Scottish Christmas Trees

It is always such a joy when something that is designed and handmade from scratch at ScottishChristmasTrees is an instant hit! Our Limited Edition Wreaths have only just been finalised and they are already exceeding expecation in out selling our standard options! Maybe people are wanting to lift the spirits and go all out with a colourful splash to their front doors!

We’ve been reading with great interest some tips and ideas on the Ideal Home website the internet really is a wonderful way of getting great decorative inspiration!

If you have young, or young at heart people, in the home, then a favourite Christmas tree decoration is that made from edible products. There are several issues to deal with when it comes to using edible products, the most obvious being that people will eat the tree bare. A second problem is that of health and keeping some products fresh. There is a solution to the second problem; with the first problem, all we can suggest is to keep plenty of extras on hand to fill the gaps.

The edible Christmas tree starts with a live cut or pot grown Christmas tree, and a range of edible products. These can included:

• nuts – still in their shells
• dried fruits
• whole fresh fruits
• biscuits/cookies
• popcorn garlands
• sweets/candies

When using dried fruits, biscuits/cookies and sweets/candy, it is advisable to wrap them in cellophane to ensure they remain fresh and edible. Clear cellophane works well as the contents can be seen. Clear cellophane also works well with Christmas lights as they either bounce off or shine through. Whole fruits can be hung from string bags, however, keep heavier for lower stronger branches. Popcorn looks good as a garland, however, it doesn’t remain fresh for very long so either use it cautiously or paint the popped corn before threading and use it as a pure decoration only.

Traditional Christmas trees were edible trees. The origin of many of the modern decorations come from the practice of using fruits and nuts to decorate a tree at Christmas. Baubles were originally designed to replace fruit like apples and pears. In some parts of Europe, villagers still gather each year to decorate a tree with food items. These items are distributed on Christmas day to those in community who are less well off and in need of a helping hand.

Christmas wreaths have found favour again and you’ll find many front doors with wreaths hanging proudly this year. While many people go for the plastic wreaths, you really can’t beat the style of a wreath made using fresh Christmas tree foliage. You can make your own wreath from scratch by taking a lower branch from a live Christmas tree, however, buying an original undecorated wreath is often easier, and they are not that expensive.

Before decorating your wreath, give it a good shake to remove any loose needles. You’ll find that our wreaths are so fresh there won’t be much in the way of needle drop. Once you are ready to decorate, lay your wreath down and determine the top and bottom of the wreath. Look at the texture to see what looks right when it comes to orientation. Now you’re ready to decorate.

A couple of tips worth noting before you get started:

• Don’t overcrowd your wreath
• Use small decorations or decorations that are light weight
• Less is more when it comes to variety so don’t make your wreath too busy
• Choose a colour scheme for your decorations – white looks great as does red
• Consider clustering your decorations together leaving open spaces of foliage
• Place your decorations loosely on top before fixing them into place.

Decorations are easier to attach if you have plastic coated twist ties. Thread the twist tie through the decoration then through the foliage of your wreath. You can then push the ties through to the back and twist them firmly. Don’t tie them too tightly as you’ll crush the foliage and the decorations will bury themselves into the foliage.

When decorating, step back and check your work regularly. If you place the decorations loosely on top first, you can rearrange them until you get your desired look, then you can firmly attach them. Remember to keep the wreath moist by misting regularly. When people knock on your door, it will be a unique hand decorated Christmas wreath that you did. Of course, if you don’t have the time decorate one yourself, you could always check out what we have on offer>

There are millions of people who are going to be away from family this Christmas, and while the Internet has certainly made the world a lot smaller, everyone will feel that absence – those at home, and those away from home. Traditionally, we send Christmas cards and gift. Even that is changing now as people turn to e-Cards and buy gifts online that are automatically sent to the loved one. Have you considered sending a green gift this Christmas?

Green gifts can come in a number of formats. We can send, on your behalf, a wonderful Christmas wreath. There are a number to choose from, however, if you really want to make someone’s Christmas special, order in a plain wreath and decorate it yourself. You can either personally deliver it, or you can send it to them through the parcel post service. Our Christmas wreaths are made using real foliage from Christmas trees, and a wide assortment of decorations.

Another green alternative is a real live Christmas tree. We can deliver either a fresh cut real Christmas tree, or a tree that is still growing in a pot. If you are close enough to deliver the tree yourself, consider a small pot grown tree that you can hand deliver, already decorated. Better yet, deliver the tree and Christmas decorations and spend some time decorating the tree together.

