As well as the themes listed below, you will also find more themes on my post for 2010 on Christmas Themes.
***
Choosing a theme for this Christmas was my first task as part of my 10 week plan for Christmas. I like the idea of having a theme for Christmas and this year will be the first year that I have really done so. I think it will be advantageous as:
- It aides decision making process, in relation to things like cards, decorations, wrappings etc.
- It helps can simplify what Christmas accessories you make / buy for the house.
- It allows for simple and coordinated look for Christmas celebrations.
- It adds to the memory – it was the gold Christmas etc!!!
On a recent conversation on Australian Mother’s Online, Squiggle Mum shared her themes from last year and what she was going to do this year:
- 2008 – gold/red/bird theme
- 2009 – silver/apple-green/bauble theme
I think they both sound completely gorgeous! I am however keeping my a little simpler than this, being my first time and hope to build up to such lovely themes. I am going to have a colour based theme red, green and silver. This means that lots of my current decorations etc will all fit in to this theme and the Christmas Tags that we have been making are in these colours as well!
While I was combing the internet for inspiration I did come across a number of amazing ideas and creations. I have grouped them into potential themes, but you could take most of these ideas and mix and match them to suit your theme:
Non traditional Bright Colours (Pink, blue, green, yellow, orange etc).
- Christmas Tags from Martha Stewart – This link goes directly to a PDF that you can print out.
- Felt Christmas Tree Tutorial – Thompson Family Life has beautiful pink, blue and yellow felt trees to make using her easy to follow tutorial. e.
- Advent calendar – Loveland Miscellany allows you to print our her beautiful design and has a tutorial on how to put it together.
- Sparkly Happy No Sew Christmas Stocking – A Fanciful Twist has a free downloadable PDF pattern that you can use to make these very cute stockings.
- Christmas Baubles – Inspirational Tips, Techniques and Tutorials shows you how to make delightful Christmas Baubles using Laura Ashley and Amy Butler papers and wall paper glue.
Raw / Natural Theme
(I have already chosen this theme for 2010!! To have altogether as nicely as I would like, it would take me greater preparation that I can give it this year. )
The first three items come from the crafty Jessica at Zakka Life:
- Felt Bird Cage Ornament – Jessica gives you a pattern and step by step tutorial on how to make this. It requires some basic stitching.
- Gift Wrapping with Mizuhiki Cord – A very stylish way to wrap your Christmas gifts.
- Walnut Shell Place Card Holder – You can download the very sweet design for the place card as well as find out how to turn a walnut into a card holder.
- Tiny Pine Cone Garland – Redbird Crafts show you how to make a very sweet garland out of nature.
- Green Wrapping and Brown Tagging – MayaMade has beautiful examples of how you can present gifts beautifully without such a significant environmental impact.
- MIni Christmas Tree – Esprit Cabane show you how to make a miniature Christmas trees from a few branches of wood.
Red, Green and Silver
- Opulent Ornaments – A very fun way to decorate a shelf for Christmas using 3-inch terra-cotta flowerpots and glass ball ornaments.
- Fabric Advent Chain – A low sew option for a beautiful fabric garland.
- Make Your Own Christmas Cracker Favours (Bon Bons) – Easy to follow tutorial on how to make your very own personalised Bon Bons.
- Mini Shopping Bags – Martha show you how to use mini shopping bags to brighten up gift giving.
- Glitter Hurricane Lantern – Again from Martha! This lantern would make a gorgeous table centre piece.
Do you choose a theme for Christmas each year? If so I would love to hear what you have chosen for 2009.
19 comments...read them below or add one
I like the idea of having a theme for Christmas. How do you manage the budget though? I think it would be tempting to buy things to match the theme instead of using what I have. My MIL always uses set colours for her Xmas tree and it looks gorgeous, but I don’t have enough ornaments to stick to just one or two colours.
It could get expensive – but we’re very budget conscious! We stick with silver or gold as a base usually. I have all the gold stuff, my sister has all the silver stuff and mum has a range. We buy a few little extras but mostly we pool resources to make the theme work for the special family meal. Oh, and we’ve chosen next year’s theme already – we’re going natural too!! That means we can buy the little extras at 75% off in the January sales. Maybe we can share ideas next year…? I think we’ll call our Bush Christmas.
I have my tree and stick with red/gold/purple. There’s no way I’m changing my theme each year! (I’m lucky to get gifts bought in time!)
Oh love the natural idea…. I’d really like to spend some years collecting and making natural type decorations etc for our house! thanks for the inspiration!
We always have a theme as I was inspired by the amazing themed displays at Macy’s when we were in the US for Christmas in 2002. Ours however tend to be limited to a set colour palette.
The thing that does stay constant however is a collection of ornament related to special memories, for example a Statue of Liberty decoration from our trip to the states, a ceramic Mexican handpainted ball from our time there, a silver disco ball from the night DH and I met (it was NYE), etc. These are added to the tree every year!
What a great idea! I’ve never really come across different themes each year. I look forward to checking out the links and this whole new world! Note to self … must get out more!
so much inspiration here I am in awe of you !
Haven’t even thought about it !
[...] (10). Choose a theme for Christmas 2009. [...]
I wish I could afford to choose a different theme every year! That would be fun!
I have accumulated enough items to have 2 themes now. I have burgundy & gold decorations and also blue & silver, so I can choose from those 2 themes each year.
I’m just loving your 10 week prep plan for Christmas.
I’m a HUGE Christmas fan and every year I do things a little differently. Having lived in China, I have an enormous ornament and decoration stash, and though I reuse almost everything, I change the colours around every time, leaving some in and some out.
I also add a little bit of a theme by adding new things. Last year was The Nutcracker (with a round of new, er – Nutcracker dolls) and this year I am thinking cirus. Fat stripes, fabulous retro tin clown ornaments, lots of bright colour and fantastical and comical santa tags.
I’ll be posting it all on my blog and I’ll be checking back to see how you’re doing, too!
Happy Lead Up!
Every year we have had a theme in my family. My mother started it and now we try to out do each other. Over the years we have had a purple,pink and blue christmas, red christmas ect. She has never agreed to my black and white christmas. I can be a very expensive having new decorations each year.. and the room to keep them all. My suggestion is to think outside the box. Look at things you could make in to decorations for a $2 shop. We also make alot of our decorations and there are alot of simple designs you can find on the internet. Using felt, ribbon, glitter glue the possiblities are endless.
I heart christmas.
This year Chirstmas is at our house and with a tribe of boys (5 to be exact all under the age of 10) I’ve decided to have a theme as well. We purchased a new tree this year and have decided on Red, Siler and White. I’ve bought red and white check and striped ribbon and beautiful silver deacorations to tie around the table napkins on Christmas Day. We will have approx 25 guests for lunch and we are hiring the white table linen. I’ve also bought some cheap red and white check, stripe and star material (Spotlight) and will have a go at making a row of flags for the window deorations and something for the front door wreath. The new christmas tree is waiting quietly in the corner for the 1st of Dec to come around….I just have to get through a 7th and 10th birthday before then lol……
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