Christmas deco for outside help!
 

I am looking for CHEAP easy decorations for outdoor trees. We have several large (20 to 35ft) pine trees around our homes and are looking for something to decorate them that can be seen during the day. We have put more money than I want to think about in lights on them (thank goodness for LEDS) but really want to do something we can look at during the day. I am fairly crafty so able to do most anything. Just running out of the good ole green back. We live in a rural area so many cars do come by to look at night. Last year we put music to the lights but most did not work as the trees were too far apart and most not close enough to receive the radio waves needed to work properly. This year may just be music. I do love the Christmas season. I continue to be as much of a kid as my boy (46) and his kids.
Will be watching for your ideas, now to get back to the sweatshirt jackets I am making to those "special kids" that will not be getting much from Santa this year. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!!!

put CD' back to back - tie with red ribbon thru the holes leaving enough ribbon to tie on tree, sparkle when wind turns them & super glittery with lights on at night.
String packing peanuts into garland.

I gift wrap BIG boxes with plastic wrap or upholstery vinyl.
Coloured duct tape and sparkly garland works good for the ribbons and bows.
Set them under your tree.

There's lots of plywood cutouts that could be made that would have show-ability during the day time.

Maybe make some orange/clove pomander balls, you could use a waterproof fabric or plastic or beads to hang them.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Poma...hristmas-gift/

Where we used to live, people would decorate the front fencing with garland and red bows. The bows were waterproof and withstood storms. Since you already have the trees, how about some red bows? We used to get ours from WalMart; they were inexpensive and could be used from year to year.

Please be careful with anything shiny, if your trees are near a street with traffic. Sun can reflect off of shiny objects and blind motorists.

My suggestion might be good for next year.

A few years ago, I found some plastic decorative ball ornaments with hooks on clearance at Target right after Christmas. I bought them and hung them in our maple trees. We got a TON of compliments from the neighbors. I think I paid all of $5 for about 50 balls.

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I was at dollar tree today they had a lot of bigger decorations In fact I got several for my grandaughter to decorate out side they do not look weatherproof BUt I had some and put them in a wreath and put it our truck it even went through the truck wash twice and still looked good a month later and trucking we were in all kinds of weather

I can't decorate our trees, I am allergic to the sap and the needles.
We put up at least 3 "not natural" trees in the house. This year I may put up a 4th one.

Thanks girls for all the suggestions. I am going to try the C/Ds as I have about 80 of them. Also Dollar Store ornaments hoping they will hold up. May even put real popcorn out for the birds depending on time allotment. We had snow last night and I had to get in the car and go to the road to see my lights. WOW! They looked great! More lights to go up this weekend. Hope no rain.... Now I am in the Christmas mood. Thanks again.

Another idea would be to prune your trees (if they need it) ... and make wreaths to place on lamp posts or your doors. Or just tie together some boughs and do the same.

Another is to make a giant wreath and set it out on your lawn propped up. You can decorate it with lights and all the normal things ... just oversized!

Make your own inexpensive ornaments from Elmer's type glue, and crochet string or cheese cloth and a balloon. inflate balloon, dip string or cheese cloth into 75% glue/ 25% water (can be colored with food coloring) and drape or wind around balloon. Allow to dry completely, and hang up, or pop balloon and hang in trees for a lacy look. If you want them to be re useable year to year, use modpodge instead of school glue.

Would they not disintegrate with the weather?

I forgot to say to spray them with clear acrylic spray and allow to dry so they last the season. Sorry.

Thank you for clarifying. I was wondering the exact same thing.

Here's a funny story: My family (husband and two boys ages 7 and 13) made these a few years ago as our annual homemade Christmas tree ornaments. I used Elmer's, balloons, and ultra-fine glitter. I had taken great care to spread newspaper out on the table to catch the glitter mess from my two boys, but had totally discounted my husband. The glitter wasn't sticking very well to the balls, so I brought out some Elmer's spray glue to use instead. My husband turned AWAY from the table and sprayed out over the floor. So then I had a sticky floor. On his way back around to the table, he knocked over a couple of tubes of the glitter, which he had neglected to put back on top of the newspaper. Instead of wiping the glitter onto a sheet of paper, he simply wiped it onto the floor. So for several months I had a very sparkly, pretty floor. When I told my friend Cindi about this incident, she cracked up and told me "When you said 'glue and glitter' in the same sentence, I figured Bart Simpson would be making an appearance. But noooo, it was all Homer!!"

At the time I was really annoyed, but now it's just a funny story that I love to tell. Her "Homer" comment put it over the top for me.

Years ago, I saw in a magazine, a house with decorated evergreens. The decorations were large lollipops. I didn't read the directions, but I bet a CD, covered with Christmasy fabric, and clear cellophane would work

Big round tumbleweeks laced with tiny Christmas lights are a big hit in Nebraska.

You know, if I lived there I would probably be at the top of the list with those decorations! Unfortunately there are no tumbleweeds where I live. Neat idea though.

this might sound lame but how about some holiday plates and cups. (round plates = balls and cups = bells if hung upside down) If displayed at a distance you might pull it off!

Not a bad idea. I can see using the clear colored glasses as bells. Maybe even placed over a light to make it shine. Good One, Solstice3!

This year we are going to decorate our baby Douglas fir for the first time. (he showed up in my yard one spring, so we moved him to a better location, and it will eventually be our outside tree) This year our little tree (Willy by name) Is 18 inches tall, so he get his first plastic ornaments this year. Willy will never wear tinsel though, it killed one of my feline fur kids years ago, so none for us! Happy holidays to all of you.