon for garland and put on over 400 origami animals of different kinds - different animals, different colors, different sizes. All made of gift wrap.

An acquaintance, who is an artist, heard about this. She had sene the animals and she told me I needed to call the paper and tell them about this tree. I did and they sent a photographer and reporter out to cover the tree. I thought it would be some little article with a black and white picture about 4x6 inches. Well, the color picture took up almost all the space above the fold of the the front page of the living section. I was flabbergasted......recognized on the streets by strangers.

The big photograph, there were 3, was of me putting the star on top of the tree. I realized the night before the photos were made, that I couldn't use my metal star. It had to be a paper one. So, I made two - composed of 3 separate stars glued together - and used the larger one.

That's been about the only year I have done a theme tree. Would like to do it again sometime. Time is the issue here. Time and inspiration, and cooperation from the munchkins.

I've always been amazed at the themes I come up with - nothing so time consuming as oragami --- though I've considered it.

Snow flakes, angels, lace, PINK, burgundy and gold, poinsettas one year, and toys --- oh - do we ever do toys... I cleaned out the toy box one year - all the stuffies, trains, trucks, etc. They all did the tree thing that year. I was constantly amazed at the number of toys we managed to get on the tree that time. All with streamers of red ribbon and a big bow on the top - we were 200 miles from home, didn't have a tree (until someone gave us that one) and no decorations. The red ribbon was a piece of velvet I'd cut up from a skirt. There was no money for gifts that year and the kids didn't seem to notice as they took the toys off the tree on Christmas morning - pleased just to have them back to play with. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Jan

Cinderalla- how wonderful!!! I think thats great, I always wished I was that talented. What was your kids reaction of the tree?

I this year bought my first FAKE tree, I couldn't deal with getting a real one. Stbxh was alway in charge of those things so I decided to go the fake tree way. I saved my pennies since September and went out last week and brought one at one of those expensive christmas shops.

When I took it out of the box I thought "What were you thinking" it looked like a fake tree but I fixed the branches and it was already pre-lite with white lights. Son came in after I put the star up and said "What a great tree it looks so real". He was always good at saying the right thing. Lol But you know what I love it and it looks really nice. I'm very proud of myself, new traditions! It's a start!!

LJ