Monday, April 2, 2012

How to Make Decorating Easter Eggs Fun for Everyone

Easter Egg Flowers for Spring

Decorating Easter eggs is a tradition with most families, from basic coloring of eggs to 3D crafts and Easter projects. While dipping eggs in dye is fun for toddlers, engaging older kids and other adults decorating Easter eggs can be challenging. Imagination and fun is key to retaining the interest of an older crowd, so the idea is to present Easter egg ideas that allow for personalization and entertainment.

Creating egg people using a variety of themes and materials is a lively way to attract an entire household. Go the extra step and invite guests and neighbors, or turn into a party with a few beverages and snacks to inspire revelry. Create egg people that are more than dyed Easter eggs with faces drawn in marker - master how to make Easter eggs transform into personalities on a platform.

To make Easter egg people, a hot glue gun (or several) and colorful hard boiled dyed Easter eggs are a must. Gather a large supply of craft materials with various themes. Use pipe cleaners, googly eyes, stickers, pompoms, foam pieces, popsicle sticks, and anything else you have lying around the house. Small toys, wigs, and doll clothes all work well. Anything you can incorporate into the scenery becomes part of the fun with this Easter project. Set the table with bowl of various supplies, and hot glue guns within arm's reach.

When everyone is finished, line up the different Easter eggs and enjoy the enthusiastic commenting. Let each person pose with his or her egg person. Don't forget a very important fact: boiled eggs do go bad, and these are not a decoration to save for next year!

Easter Egg pictures: past, present, and...holiday?

Cute Cheerleader EggCute Cheerleader Egg

Egg GolferBlonde Egg Playing Golf

Luau Egg
Festive Luau Egg

Egg Farmer
Egg Farmer in the Dell

Skiing Egg
Ski Bunny...Egg

Preacher Egg

Halloween Scary Pumpkin Egg
Halloween Scary Pumpkin Egg

Silly Turkey Egg
Silly Turkey Egg

Merry Christmas Elf Egg

Pass these Easter egg ideas along and share with family and friends!

These Easter egg pictures were brought to you by the families at Christmas Lights Etc. Read more about Easter decorations with Easter Lights and Easter Decorating Ideas.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Festive Easter Lights and Easter Decorating Ideas

Easter Decorating Ideas using Icicle Lights

Easter Decorating Ideas using Icicle Lights

Celebrate Easter this year with simple Easter decorating ideas to impress the family and set the perfect atmosphere for a gathering. Decorating for Easter has several benefits, including making for good picture backdrops when the little ones hunt eggs and increasing the excitement of visitors. Choosing Easter colors and decorating with centerpieces, wreaths, and Easter lights is key to achieving a theme that the whole family will remember.

Choosing Easter Colors

Because Easter is celebrated when the excitement of Spring is at its peak, Easter decorating ideas can also be used as Spring decorations. Choose bright colors such as purple, green, blue, yellow, and pink to represent new life in the blooming flowers. Pastels of these colors work well in decorating to add brightness, and white represents purity. All of these colors and more can be combined or singled out to create a palette for your unique design.

Allowing children to decorate eggs in any color will also inspire kids. They'll be thrilled when you show off their work and place the eggs in your Easter decorations.

DIY Easter String Lights

DIY Easter String Lights

Easter Lights

Easter lights can be used in many different places throughout the home and yard, whether complementing other decorations, lining staircases, or hanging from trees and porches. While pastel Easter lights are traditional, a nifty idea for displaying Easter lights is by combining them with plastic eggs. Cut a small hole at the bottom of the plastic egg and insert the bulb. If placing these Easter egg lights in an basket, cover the wires with fake grass so that they remain hidden; otherwise, hang Easter lights from trees and overhangs, or drape along tables and mantles.

Easter Wreaths for the Front Door

Welcome friends and family to your home with an Easter wreath on the front door. Creating an Easter wreath is simple. Take any wreath you have and decorate with colorful ribbons, making large bows or long, swooping arcs throughout. Add pastel ornaments and matching plastic eggs to complement Easter lights woven throughout the wreath. This Easter decorating idea can also be left up all Spring.

Easter Table Centerpiece
Easter Table Centerpiece

Easter Centerpieces for the Dinner Table

There are several easy Easter decorating ideas for table centerpieces that draw attention to the table without overpowering the mood:

  • Take a glass bowl and set it in the middle of the table. Fill it with Easter basket grass and nestle pastel ornaments within to represent eggs.

  • Place an Easter basket in the midst of the table and fill with Easter lights, giving the table a warm glow.

