Post Christmas decorating ideas

[shoyski]

Happy Tuesday!

I need some help with decorating ideas. Christmas is officially over but my side of the family still has to get together. :rolleyes: Don't ask. :p We used to do it at my parent's home but starting this year, we will do it at my house. This is great because we have the youngest kids, ages 3 and 5.

The problem is, we don't want to keep the Christmas decorations up until we celebrate (the third weekend in January). My parents have a fake tree and it was no problem for them to keep it up. Our real tree has long since died and we had to take it down. Plus, I do a monthly soup night and am not anxious to keep holiday decorations up when I'm going to have a house full of people, although I doubt they would care.

Do any of you have ideas of a fun way to decorate for that specific "Christmas weekend"? I was thinking of getting some tall poster paper and drawing a tree that the kids could paint/crayon, etc. I'm hoping for something a little more exciting than that.

TIA,
Shelley :)

[donleyk]

That sounds nice, letting the kids decorate.

I've seen poinsettias used in a tower that has a nice effect. You should be able to get them for a steal now.

[bobmark226]

I've seen poinsettias used in a tower that has a nice effect. You should be able to get them for a steal now.

That was going to be my first suggestion. One area greenhouse has all their pointsettias priced at five dollars each, regardless of size or variety. With just a little care, most are good for a month or two yet!

Also, while I decorate a lot for the season and there are a few things that are "strictly Christmas," think WINTER. I have loads of decorations that stay out until Spring. There are all kinds of snowflake things you can buy or make, including simple cutouts that kids can do which can be displayed. Spray snow can be used on windows and mirrors, and go out and hunt up evergreen branches. Winter winds leave plenty around, and scattered on table tops with pine cones or even in vases with any berry branches you might find. Craft stores, esp. Michael's, have lots of great artificials that can be made into wintery arrangements, too. Plain silver and red ornaments look great in clear glass vases and bowls for a bit of post-Christmas sparkle, too.

HTH,
Bob

[DebGo]

pre-xmas as i was babysitting and had 4 kiddos running around my house i had bought those wooden shapes at michael's and pulled out the paints and let the kids paint/decorate them. we did xmas trees, snowmen, snowflakes. the shapes are like a quarter a piece. it's a fun project and you can make a collage/wreath with them when finished.

i love the idea of the giant tree on paper (you can use butcher paper -- it comes in rolls). use your imagination to decorate it. i'm thinking 2 dimensional with strung popcorn, etc. you can cut the ornament shapes out of construction paper and have the kids color them. make an ornament for each person coming and they can take them home as their gift from the kids (you can do the same with the wooden cut-outs).

i think this will keep the kids involved, be minimal clean-up for you and very festive to boot!

have fun with it!

p.s. we sometimes put hannukah off until jan. as well. too much going on with all the families trying to get together!

[SDMomChef]

I second Bob's suggestions - especially putting some ornaments in bowls - you could also do some baskets with pine cones and string some lights through it as well.

[shoyski]

Thanks, guys. These ideas are great and just what I was looking for. Deb, I really like the idea of making the "tree" 2 dimensional.

Shelley

[LakeMartinGal]

We purchased a tall "topiary"... a tall, thin wire pyramid, and wound garlands around it to be sort of a Christmas tree... easy and inexpensive. I found the topiary at a flea market/antique store for $4! And garlands should be on clearance, now...