Christmas Central – The Blog

Who said string lights could only be used during the holiday season? Since spring has sprung and summer is right around the corner, we wanted to add a DIY section to our blog to help our customers get those creative juices flowing. In this tutorial, I will show you how to create flower decorations made from cupcake wrappers! So simple, fun and absolutely affordable!

Lets start with the material list:

Single hole puncher, razor blade or exacto knife, scissors, any color cupcake wrappers (I mainly used the scissors to cut my flower designs but if you wanted more intricate shapes, the exacto knife would help you be more precise.)

Step 1:

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Step 8: Continue these steps for each flower. If you fold the wrapper in half 4 times, like I did above,  the flower will have 8 petals. The less times you fold it, the less petals there will be. I layered two different shaped wrappers to create one flower, that way it gives it more dimension. Feel free to experiment with different size cupcake wrappers, you could use standard size ones for the outer layers, and mini wrappers for the center… it’s all up to your imagination!

Step 9: To attach the flowers to the lights, very very carefully poke the lights through the back of the flowers through the holes you punched and gently wiggle them a few millimeters onto the top curved edge of the mini lights. You want to make sure not to rip the paper or slide the paper too far down the lights or they will fall down the cords.  I used a set of 20 white wire, clear bulb mini lights, but if you want to continue with more string lights, the more the merrier

Step 10: Hang the flower lights up on the outside patio or indoors. Just be mindful of the weather because they would definitely get ruined in the rain!

Total time estimate: about an hour and a half to cut all 20 flowers and gently place them onto each light.

Enjoy!

 

As the days get longer, and the sunshine becomes more common, there is a lot to think about. As we are only a month away from the longest day of the year, and the weather is clearer than ever, we are experiencing long, sun filled days. And why not take advantage of that? One type of item we offer in a wide range are solar-powered decorations. Both effective as well as harnessing the cleanest energy on Earth, these fine decorations would suit any home or yard, so give them a look here.

Solar powered lights come in multiple shapes and sizes. One fascinating application is our array of solar powered fountains. Rather than a solar panel powering a light or array of lit elements, instead these fountains use the sun to power their water action. With a cord and battery as backup, these fountains have a fully sustainable solar pump keeping them running. These come in decorative and animal designs.

There are many, many types of solar powered light decorations for use in every imaginable scenario. For example, there is a series of lights contained in large floating balls. Meant to be used in a pool, they are a self sustaining colorful design for any swimming area. Alternately, we have plenty of garden lights with solar power. From stakes to sculptures, you can find any sort of decoration to match your yard and garden, creating a new, greener environment in your home.

So take a moment to look around what we have. This article has only shown a few examples of the Sun powered items that we have in our stock. You will find them a  charming and effective addition for any situation, and I hope that you take the moment to find a way to give a Green look to your life.

There are many ways to create a decorative environment. The normal, conventional wisdom involves visual, an array of images and designs to create an aesthetically pleasing result. However, that is not the only possibility. Instead, why not consider the types of decorations that enhance an environment with the sounds that they create as well?

One possibility is the pleasing sound of rushing water. For that, we can turn to decorations such as Fountains. Fountains can be used for double duty, being both a visually striking image and a source of the quiet sounds of a babbling brook. These come in every shape imaginable, from traditional statuary, to more modern and unusual styles. Whether accenting a pond, placed in the center of a yard like a bird  bath or just a specialized bit of decoration, these fountains, both lit and unlit, are here for your perusal at any time.

There is another decoration that is good for the ambient sound of a house or yard. In fact, it is best known for this ability, being specially created to create sound. In this case, I am referring to, of course, the wind chime. Practically as old as civilization itself, wind chimes create a series of notes that float on the breeze at the slightest movement of the air. And from the decorative to the carefully tuned, there are many to choose from. Some are even described as having a feature “song”, referring to the specific range of notes and sounds that they create. Once again, this decoration can be used either as a pure audible experience, particularly for the traditionally shaped devices, or as a decoration in its own right, particularly when looking at the animal topped and other decorative styles that we offer on this site.