Christmas wreaths and Christmas trees are relatively inexpensive, yet they make a great gift. One of the benefits of a pot grown Christmas tree is that it will live on after Christmas, and if kept in a pot, can be re-used for several more years. A green gift could be the novel gift that makes this Christmas special for a loved one, especially if you’re a long way from home.

The key to decorating a Christmas tree
to a theme is repetition and simplicity. You can use any theme you that takes your imagination, just be sure you have plenty of decorations to support the theme. What you shouldn’t do is cover your tree in a hundred different decorations. You are better off having dozen decorations that you use repeatedly – this is what reinforces your therm.

When it comes colours, red is one of the most popular. Decorate your tree with various-sized red baubles, tinsel and garlands, then scatter in decorations with complimentary colours. Silver and black go well with a red-themed Christmas tree, however, you select the complimentary colours that suit your personality. This holds true for all decorations.

Other popular themes include Santa, angels and stars.  Older themes include using fruits, both fresh and dried; flowers, both fresh and dried, and a combination of fruits, flowers and nuts. More modern themes include beach or seaside inspired decorations; monochromatic themes whereby all decorations are a shade of the one colour; and the ultra modern look using bold unusual colours such as purple, pink and orange.

One trend that is now popular is to the theme a Christmas tree according to the room it is in. This decorates a tree using colours that compliment the interior paint and the furnishings. What these themes do have in common is what I started with, repetition and simplicity. Keep the design simple, and learn to repeat decorations in both size and color. There is one exception to this – don’t be afraid to scatter a couple of larger decorations on your tree, they really do add contrast. If you have themed your tree, for example, a teddy bear theme, then a couple of larger teddies spread around the tree really delivers the message.

I know there are a lot of people who worry over Christmas lights. The factor that concerns them the most is the electricity in the lights – and it’s not the cost that worries them. Every now and then we hear about a house fire over the Christmas period. Sometimes the cause of the fire is attributed to lights on a Christmas tree. This is unfortunate because, while the lights may have caused the fire, it is often the negligence of the user that is at fault. If Christmas lights are well cared for, and if they are used properly, they should never be a cause for concern. Modern LED lights cause even fewer problems as they generate little heat and use minimal amounts of power.

There are alternatives to the traditional Christmas lights. These are battery operated lights that run off three AAA batteries. Because they are LED lights, they use little power, generate little if any heat, and the batteries last for quite some time. Battery operated lights are not as long as normal lights, generally having only 20 lights over 2 meters. You could put that too good use by stringing up several different colors together making for an interesting effect.

Battery operated lights are convenient for areas where there is no easy access to mains power. They also allow you to decorate your tree and to then move it to wherever you want it without having to trail power cables behind you. Standard Christmas tree lights are safe when used correctly. Obviously, once you deviate from what is considered “safe use,” you could be asking for trouble. If in doubt, then check out battery operated Christmas lights

Whilst the traditional Christmas tree is one that sits in a corner and almost reaches the ceiling, it doesn’t have to be. You can put together a smaller decorative tabletop Christmas tree that really looks traditional, yet very different. What’s even better, you can use a real Christmas tree and not a plastic imitation tree.

Pot grown Christmas trees are perfect for this project, and for a table top, you will need to select one of the smaller trees. The Norway Spruce pot grown tree in the 70cm-90cm (2ft4ins-2ft11ins) is ideal and ready right now for delivery. At £29.00 it is well priced as well but stocks are limited so order one in now for immediate delivery. You will also need a brightly coloured bucket to stand the pot in (pots are 25-30cm high); and a range of decorations suitable for a Christmas tree.

Because this is going to be a table top tree, it is best to use smaller decorations rather than large bulky decorations. When it comes to lighting your Christmas tree, you may want to consider the red, blue or clear LED fine wire battery lights. These run from AA batteries rather than mains power, so there are no power cable problems running across the table and/or floor – it also makes the tree very portable should you need to move it. Each string has 20 lights and will cover 95cms – a couple of strings will do nicely in a small decorative table top Christmas tree – perhaps a string each of red and blue. A point to note – wire lights are just that – wires with lights every 5cm. These wires can be bent to any desired shape, perfect for a small tree.

Once you have all of your materials, string the lights first concentrating on the inside rather than the outside.  Once your tree is lit, add your  decorations working from the inside out, and from the bottom up. Try to keep a balanced look, however, be imaginative, after all, there really isn’t a right or wrong way to decorate Christmas trees – just your way. Being a live Christmas tree, don’t forget to water it regularly and to keep it away from any direct heat sources. Otherwise, this tree will look superb on any table.

