Planning and purchasing items for a themed Christmas tree doesn’t have to be stressful or costly. One of the highlights of such an endeavor is the freedom to use your creative imagination when it comes time to choose or fashion decorations that will adorn this holiday houseguest. Here are some suggestions for producing a breathtaking presentation, utilizing bells as the central theme - regardless of whether you’re opting to use the white or more traditional green tree variety.
The first item to be considered is, of course, the lighting for the tree. While there are numerous styles of specialty lights which target specific Christmas tree themes – and bell lights are now among them – you’ll need to be careful not to overstate your design. Consider using miniature lights that won’t overpower the decorations. Clear bulbs make a very nice backdrop to bell ornaments, but these aren’t a “must” if you prefer to add a bit more color to the tree – especially in the case of white branches. The trick to stringing Christmas lights is not to establish a specific pattern. These should be wound through the tree in such a way as to emulate starlight – an abundance of small bulbs in a random pattern. It’s important to remember not to be stingy – fewer lights will make a far less striking presentation. Also critical is the color of cording used for the lights. For those who are planning to use a white tree, be sure to use strings of lights that are connected using white electrical cord. There’s nothing quite so unattractive as a white tree with dark cords running through it. You need to keep in mind that a Christmas tree should be just as aesthetically pleasing during the daytime – when the lights are off – as it is when the lights are on and the tree is displayed in all its glory during the evening hours.
While there are certainly varieties of garland that include the bell theme, those who are interested in something a bit more personalized should consider making custom garland for this year’s tree. This can be accomplished through the purchase of thin ribbon – in the color of your choice – and a variety of plastic or metal bells, constructed in the Liberty Bell design. Plastic bells are not only more reasonably priced, but have the added advantage of adding less weight to the garland, making it easier to work with and causing less stress on the ribbon. The shade of ribbon being used, as well as the color of the tree itself, will help to determine the tint of bell that will best enhance the overall effect. For instance, if you’ve opted for yellow ribbon, then a gold-tone bell would not be the best choice. Conversely, a silver bell would do well when partnered with a lilac ribbon, as a white bell would complement a royal blue ribbon quite nicely. Once the items have been purchased, cut 5” lengths of ribbon, which will then be tied to the top portion of each bell – one on each end of the ribbon. Continue by tying an end of the second ribbon to one of the bells and adding another bell to the free end, and so forth. Garland of any length can be created in this way, depending upon your needs. Again, remember not to overstate – or understate – the overall design. When creating your own garland, you can decide whether to produce one string, suitable for winding around the entire tree, or several smaller strings - which can be wound around the tree, individually, in specific areas.
Ornaments – among the most significant of Christmas embellishments – may be either purchased or handcrafted. A combination of both will make a lovely, and personal, presentation. Certainly, there are a number of spectacular designs that are available on the market – some quite costly. Your overall budget will determine how sophisticated those designs will be, as well as the number that are purchased. Some of the more lavish of these are constructed of fine crystal, china, gold, jade, marble, pewter and other pricey materials. The more moderately priced ornaments are made of glass, wood, baked clay and silver, to name a few. Of course, the style of the bell must also be considered. Mixing Victorian bells with plastic cartoon character bells would upset the aesthetic balance and minimize the effect.
For those who choose to dress the tree using handmade decorations, there are various approaches that might be taken, such as those listed below.
BLOSSOM BELLS
Materials:
Bell-Shaped Styrofoam
Sturdy Dried Flowers
Pearl-Capped Straight Pins
Dried Flower Preserver Spray
Thin White Ribbon
Apply a variety of the sturdiest dried flowers (being mindful to stay within your color scheme), to the Styrofoam shape, securing them in place with pearl-capped straight pins until the shape is completely covered. Spray lightly with Dried Flower Preserver Spray - in order to strengthen the ornament and minimize crumbling - and allow to dry thoroughly. Cut a 4” length of ribbon, loop in half and secure the overlapped ends to the top of the bell with a pearl-capped straight pin. Repeat the process for each bell until the desired number of ornaments has been produced.
EDIBLE BELLS
Materials:
Sugar or Shortbread Cookie Recipe (homemade or boxed)
Bell-Shaped Cookie Cutter
Edible Decorations (may include tinted sugar, frosting, decorator candies, etc.)
Thin White Ribbon
Prepare your favorite homemade or boxed recipe for sugar cookies or shortbreads. When the dough is ready for cutting, apply a bell-shaped cookie cutter (be sure that you’re using the type of cutter that includes a loop at the top of the bell, so that it can be attached to the tree) – and continue the process until the dough has been depleted or until you’ve met your goal for the number of cookies that are required for the creation of your ornaments. Bake according to the directions and allow to completely cool before decorating. The cookies can be embellished with a variety of decorative candies, tinted sugars or frosting. Be sure not to use any substance that will retain a soft texture, or problems may arise when the decorations are hung. Decorator frostings that harden would be best if you’re planning to frost the cookies. Keep in mind that those decorations which will produce a gleam from the Christmas lights would produce the best effect, so glittery sugars and small silver balls will add much to the nighttime effect – provided they’re suitable for human consumption. Once decorated and allowed to harden, cut several strips of thin white ribbon – each 5” in length – and tie them off, after threading them through the loop at the top of each cookie.
POTPOURRI BELLS
Materials:
Plastic Bells (of the pull-apart variety, with a looped top)
Potpourri Mix (homemade or store-bought)
Thin White Ribbon
Newspaper
Lay newspaper across your work surface and separate each of the bells to be used to adorn the tree. Being careful to hold it over the newspaper, fill each side with potpourri mixture until its level with the raw edge and – holding closely together – quickly flip them so that they attach. Cut a 5” strip of thin white ribbon and thread through the loop at the top of the bell – tying it off when completed. Repeat the process for each bell.
The use of so many bells can sometimes overwhelm a tree, so it’s best to consider adding something to the tree that will contrast the general theme. One such adornment is the frosted holly berry branch. These are available in both the red and white variety of berry and are encrusted with clear crystals that give the appearance of ice and snow. White trees are best served by using the red berry variety, while green trees are best complemented by the white variety. After purchasing several of these stalks at your local crafts store, place them in a random pattern throughout the body of the tree, so that they blend with the bell ornaments.
Finally, you’ll need to choose a Christmas tree topper. Once again, you may choose to either purchase a ready-made topper or create your own. Either way, keep in mind that this is often the focal point of the tree, so it needs to adapt to the theme, as well as provide a stunning effect. Among the many toppers are those which play music. You may choose to go this route, purchasing a breathtaking bell that plays a light tinkling melody, or just opt for a standard topper. Either way, the finished product will be enchanting, and you’ll have enjoyed the excitement of putting together a very special holiday tree.
