artificial-christmas-tree-33: word count = 434, keyword density = 1.4% or 1.9% with plurals

Although nothing beats a fresh Christmas tree, with its fragrant pine-needle scent, there are several reasons an artificial Christmas tree makes sense in certain situations. Some artificial Christmas trees are so realistic, you'd have to get quite close to tell the difference. If you're a veteran decorator (and “un-decorator”) of Christmas trees, you know some of the disadvantages of the real thing, beautiful and fragrant as it may be. Let's look at some of the reasons you might favor an artificial tree.

If you live in the city and have an apartment or condo on the third floor, it requires considerable effort to purchase, transport and install the tree before you ever start decorating.

Grandma and Grandpa may just not have the energy for the running around and muscling the tree in place. Getting the tree in your home and setting it up can be hard work.

Even if you're physically up to it, you may simply not have the time. Sometimes an artificial Christmas tree just makes good sense in your situation.

It's fun to let children have their own small Christmas tree in their room – they love gazing at the lights at night, with dreams of sugarplums in their heads. On the other hand, many parents worry about fire danger from a tree that's too dry. An artificial Christmas tree resolves this worry.

Perhaps you want a white Christmas tree, to suit your taste or color scheme. Fresh trees do not come in white. Artificial Christmas trees do!

Unlike a fresh tree, an artificial Christmas tree is perfectly symmetrical, and this is an important point for some decorators. An artificial Christmas tree lasts for many years and may simply be stored away out of season, in a relatively small space. Most come in sections, easily and quickly fitted together when you're ready to decorate.

To make up for the lack of that fresh tree fragrance, try using bowls of potpourri in strategic locations. You can even purchase spray scents that simulate fresh pine. A simmering pot of apple cider on the stove with cloves and sticks of cinnamon creates a heavenly fragrance all around the house.

If you've got your heart set on genuine fresh pine scent, gather or purchase pine branches to make into a garland for the fireplace or stair railing.

Probably one of the strongest points for an artificial tree is cleanup after New Year's. After becoming entangled in lights, pierced by dry needles and decked with sap in your hair, you may go for the artificial Christmas tree next year! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Word count = 497, keyword density = 1.0% or 1.6% with plurals

A paper Christmas ornament project can produce some surprisingly beautiful tree decorations. With minimal supplies, you can create sophisticated and glitzy Christmas ornaments. Paper Christmas ornaments are wonderful fun for kids. They can use their creations to decorate a small tree in their own room. Depending on the age of your kids, you may want to supervise the activity.

Here are a sampling of supplies you might look for when planning your paper Christmas ornament shopping trip. Craft, party, and art supply stores carry these items:

poster board

a small utility knife or scissors

a jar of acrylic clear gloss medium

colored markers

metallic markers in gold, silver or bronze

poster paint

glue gun and glue sticks

small beads

glitter

rick-rack

stickers

small dried flowers

small lace doilies

Gather your purchased supplies together on your work table. Choose a shape, such as round, diamond, star, snowman, or gingerbread man. Draw your master template on ordinary paper, and cut it out. Place on poster board and trace around the outline. A tree decked out in paper Christmas ornaments looks best when each shape is uniformly sized. Use your utility knife to cut the poster board

Using colored markers, decorate the shape as you like. Look at your gathered supplies, and let your imagination guide you. You might color a round shape in a single color, place a lace doilie on top and paint with the acrylic gloss. Snip a mini-bouquet of dried flowers, and quickly center on the ornament before the gloss dries. A single color also works well with a sticker in an Angel or Santa motif. Paint with the acrylic gloss and immediately sprinkle with gold glitter.

Acrylic gloss serves a couple of purposes in a successful paper Christmas ornament project. It serves as glue for lightweight decorating elements like glitter, and is transparent.

Gather some fresh flat green or red leaves. Hold the leaf on the paper ornament with your fingertip and apply the acrylic gloss, gently removing your fingertip to completely seal the leaf under the gloss. The leaf will retain its original color for years, as it is not exposed to oxygen.

Another unusual paper Christmas ornament is made with colored sand. Put sand in several small containers and get out your food coloring. Use a small amount of water to wet the sand. Leave until the desired tint is achieved. Drain the water and allow the sand to dry. Coat the poster board with acrylic gloss and quickly sprinkle your choice of colored sand.

Small children should not use utility knives or glue guns. You can help them cut out and glue their creations together. Glitter is also not recommended for young children – they have a tendency to end up on fingers and eyes. Glitter can be applied last, after they've painted their paper Christmas ornament masterpiece with acrylic gloss medium.

I'm sure you'll have dozens of ideas of your own to create many beautiful paper Christmas ornaments. Have fun!