Can you believe there are only nine weeks and a couple days left until Christmas? The year seems to have gone by so quickly. Have you ordered your Christmas tree yet? If not, you should get in quick, otherwise they will all be gone. In fact, our trees will be ready in four weeks from today, and we are well geared up, ready for the rush that always besets us at this time of the year.

Our Christmas trees are nurtured along throughout the year with one aim in mind, to be at their best come harvest time. We don’t harvest trees unless we have specific orders for them as each tree is picked ready for immediate shipment – the only way you’ll get a fresher tree is by having one growing in a pot – and we have them available again this year as well.

So what sort of tree to do you like? Tall and narrow, or do you like the traditional squat looking tree? This Christmas, you can select between the traditional Norway Spruce, the very popular Nordman Fir, and the beautifully perfumed Fraser Fir. If you want a live tree that you can use again and again, then this year we have the popular Norway Spruce Christmas trees available in pots. Look after them well and you can use them again for the following Christmas.

Real live cut Christmas trees are back in vogue now. People appreciate the perfume, look and feel that only a real Christmas tree can offer and once fully decorated, fill a room with a real Christmas feel. If you haven’t ordered your Christmas tree yet, then do so as soon as possible. While you’re at it, check out our range of Christmas lights and decorations – you can dress your tree to look its very best then.

Here’s a suggestion that all the family can do – turning your old Christmas cards into Christmas decorations. It doesn’t have to be old Christmas cards either – if you haven’t kept them, then pick up one of those boxes of cheap cards and use them. Your options are many and this is one activity that even the smallest child can help with, especially if you have children’s safety scissors.

Kids love to cut things out so let them cut out the pictures from the front of your Christmas cards. Use a small hole punch to put holes in the cut out images, then either thread them onto a long piece of thread or use them with plastic cable ties to decorate your Christmas tree. If you want a different look, cut the verse that often appears inside Christmas cards and scatter them around your tree – the effect is even better if you cut them out in different shapes.

Images that have been threaded can be used to frame windows, doorways or from corner to corner in a room. Your children can also make interesting Christmas collages that can be placed in windows, or in their bedrooms. If you are dexterous with a craft knife, you can cut images from the front of cards that place the card just in front of  Christmas lights – the effect is a little like a lantern with light coming through where the image has been removed. Your use of old Christmas cards is really only limited by your imagination.

If you receive a few Christmas cards each year, consider punching a hole in one corner of the card and hanging them from the branches of your Christmas tree. They help to add dimension to the tree, especially if hung close to the truck rather than from the ends of branches. We live in a world of recycling and reusing, so why let your youngsters recycle those old Christmas cards – they make great Christmas decorations.

While we focus a lot of creative attention to decorating Christmas trees, we often forget all about the top of the tree.  Instead of being creative, most decorators revert to the traditional star or angel for their tree. Why don’t you become creative and add something completely different to the top of your tree this Christmas? Here are a few Christmas tree topper suggestions to consider.

• Feathers – you can buy imitation feathers from most craft shops. Peacock feathers can add some real elegance to a tree – and certainly look different.
• Flowers – a posy of fresh flowers can make a great Christmas tree topper. You can also consider larger flowers such as a white poinsettia or hydrangea.
• Snow Flake – your children will enjoy helping here, in fact, most school age children are better at making a snow flake than their parent. Fold up a sheet of white paper then cut a snow flake design. Unfold and behold a wonderful snow flake for the top of your tree.
• Ribbons – create an elegant and formal bow tie using ribbon,  or simply hang coloured ribbons in a streamer effect. It’s your tree, use your imagination.
• Teddy Bears – teddy bears make great decorations, whether it’s small bears for the tree, or a large bear for the top, they look great. If you have a young member of the family, make it their teddy once Christmas has finished.
• Toys – there are a wide range of toys that can be added to the top of a Christmas tree. Make sure the toy is not too large for the tree.
• Photos – for the sentimentalists, photos of absent or departed family members often bring sobriety to Christmas, they also make the tree somewhat special.
• Star – while a star is very traditional, you can make your own. Make a wire five pointed star then decorate it with what ever comes to hand. Small coloured baubles, paper, flowers – again, use your imagination.
• Mix’n'Match – try mixing several of these ideas together, for example, a teddy with a posy of fresh flowers, or a hand made stare with ribbons.

Christmas tree toppers can be anything that appeals to you and your family. The joy of a modern Christmas tree is that there is no right or wrong way to decorate a tree when it comes to being creative. If the end result looks good in your eyes, then that is what matters most. Tree toppers add that final finish, and you don’t have to stick with traditional Christmas stars, create your own stunning effect instead.