CHRISTMAS TREES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9115, 21 December 1907, Page 3

CHRISTMAS TREES.

Some Novel Ideas. A pretty Christmas tree may be made from five ordinary Japanese paper sunshades. Each one should be of a smaller sizs than the preceding one. Ran. through each parasol from tho ferrule end down through the bamboo handle a piece of stout wire, long enough to hold all the sunshades. Put them all on in accordance with their.size, the largest one first, the next largest tecond, and co on until you come to th© smallest. Then make a looi> of the wire at the top of N them all and hang them up by a hook in the ceiling with the' parasols open. . Then you may trim the tree thus made ac your fancy dictates, just las you would an evergreen tree. A pretty way is to place the largest balls and ornaments on the ends of the numerous ribs; then tinsel • ornaments, etc., may be hung on the small ribs inside, and the string balls crossed and latticed from one parasol to the other, and so on down until the whole is filled. A tree arranged in this way may be made -to rrevolve. A red and white Christmas tree may be made by tying all the packages in white tissue paper with red ribbon, or ; red tissue paper with white ribbon. ! Use white and red candles. Take single grains of 'popcorn, run a pin through and stick on the branches of the tree. This will take time, but after you have used up several papers of pine you will be amply rewarded for your trouble by the appearance of the tree. Fill small white tarletan stockings, buttonholed with red worsted, with popcorn. De- , corate the tree with red and tfhite peppermint candy canes and red and J white paper flowers, and drape the walls at the back of the tree with red cheesecloth. A tree good enough to eat may be made by trimming it with oranges-; ba- | nanas, lemons, grapes, apples and huts. Little figures made or raisins and prunes, and wired, may .also be hung upon the branches. Do not hang any presents upon the tree, but fill a small' tub with sawdust, and in it place the gifts wrapped in mystifying bundles securely tied. On Christmas morning give each member of the household a fishing-rod, and let each one in turn take a chance at the bundles with it. The parcel hooked may be opened, unwrapped and given to the one whose name is inside. A Christmas tree full of blossoms, may be made by cutting from tissue , paper small circles 'and scalloping . the edges slightly. Pinch with the fingers the centre of each, bringing the edees together with a fluted appearance, tSus forming a petal. String four of these petals through the apex of eaoh, then tie the ends of the string securely, and you will hay© a blossom. If a chain of these blossoms ie desired it is betier to use a long piece of cotton twine, and as goon as one blossom ie made leave a space of an inch or so ; then knot the string and, make another blossom in the same manner. It is very pretty to alternate the colours- pink and white. r These little, blossoms may bo used as pendants on a Christmas tree with a pretty effect, or they may b-j tied in clusters of three to a bunch, having quite the effect of nature when used iin this manner. These paper flowers are very simply made by cutting circles of tissue paper about three inches in diameter and making four slits equal distances apart. For a rose no other cutting is necessary. Simply curl with a dull knife the edges of the four divisions made, and keep the little paper circles until the proper proportions are reached. A pretty and a novel child's party may take the^ form of a dolls' Christmas tree. In the centre of the room place a tree about four feet tall, decorate it prettily and hang upon it presents appropriate for dolls only — tiny animals, dolls' jewellery, home-made doll garments and 6mall bags of candy. Around the room, against the wall, plac© chairs for the real mothers in a circle ; in front of these place chairs for the makerbelieve mothers, and in front of this circle place a collection of dolls' chairs, sofas and stools for the dolls themselves. The dolls, of course, are the guests of honour, the invitations to them having been written on dolls' stationery, presumably by the doll of the hostess. Have a small boy dressed to represent Santa Claus Junior, and allow him, when all the guests are seated, to distribute the presents from the tree to the dolls. \ The refreshments at a dolls' party may be served on dolls' tables, and each little mother can sit beside her coll as she eats ioe cream served in small 6aucers, and cakes cut in small shapes.