This mantel garland coordinates with the Crystalled Pomegranate and Pear Christmas tree, only with a few less elements. Products included are a garland, fruit stems, holly vines, and the 5 inch wide ribbon that coordinated with the ribbon used in the tree.

The garland is 14″ x 9′ and pre-lit. I used 5 yards of ribbon to create this effect. Be sure to tuck and bring the ribbon over and under the garland, then back over and around again. The video will explain in greater detail how to create these mantel Christmas decorations ideas in your home.

If this space were more open, with possibly a picture or mirror hanging higher than the flatscreen TV, you could incorporate more product. I would use it least seven of each item.

What a wonderful surprise it would be for your partner that has a love language centered around “Physical Touch,” if they had a coupon for a weekly massage from you!  Physical touch is another in the series on Love Languages discussed in the 2nd part of this holiday gifts series. My husband loves a scalp massage. I teasingly tell him he likes that more than other more intimate gestures… we can tease each other like that and it adds to the fun.  He has helped assemble and disassemble a decorated Christmas tree for the trade.  I try not to take advantage of him and it always seems to be a trade-off. Most of the time it leads to one of my favorites:  a foot rub!

Creative Holiday Gifts

In part 3 of this holiday gift series I showed you a way to be creative with words of appreciation in your tree ornaments. The same idea can be used to give a gift centered around physical touch. You could roll a “coupon” for a massage into a tree ornament, as seen in the picture in that post.

Bernadette Dimtrov continues with number six as destressor because giving is all about looking outside ourselves with no expectations of anything in return.  It is putting others first for concentrated moments of time.  The ritual of giving takes the focus off of ourselves and the stresses in life are handled with a more balanced focus.

Acts of Service & Holiday Gifts: Part 5

Did you know that the decorated tree and Christmas wreath on the door, and even the fresh boughs on the fireplace mantel create predictability?  We all love the comfort of predictability; especially children as it gives them a sense of security with the anticipation of your holiday decorations.  The ritual of giving is created by the predictable act of giving  (especially at birthdays and Christmas celebrations), experiences of appreciation and acknowledgment,  and of love and being made to feel extra special. (Bernadette Dimtrov)

Family decorating a Christmas tree courtesy timtim.com

If gifts, words and time aren’t expressing your love language, possibly you or your loved one prefer acts of service.  Seeing the holiday decorations come to life create an excitement and anticipation of special deeds to perform.  The very act of producing decorated Christmas trees takes on a whole new meaning when it becomes a gift of service.  Even holiday baking creates the predictability of the happy faces while receiving your favorite Christmas treats.

What makes Acts of Service a “Love Language“  worth acting on?  If this is yours or your partners form of loving communication, it may seem predictable that you help out a little more during the holidays.  I can guarantee that the mood will be more merry and bright with less stress!  I mentioned a coupon book in Holiday Gifts Part 3 that adds a personal touch of appreciated services under the Christmas tree.  Christmas decorating ideas could be as simple as “I owe you’s” tied with ribbon to a snowflake on your tree and/or wreath. Be sure to make it special — personal, even unexpected for what you would normally do.  That will add to the excitement!

Quality Time & Holiday Gifts: Part 4

Destressor & Holiday Gifts: Part 6

Creating memories for the holidays includes family fun and special moments such as  placing  Christmas tree ornaments on the Christmas tree with your loved ones. (see Christopher Radko Christmas Ornaments and Mrs Fulton)

Quality time as a family is one of the best holiday gift ideas

In my previous post about the The Five Love Languages,  I discussed “Words of Appreciation” as a “Love Language”.  This post is about “Quality Time” as a strong contender. This love language is not about words of love and appreciation –  it is about proximity. It is about having the undivided focus and attention of the person you love.  This person would probably enjoy games or puzzles wrapped under the decorated Christmas tree.  You could customize to their interests making sure the one on one or group need is met.

My husband and I have decided that planning and going on special trips together and creating those memories take the pressure off of Christmas shopping for each other.  One of our trips was to the island of Kaui the week before Christmas.  We were to arrive home the eve of Christmas eve with guests arriving Christmas eve.  Our redeye flight arrived in LA bright in early with a connecting flight leaving at 6 a.m. to arrive home, leaving plenty of time to unpack and finish decorating the Christmas tree ( a job hazard when always doing it for others).  Unfortunately our flight was delayed and our seats reassigned with not another flight in any airline leaving until late that evening.  Luckily we both roll with the flow and decided to rent a car for the 6 Hour Drive home.