Whether using a glass bowl or a child's Easter basket, you can fill with a mixture of lights, ornaments, and even painted eggs for the egg hunt. Coupled with a bright tablecloth or place-mats, these centerpieces will give a lively feeling to any meal.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Valentines Party Ideas for Adults

Valentines Party Ideas for Adults

Valentines Day is not just for school children, and Valentines party ideas for adults can help you create a memorable evening with a cohesive theme. Whether you're in a relationship or single, Valentines Day can be a time of fun with a party that includes the celebration of the love between friends. To really pull off a party that's intended for adults, include Valentines Day decorations and make fun Valentines Day recipes.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

When to Take Down Christmas Decorations - Etiquette and Justifications

Icicle Lights After ChristmasIs it Time to Take Down Christmas Decorations?

Christmas decorations get everyone in the holiday spirit, lifting their moods and opening their hearts to share. But sometimes it can be a struggle to find the time to take down Christmas decorations.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Prelit Christmas Trees: 2011 Switch

The Switch From Live to Artificial

Was this the year you switched from the live tree to an artificial prelit Christmas tree? Several customers opened up on why they chose to switch and cited several common reasons:

  • Allergies to live trees: Some people are allergic to live trees and require the artificial non-allergenic substance.
  • Money: Purchasing a live tree year after year can become expensive, and an artificial tree pays itself off over time.
  • Bugs: Many live trees are infested with bugs if not properly taken care of at tree farms.
  • Hassle: Many customers did not want to deal with the hassle of setting up a live Christmas tree or simply could not deal with the weight of it. Cleaning up after the tree also became troublesome when it shed and required constant watering.
  • Falling: Many customers reported that their live tree continually fell even after decorated.
  • Short lifespan: Live trees died while customers wanted a longer lasting display, thus turning to artificial Christmas trees.

Considering an Artificial

If you've decided that you're ready to move from live tree to prelit Christmas tree, there are several things to keep in mind. There are many artificial trees on the market, but many that are sub-standard in terms of quality. If you enjoy the look of a live tree but not the hassle and other negative factors associated with live, looking for a quality tree is essential. As well as the look, there are seven considerations when buying an artificial Christmas tree. Make sure you know who you're purchasing from when buying an artificial tree.

Lively Artificial Trees

If you want the beneficial features of an artificial tree with the looks of a live tree, there are several options available. The following trees are perfect for live tree enthusiasts:

Hunter Artificial Tree
Hunter Artificial Tree
The Hunter

The Hunter has dramatic downswept branches, mixed green coloring, and small, natural pinecones. It has a full profile for a traditional look and comes in clear incandescent bulbs or warm white LEDs. The Hunter is an extremely realistic artificial tree with a curving arch that bows to the floor, looking much like a fresh tree in the midst of a forest.

Carolina Fir
Carolina Fir
The Carolina Fir

The Carolina Fir is majestic in size and has a blend of light and dark tips resembling fresh growth. The tree has flat sprays and slender tips that branch upward and outward in a staggered appearance. The tree boasts a high tip count and comes in clear or multicolor lights.

Brighton Fir
Brighton Fir
The Brighton Fir

The Brighton Fir is a very traditional looking artificial Christmas tree with a healthy mix of dark and light needles. It comes in several profiles from traditionally full to medium, slender, or even the smallest, pencil profile. Coming in multicolor or clear lights, the Brighton Fir has a high light count and brightens up any space.

Blue Aspen Fir
Blue Aspen Fir
The Blue Aspen Fir

The Blue Aspen Fir has a full profile with a dense interior and soft blue-green colors throughout. It looks very much like a tree in a snowy forest. Available in clear incandescent bulbs or warm white LEDs, the Blue Aspen draws the eye with its powerful height and thick base.

Did You Make the Switch?

If you're one of the many consumers who purchased an artificial Christmas tree instead of a live tree, share with us why in the comments. If you're considering a prelit Christmas tree, why not purchase now for this season and many seasons to come? Artificial Christmas trees can look just as realistic as live and last much longer, so enjoy a prelit Christmas tree today. You'll be satisfied with your purchase.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Top 12 Christmas Decoration Light Shows of 2011

The Christmas Light Tradition

Christmas lights weren't always everywhere, and they certainly weren't as ornate as they are today. When Edison first invented the light bulb, he didn't think that Christmas lights would become the standard, though, believe it or not, he was the first to encourage the use of Christmas lights during December, the darkest month of the year. Initially, Edison decorated for Christmas with light bulbs, but because they were so expensive, he encouraged others to rent them as opposed to buying them. Funny how times have changed. Now you can't go a block without seeing a house decorated with Christmas lights, and Christmas light shows have become some of the most ornate traditions in America.

As homage to the twelve days of Christmas, check out our list of top twelve Christmas light shows for 2011.

The Best Christmas Pop Song House

This house takes a traditional Christmas song and brings it to life with dancing Christmas lights. Between the shooting stars on the front of their house and the tree in the yard that appears to be waving back and forth, the movement in this piece is astounding.

The Best Video Game Inspired House

That is an angry, angry house based on the popular game Angry Birds. It has one of the catchiest tunes, and this bright house totally captures the essence of the game.