So give a treat to the ears. The sounds of nature are already a wonderful array of moments, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to add a bit more of your own to it. So find the sounds of spring and summer most suited to you today.

Now, in the warm parts of spring headed into summer, is the perfect time to celebrate. The warm weather calls for a outdoors party! But even if you want to wait a bit on such a thing, until summer for instance, now is a great time to stock up on those decorations and other supplies to make a patio or yard party a great one.

First, of course, is to determine if you need some outdoor furniture. Benches, seats, tables and gliders, we have them all. From metal, to wicker, to wood and faux-wood, we have styles of furniture to fit any needs. And all of these are perfect for a party. After all, you never want to be at a social event where there’s nowhere to sit or place your plate, do you?

Now when it comes to decorations, we have plenty to consider as well. For example, you might find yourself in need of lighting your porch up with a decorative lantern. Alternately, a set of patio string lights would also be appealing.

Some people like to have an open fire at their parties. With that in mind, we have much to offer there as well. We sell a series of Fire Pits that would allow for a fine campfire type atmosphere. And for a protective s creen that is also a fine decoration, we have decorative fire domes. Whether the fire is there just for the view or as a chance for S’mores or other roasting, we can do much to facilitate your enjoyment.

So it looks like we have a good start from the utilitarian standpoint. Lighting, seating, and cooking have all been accounted for. So now it’s time to select the right decorations for your party! Now, the best way to select these is by determining the purpose of the party. A common type of party involves sports games or team, so why not decorate the party to match? Decorate trees with whimsical faces, or lay down a path of stepping stones with team logos, perhaps. Hanging decorations is a great way to liven everything up as well, whether it’s the night of the big game or just a fun get together. The sports decorations are just a suggestion, of course, and there are so many other decorative choices, like ribbons.

The last thing you might want to consider is how to feed your guests. You may have a very large number, after all, and even if you’re all set with the grill, you’ll need help in other areas as well. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. If you need coolers to keep your drinks nice and cold, we have lots of options there, from ice tubs to insulated containers. And if you feel your current cooking applicances aren’t enough, we even have grills! From the portable grills up to wood fired stoves, we really do have anything you might need for your own little celebration.

So call all the friends over, and get ready to have a blast! After all, even if Winter is long gone at the moment, it does always eventually return, so don’t miss out on this chance for some real outdoor fun. Visit with others, celebrate something special, or just stretch your legs. Anything, just as long as you get outside to do it. Be sure to have a great time.

 

Hola Amigos and Amigas, Peanut the Novelty Elf here, along with Crouton, the poorly behaved puppy! We were chilling in our orange Christmas tree home when we decided to sniff around the stock room to find some great pet themed decorating ideas for yallz!

We are all very much animal lovers here at Christmas Central and boy does it show! Since our pets cannot always physically be here with us, it’s surprising that we don’t try to carry them around in totes like celebrities. Though if we were to try, these lovely dog totes would do the trick wonderfully! But I suppose dressing them up in adorable costumes will have to suffice for now.

Whether or not we’re showing off our adorable animal companions or not, we always want to take the best care of them we can. With this great deal (POOCHI DOG TOYS 05008) your pooch can always have fresh toys to drool over and classy bowls to drool into. And let’s not forget to keep our furry friends cozy and warm with our great selection of dog themed and cat themed pillows and blankets.

And just like any other pet lovers, we love having homages to animal friends when they cannot be with us! Whether it be picture frames, figurines, animal themed wall clocks or even utility items such as standing fans, we all love to reminded of our animals!

Even when the sad day comes that our animals do pass, they memories continue to live in our hearts. Choose from a variety of pet memorial stones just for your lost loved one that will honor their memory with lasting affection.

So be sure to remember Christmas Central as a novel resource for your pet goods and décor and be sure
to remember your novelty elf before you decide to not scoop that fresh pile off of the floor.

Mischievously yours,

Peanut the Novelty Elf