We had kayaked to a remote waterfall, took a catamaran to the forbidden Island, Snuba Dived and went on an amazing helicopter ride that made me cry with the sheer beauty of the island.  After all of that, our six-hour drive home had to be counted as one of my favorite memories for that trip.  Having said that, arriving home I went into hyper mode to be ready for guests.  I don’t know that I will pull that stunt again, at least not that close to the holidays, especially with out-of-town guests involved — Lol!!!

What makes your holiday special?

Expressing feelings: Holiday Gifts Part 3

Acts of Service & Holiday Gifts: Part 5

This video is another taken at Baish and Skinner to illustrate more Christmas tree ideas. I love how the designer used the copper and rust tones fall tones to make a seamless transition from a post Thanksgiving holiday to the Christmas holiday.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I can teach you how to decorate a Christmas tree like a pro. Future videos will show easy to follow steps with  illustrated images of  trees in progressive stages of design. We’ll also chat about decorating a Christmas tree with ribbon. Stay tuned for more decorating ideas.

I love going to Baisch and Skinner to see their new products. There is always a variety of goodies to inspire and fuel new Christmas tree decorating ideas.  Watch this video for a look at one of many examples of decorated Christmas trees at the store. They really have some fabulous tree ornaments.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Used in the decorating of this tree were snowflakes, crystals, and  pearls.

In the 2nd part of this series, Relationship Benefits of Holiday Gifts , we talked about The Five Love Languages and how they relate to relationship building. In this post we will talk about the 3rd benefit of giving  gifts, as described by Bernadette Dimitrov as “expressing feelings” (see Psychological Benefits of Holiday Gifts

Giving gifts, Dimitrov states, is a way to express and show feelings especially if you are not comfortable expressing them through words.  Giving is an opportunity to express a whole range of feelings such as gratitude, appreciation and thanks.

In The Five Love Languages Dr. Chapman identifies “Words of Appreciation” as one of the love languages. This love language includes statements that express words of  love, adoration, appreciation and devotion — a simple “Thank you for being there for me” or “Dinner was so wonderful”, may be just what you’re longing for, if this is your primary love language.  This may feel a little awkward at first for those who are not comfortable expressing their feelings aloud.

Love notes as Holiday Gifts

Expressing yourself  to your loved one with either a letter under the Christmas tree or a love note of gratitude rolled into a Christmas tree ornament will surprise and delight those that long for that gesture.  A custom coupon book redeemable for kind acts and/or words that express appreciation may be the perfect gift under many decorated Christmas trees. Remember, Christmas decorating ideas and gifts come in many shapes, sizes and words!

Holiday Gift Ideas and The Five Love Languages

Christmas tree ornaments inscribed with words have become very popular. Write words of appreciation and love and tape a note to the word such as the word “Faith” (Example: Honey — I have faith in you and our love, with a heart or XO XO at the end) or for the word “Hope” (I hope you know how much I appreciate everything you do… You amaze me!) The ideas are endless, think about it — I am sure you will come up with your own way to express yourself  for your partner and loved ones.

Relationship Benefits of Holiday Gifts: Part 2

Holiday Gifts: Quality Time Part 4

Learn to give more meaningful Holiday Gifts

The holidays are the perfect time to deepen relationships.  Have you ever wondered how to foolproof your ideas for holiday gifts? Here’s how: by understanding your gift receivers love language!  The book “The Five Love Languages” by Dr. Gary Chapman, described the importance of learning and speaking your partners love language.  According to this concept, to develop or maintain a healthy relationship you must learn to love your significant other in a way that he or she can interpret.  I feel this can be said for family and friends as well.

Dr. Chapman continues: “if you speak Dutch to someone who only understand English, communication is not taking place.  No matter what you say or how you beautifully you say it, that person won’t receive the message as you mean it.  By the same token, we all seem to express and comprehend love according to different love languages.”  They are as follows: words of appreciation, quality time, gifts, acts of service and physical touch.