The Best Christmas Carol House

The pinwheel in the yard and the candles with shooting star tops really bring life to the house and make the whole show unique.

The Best Heavy Metal House

You're not hearing that wrong; that is indeed a Christmas light show playing Slayer. Any metal fan would love to live across from this house (I know I would).

The Best Techno House

Sandstorm by Darude is a great dance song, though I've never before thought to combine it with Christmas lights. The spinning candy canes not only scream Christmas spirit but also pull in the techno feel. I would totally have a dance party at this house.

The Best Movie Inspired House

The Polar Express, a movie that captured real movements of people to bring a popular children's book to life, is actually playing in the window of this house while the light show goes on. The entire house dances as the figures in the movie dance to "Hot Chocolate," a song from the movie.

The Best Sports Inspired House

If you're an MSU fan, this house will bring a tear to your eye. Decorated in MSU colors, green and white, the lights play along to the pregame fight song for the university team.

The Most American House

Decorated in red, white, and blue, this house is dedicated to all American troops and veterans. The song, a mix of American pride songs, plays while the house dances and the American flag stays steady overhead.

The Best Hymn Inspired House

The falling snowflakes have a grace to them that is reminiscent of the song while the white, green, and red colors call attention to the season. The song itself is a new take on an old classic, and the lights fit it well.

The Best Christmas Epic House

Anyone who has ever watched one of the Christmas light show videos knows this song. "Wizards in Winter" by the Trans Siberian Orchestra has come to represent all those who enjoy Christmas to the extreme, and this house with each light blinking as part of the song, certainly is extreme.

The Best Bluegrass House

These Christmas lights are dueling, and not in the traditional sense: they're dueling with banjos. The light show itself uses complementary colors (red and green) to distinguish between the two banjo players as if the lights really are interacting with each other.

Best in Show

This house is huge, and the lights are overwhelming. The spinning trees, the dancing snowflakes, and the glittering house makes this video Best in Show. Let's just say that I'll be sharing this with my friends on Facebook.

More Christmas Light Shows

There are a ton more Christmas light shows on Youtube from years previous. Each year, the light shows seem to grow bigger and more impressive. If you have a light show you'd like to share, connect with us on Facebook.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

TruTip Christmas Trees Impress Even Live Tree Enthusiasts

TruTip Christmas Trees
TruTipTM Christmas Trees

Realistic Artificial Christmas Trees

Everyone loves the look of a real tree, but not everyone can facilitate a live tree with its many needs. Watering can become a hassle, and shedding needles requires constant cleaning. Realistic artificial Christmas trees offer the look of a live tree but with the life span of an artificial tree, and Red Sleigh trees with TruTipTM technology are some of the most realistic Christmas trees available.

TruTipTM artificial Christmas trees have molded PVC and PE tips based on real tree families so that the artificial tree looks as lively as possible. With a mix of pigments and superior craftsmanship, it's hard to tell the difference between TruTipTM trees and a live tree. Check out a few of the TruTipTM selection and be surprised at the look.

Carolina Fir Tree
Carolina Fir Tree

The Carolina Fir

The Carolina Fir is a dense tree with a staggered appearance and outreaching branches. The tips are a beautiful mix of light and dark greens so that overall appearance is that of a powerful tree in the midst of a forest. The tree boats high tip counts for its family and comes in a range of heights from 4.5' to 12' with either clear or multicolor lamps. With its many variations, full appearance, and impressive base width, the Carolina Fir is one of the most recommended TruTipTM trees.

Blue Aspen Fir Tree
Blue Aspen Fir Tree

The Blue Aspen

The Blue Aspen Fir is a tree based on the very popular Noble Fir design and is one of the newest members of the TruTipTM family. It is a lively tree with a full profile and a modest base width so that it fits in a range of spaces. The tree varies from 6.5' to 9' in height in either clear incandescent bulbs or warm white LEDs. The most eye catching part of the Blue Aspen is its beautiful coloring. The tips are a rich mix of green and blue modeled after the real Blue Aspen Fir.

Colorado Pine Tree
Colorado Pine Tree

The Colorado Pine

The Colorado Pine has one of the largest base widths of the TruTipTM Christmas trees. It is a powerful tree available in heights from 6.5' to 9' in clear incandescent bulbs or warm white LEDs. While it is a new tree in the TruTipTM line, it is no less loved. The Colorado Pine has thick foliage but enough space to showcase many ornaments and has additional pine cones for a touch of the forest in each branch. The Colorado Pine is a gorgeous way to start a Christmas tradition.

TruTipsTM Comparable to Live Trees

These three Christmas trees are only a small selection of what TruTipTM has to offer. All of the artificial TrutipTM trees have the same gorgeous PE / PVC mixed tips for the most realistic appearance possible. With different styles, base widths, colors, and tip styles, there is an artificial Christmas tree for even the most live tree enthusiast.