CHRISTMAS
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True Christmas lighted Outdoor-Decorations were not introduced to the public until 1927-1928, almost 45 years after the first electric tree lights were demonstrated. There were sets offered for sale as safe to use outside decorations before 1927, but they were small, dangerous and extremely impractical for the average family.
Philippines, Photo EPA
What is your special |
Thousands of people all over the world
decorate for Christmas. Lots of people like to share their heart at Christmas by adding outdoor yard decorations to the front of their homes and businesses.
Do you like to decorate or drive by and look...or both? With your help we can compile a list of Seasonal drive by's so you can share your heart or have it warmed by others. This will be a list by State or Country and when enough addresses are available in a City or Town I will "map" the locations for each. Share your heart with the world.
Everyone has their own unique way of decorating. Some just put up Christmas Lights. These could be icicle lights, C9’s(the traditional large), the C7’s(the middle size) or the Mini Lights called fairy lights or if your are from Chicago - Italian Lights.
Champaigne, IL
Over a period of time, strings of Christmas lights found their way into use in places other than Christmas trees. Soon, strings of lights adorned mantles and doorways inside homes, and ran along the rafters, roof lines, and porch railings of homes and businesses. In recent times, many city skyscrapers are decorated with long mostly-vertical strings of a common theme, and are activated simultaneously in
Grand Illumination.
Court House, TX(above) (right)Lausanne, Switzerland. Photo M Claire
Christmas light sculptures are light sculptures used as Christmas decorations and for other holidays. Originally, these were large wire frame metalwork pieces made for public displays, such as for a municipal government to place on utility poles, and shopping centers to place on lampposts. Since the 1990s, these are also made in small plastic home versions that can be hung in a window, or on a door or wall. Attached to them are strings of Christmas lights, typically the large C7 screw-in bulbs for outdoor types, and miniature lights for indoor ones.
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| Then came lawn decorations. One of the first attempts to market a setup of this type for home use; involved more than a little of the "do it yourself"; so prevalent in the 1950s. Outlets such as hardware stores would sell sheets of vinyl that were pre-printed with remarkably lifelike and detailed artwork depicting jolly old St. Nick and his flying reindeer. Home owners would mount these shapes on a wooden backing and then painstakingly cut them out with a band saw or some similar instrument. When done well and illuminated with floodlights, such a scene could be most memorable. |
A company that would have a tremendous impact on Christmas decorations for a decade was the Poloron Corporation of New Rochelle, New York. It had a number of different products, including thermos jugs and coolers. In the early 1960s, Poloron began diversifying into lighted outdoor decorations with assorted holiday figures, and in 1967 made its first attempt at bringing Santa and his Reindeer to life by
creating the blow mold.
HANDMADE LIGHTED OUTDOOR DECORATIONS
Making Wise Men for your Christmas Outdoor-Decorations.
Most of the craft projects here are easy to make. Click on any picture and go directly to the instructions.
How to Make Christmas Icicles for your Christmas Outdoor Decorations.
There is NO limit to height or size. Instructions are given to enlarge(heighten) and or change the patterns. The idea is to make these YOURS. My patterns, your creativity.
How to make Mary and Joseph for your Christmas Outdoor-Decorations.Materials/supplies listed are included with the instructions and when possible links where crafts or other supplies can be purchased are given on the LINKS page or in the margins of the pages. Most decorations cost under $20.00 and all materials are readily available at local stores like WAL-MART, TARGET, LOWES, HOME DEPOT, HANCOCK FABRIC, JO ANNES FABRICS, HOBBY LOBBY, etc.
The snowman, Joseph, Mary, 3 Wise men, Sheppard and drummer boy are beginner level projects requiring straight and zig zag stitches. The Santa and Mr. Snowman require a little bit more skill if you decide to put a brim Mr. Snowman’s hat and Santa's beard and apparel take a little more time. The nutcrackers are easy but more time consuming with the attached arms and all the levels of colors.
Making a DRUMMER BOY for your Christmas Outdoor-Decorations.
Making a CANDLE for your Christmas Outdoor-Decorations.
The purchased instructions are illustrated with drawings depicting all the measurement and procedures. These illustrated instruction make it much easier to see the structure and details of making these decorations.
Making Snowmen, Snow Women and Snow Children for your Christmas Outdoor-Decorations.