Those of you that enjoy a decorated Christmas tree and hanging Christmas ornaments would be considered visual and tactical, especially if you enjoy Christmas decorating with your own hands.  Bernadette Dimitrov mentions “by sharing past and future thoughts we give ourselves in an intimate way… we deepen relationship as we share and express more of who we are.” Creating Christmas decorating traditions can start with expressing your feelings. Perhaps  a new dimension can be added to your relationships as you lovingly select and give holiday gifts with your new understanding of The Five Love Languages.

Psychological Benefits of Holiday Gifts: Part 1

Expressing feelings with Holiday Gifts: Part 3

Did you know that giving holiday gifts creates happiness and psychological health?  As we perform that act of generosity it nourishes love in our relationships and builds the human spirit.  Bernadette Dimitrov noted that “research shows that people who give without expectation and who do not feel diminished by the act of giving are the most psychologically healthy in our society today.

She mentions seven benefits of giving holiday gifts:

1. Builds Relationships (reinforcing appreciation and acknowledgment)
2. Deepens Relationships (expressing more of who we are)
3. Expresses Feelings (such as gratitude, appreciations and thanks)
4. Creates Memories (as a symbol of our love)
5. Creates Predictability (the ritual of giving)
6. De-stressor ( takes focus off ourselves and creates balance)
7. Creates Miracles (reinforces love in all our lives when we give for the greater good)

Christmas gifts can have psychological benefits

Giving reinforces appreciation and acknowledgments of each other.  Having related that, have you ever been given a Christmas gift that really didn’t belong under the Christmas tree for you?  We can be gracious all day long and grateful for the thoughtful gesture, but with all the gratitude of a loving heart — you still don’t have a clue what you would do with the Christmas gift!

We often times give to others what we wish we could buy for ourselves or think they need.  I don’t know about you, but when the Christmas tree ornaments are on the Christmas tree and the fireplace mantel is adorned to emit holiday cheer, I want to know that the relationship I am nurturing by giving a gift is accompanied by something that reinforces love and builds the bond of a treasured relationship. The point of this is that when we give without expecting anything in return we create true spiritual and psychological health.

What if your partner has a problem with spending money and you enjoy gifts? We will discuss the five love languages and the relationship building aspect of Holiday Gifts in Part 2.

Abstract example of the Murrine Technique

How are the colors of blown glass Christmas ornaments achieved?  Depending upon the look a glassmaker is trying to achieve the techniques and materials will vary (read more on Venetian glassblowing used in Christmas ornaments ). Aquamarine is created through the use of copper and cobalt compounds whereas ruby red uses a gold solution as a coloring agent.

Murrine technique (made by placing a series of small glass rods in a cylindrical metal mold to create an image or a pattern) begins with the layering of colored liquid glass, which is then stretched into long rods called canes.  When cold, these canes then sliced in cross-section, which has the layered pattern.  The better known term “millefiori” (Italian for thousands of flowers), is a style of murrine that is defined by each layer of molten color being shaped by a mold into a star, then cooled and layered  again.  When sliced, this type of murrine has  many points.  Filigree a type of cain working, incalmo, enamel painted, engraving, gold engraving, lattimo, ribbed glass and submersion are just a few of the other techniques a glassmaker can employ.

Venetian glass Christmas ornament

Sommerso (lit.”submerged” in Italian), or “sunken glasses”, is a form of artistic Murano glass that has layers of contrasting colors- typically two,  which are formed by dipping the object in molten glass; the outermost layer, or casing is often clear like many of the blown glass Christmas ornaments today.  Sommerso was first formed in Murano during the late thirties, made popular by Seguso d’Arte in the fifties.  This process is a popular technique used for vases, and is sometimes used to form sculptures.

Tools, as you can only imagine, were essential in making hand blown glass Christmas ornaments and other fine pieces of art.  The Murano artians tools for glassmaking included borselle (tongs or pliers used to hand-form the red hot glass), canna da soffio (blowing pipe), pontello (an iron rod to which the craftsman attaches the object after blowing in order to add final touches), scagno (the glass-masters workbench) and tagianti ( large glass cutting clippers).

Here is an interesting video that shows an artisan creating a glass horse (learn more about Murano in “Christmas ornaments: My trip to Venice”).

Click here to view the embedded video.