Christmas Decorations that Don't Use Electricity: Energy Efficient Christmas Decorations

I've always been a fan of Christmas decorations that don't use electricity. Whatever I can do to lower the cost of my electric bill during the month of December is put on my list of things to accomplish. Anyone who has ever used Christmas lighting inside and outside of their homes knows exactly what I'm talking about.

The idea is to have a beautiful home, with beautiful decorations, without going bankrupt in the process. For years I refused to put lights around the outside roof just because of the expense. So What I would like to share with you, are ways you can decorate inside and outside your home during the Christmas holiday by using energy efficient Christmas decorations.

The items listed below are relatively cheap. The only expense will be the money you spend on lights and the supplies you need for the Christmas decorating ideas I will explain to you. Whatever you spend on these items will surly be less than your December electric bill.

Solar Christmas Lights

The first Christmas decorations that don't use electricity are solar powered Christmas lights. These are perhaps my favorite decorations of all time. You can finally decorate the outside of your home and landscape with lighting that won't cost you a dime in electricity.

Solar powered lights are considered to be Eco friendly because they don't use electricity. Not only that, they are much safer than your electric lights. They can be used where ever you want to put lights outside, without worrying about an outlet.

The solar lights I listed below can be purchased from www.Amazon.com if you're interested in using them. They come with a solar panel instead of a plug at the end of the string, and they also have a rechargeable battery. It doesn't indicate if the solar cells will recharge completely during rainy or cloudy weather, so this is something you will have to find out.

There is no extension cord to worry about, but solar lights do cost more than your ordinary Christmas lights. You should also be aware that these particular lights will not light as bright as your incandescent lights, but they still make a beautiful and colorful statement to your outside Christmas decorations.

My recommendation is to check around before you make your final purchase. You may be able to find these lights at a much cheaper price. The ones from Amazon are made of plastic, they have an auto on and off control, you don't need an outlet and they are for outdoor use only. Right now they only ship to the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses only.

Philips 110-Bulb Solar Icicle Lights - Blue
14.25 foot cord
Price: $15.99

Philips 50-Bulb Solar Lights - Multicolor
22.58 foot cord
Price: $15.99

Homemade Snowflakes

One year I needed something white to put on my Christmas tree. I couldn't think of anything that was inexpensive that could be added to make the statement I wanted. I remembered seeing something on TV about snowflakes, and how no two are alike.

I took some printer paper and started cutting out snowflakes and hanging them on the tree with ornament hooks. Everyone raved about that tree and thought it looked so beautiful. The multi colored lights really bring out the white and the design of the snowflakes, and this may be something you want to do.

Materials Needed For Snowflakes Christmas Decorations

Printer paper
Scissors
Ornament hooks

• Take a square piece of white printer paper and cut it to the size snowflake you want. It's important that the sides are all be equal in length.

• Now fold the paper diagonally to form a triangle.

• Fold it in half to form a smaller triangle.

• Fold it one more time to form an even smaller triangle.

• Now cut designs into each of the 3 sides of your triangle.

• When you unfold your paper, you should have a beautiful snowflake to hang on your Christmas tree. Make as many in as many colors as you want. You may also use construction paper.

Homemade Christmas Wreath

You can make as many of these wreaths as you want to. I hang one on the front door and one on the french door to the patio. I also hang them inside on the doors to give them a full and matching look.

Materials Needed For Wreath Christmas Decorations

Wire hangers
Christmas holly
Small evergreen branches
Ties
Ribbon (Christmas colors)
Glue

• Get a wire clothes hanger and shape it out into a circle.

• Wrap the hanger is either red, white or green ribbon, and glue the end down.

• Take pieces of the Christmas holly and small evergreen branches and arrange them around the hanger. Tie wrap the pieces of greenery to the hanger until you have your wreath.

• Make a bow out of some of the ribbon and tie it around the top of the wreath. This completes your wreath, and it is ready to be hung on your doors.

Homemade Center Piece

I've made a center piece out of any Christmas decorations I have left over. My favorite and the simplest is taking a pie tin, wrapping it in aluminum foil, placing a candle in the middle and filling the tin with a mixture of pine cones, artificial poinsettia flowers, holly and Christmas bulbs that can't be hung on the tree.

I use the large, thick candles because they more substance to them. If I use a red candle, the majority of poinsettia flowers are white with a few red mixed in. If I use a white candle, it's just the opposite.

Hopefully you live in an area where you can find pine cones and holly growing wild. The only thing I would suggest is that if you do this, be sure to rinse and clean them before you use them.

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

I receive so many Christmas cards every year, and I always save the prettiest ones to frame and hang on the Christmas tree as ornaments.

Materials Needed For Christmas Ornament Decorations

Old Christmas cards
Construction Paper (red, green and white)
Glue
Scissors
Ornament hooks
Hole punch
Ruler

• Take your prettiest Christmas card and a piece of construction paper. Trace around the card and cut this out of the construction paper. This will be the back of the ornament.

• Take your ruler and measure around the front of the Christmas card. You want to determine how much of the picture you want to show.

• Now cut out another piece of the construction paper to the size of the card. Transfer your measurements to the back of this piece of paper. Cut the center out using the measurements you transferred. This is your frame.

• Glue the back construction paper to the back of the Christmas card, then glue the frame you cut out on the front of the Christmas card. Press down to make sure the glue adheres. When your ornament is dry, use your hole punch to make a hole in the top center where you will place your ornament hook.

These ornaments can be placed where ever you want them. They will make a beautiful statement to the rest of your Christmas decorations.

I hope this has been of some help to you in planning for energy efficient Christmas decorations.
There are a lot of ways you can cut down on the usage of energy for Christmas by using Christmas decorations that don't use electricity.

These Christmas decorating ideas can be done by the whole family. Take a little time to have a decorating family get-together, and make this year a year of being energy efficient. May you and your family be blessed and have a Happy Holiday.