Best of … ideas to decorate a Christmas tree

Contributed by Jenna Scaglione, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Chestnuts are roasting on an open fire and our homes are teeming with holiday Christmas spirit!

The time has come to set up the Christmas tree and adorn it with decorations and holiday cheer. This year try to do something a little different to express your creativity.

Need a little help? Here are some creative Christmas tree decorating ideas:

Picture Ornaments

Celebrate family

Having relatives over for the holidays? Nothing welcomes your loved ones more than a Picture Ornament Tree, reflecting the years of joy and blessed times you’ve spent together. Creating this theme is easy; simply purchase very small frames and transform them into ornaments by attaching different color ribbons with hot glue. You can also find ornament frames at stores like Shindigz and insert your favorite photos. Delight your guests as they view this warm and loving addition to the holiday festivities. You can also ask each of them to bring a photo ornament to place on your tree.

Popcorn Garland

Festive and delicious

Pop pop pop! Popcorn garland encircling a Christmas tree has become the tried and true decoration that excites young and old alike! This Christmas tradition has evolved over the years and many have become very creative with it. To take your popcorn garland up a notch, add colored beads like the beautiful Christmas Lampwork Beads from Oriental Trading in between every 3 or 4 popcorn pieces to create a dramatic effect and inject vibrant color. And for a very popular twist for the tiny tots, take the popcorn garland off the tree on Christmas Eve, put it in a bowl and leave it for the jolly man in the bright red suit. In the morning when the bowl is empty, the kids will squeal with delight!

Crafts Galore

Get the entire family involved

Nothing says Christmas and family like a homemade-themed tree full of delightful paper and jeweled decorations made with love by members of your family! Getting the kids and even the grandparents involved in creating paper-chain garland, cardboard snowflakes, painted walnuts and popsicle-stick stars, bridges the generations and becomes one of the highlights of the Christmas season. Add paint and some glitter from Consumer Crafts to your creations and the personal family touch will be the best and most exciting part of your season.

It’s Baby Time

Celebrate your new arrival

Expecting a baby or have a new addition to your family? Let the joy of this precious bundle reflect in your Christmas tree decorations with a baby-themed tree! Along with pastel pink, blue, yellow and green Christmas balls, add baby booties, rattles and pacifiers. Then, add a more elegant touch with the Snowprints Child’s Handprint Ornament from The Lighter Side. The base of the tree can be wrapped in several infant blankets held together with large, brightly colored baby pins. To add the finishing touch, top the tree with a baby ornament such as an angel or stork.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Jingle all the way

The sounds of Christmas are everywhere and what could be a better time than the present to decorate your tree with a Jingle Bell theme? Sunshine Crafts sells jingle bells in a wide variety of colors and sizes perfect for attaching to the tree with colorful ribbon. Add a bit of whimsy by painting them and adding sparkles, beads and pearls. Top your masterpiece with a cowbell for fun. Finally, intermingle holiday candies in between the bells and let visiting children pick their favorites for dessert.

Get creative this Christmas when deciding on your Christmas tree decorations. There are no limits. If you can create it, you can do it!