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Christmas

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Original poster

paper chains - nice or tacky?

59 replies

DancingLady · 12/12/2013 11:17

House is looking a bit bare re decorations and I don't want to spend loads of money. Quite fancy making something - are paper chains cheap-looking and tacky, or can they look effective and festive? What about if I just use red and green paper?

OP posts:
Onesleeptillwembley · 14/12/2013 10:34

Oh dear. That junk a holic thingy really is awful. The sort of things bored snowed in kids would be forced to do. Basically a load of shite. Sorry.

Thatsnotmychicken · 14/12/2013 10:43

Go on wikihow and search how to make 3d snow flakes. I am totally addicted to making these!!! I think Christmas decorations are more fun if you make them with children, not into stylised glossy coordinated decorations, that's not what Christmas in our house is about.

bryte · 14/12/2013 10:46

With children aged 8 and 11, I've given up on expecting the house to be tastefully decorated. I allow the children's pleasure in adding tasteless decorations to the house to trump my usual controlling tendencies. It's only for a few weeks.

Snozwanger · 14/12/2013 10:49

Could you use some tasteful wrapping paper to match your theme? I'd double it over so the pattern is also inside.

Alternatively I saw Card Factory sell chain kits which are probably cheap. Not sure what the patterns were from memory though.

Oldraver · 14/12/2013 10:51

Tacky......but tacky has its place sometimes. We got some decorated ones from Morrisons (£1 a pack) and are putting them in DS's room. I've seen glossy red/green/golds as well

Oldraver · 14/12/2013 10:52

Oh I always use a stapler on them, saves all that licking

Vatta · 14/12/2013 10:52

I like to make them from old wrapping paper, looks v festive

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 14/12/2013 10:59

one sleep

NOooooooo not terrrible! Lovely!

Have you seen her advent calender its sooo beautiful!

www.junkaholique.com/2013/12/homemade-advent-calendar-and-clock.html

Onesleeptillwembley · 14/12/2013 11:11

Sorry Ze Vite. I just think it's really.. well...shite is the word. I love kids homemade stuff, but that's just a bit embarrassing. Sorry. I just don't get it.
On another note, I'm enjoying my last minimalistic Christmas before my grandchild is old enough to appreciate Christmas at its campest.

MrsPear · 14/12/2013 19:52

I have home made bunting and paper chains Xmas Blush

SomePeopleNeedHelp · 14/12/2013 20:23

We have done paper chains with bits of white and coloured paper ds has been scribbling -ones I don't want to keep but not thrown away either. He liked doing it and looks nice enough.

Not a fan of that blog either, not my kind of thing. I hate all that lifestyle blogging, I don't think her stuff is sepcial or interesting enough to have her making such a fuss over it. My tree looks better than hers.

TwinklesTheXmasFairy · 14/12/2013 20:30

LOVE paper chains, sitting down with the kids and all the craft stuff and painting and glitter and glue and paint- its marvelous!!

The girls go to catholic school and they both made advent calenders this year, they were paper chains and on the inside of every loop is a bit of the nativity story and they look so pretty hung up!!

Saying that... Most of the paper chains are in their bedroom though as that is where they wanted them!! and I don't mind that either.

I'm just a sucker for that look of achievement they get when they see something they made up there for everyone to see.

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 14/12/2013 21:13

Not a fan of that blog either, not my kind of thing. I hate all that lifestyle blogging, I don't think her stuff is sepcial or interesting enough to have her making such a fuss over it

Blush I wish I hadnt linked it now!

I dont think its tacky though....op was asking if it was tacky.

Her whole blog is really lovely, she is authentic.....the places she visits, things she buys, and the jewellery she makes is very sweet. Some of the things she has made for her DD's room are gorgeous. Her DD[s 1st bday pics were so sweet, I shed a tear.

I only dip into her blog every now and then and do not follow blogs....she finds great places to visit in the UK so I get some inspiration from her on that...

also think her DD is the cutest ever

GW297 · 14/12/2013 21:16

Phoenix sell nice paper chains.

SomePeopleNeedHelp · 14/12/2013 21:20

Sorry ZeVite, didn't mean to make you feel bad, we all have different taste.

MARGUERITE18 · 14/12/2013 21:24

old books worked out well, did loads of them and snowflake doilies

FreyaKItty · 14/12/2013 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

legoplayingmumsunite · 14/12/2013 23:48

We always get the kids to make paperchains to go up in the hallway. Looks great and nicely traditional. We just buy ELC ones (although this year we got some posh ones from Mum that she got from Phoenix so they are all mixed up together).

We also have paper snowflakes in the dining room, DH and the kids made a mix of tasteful ones made with white doilies that are on the windows and colourful ones made from tissue paper that are on the walls. Not at all tasteful but the kids love them.

We're also going to make some chains out of old milkbottle tops that I have been collecting all year. We had tasteful decorations before we had kids and will only keep the taseful ones for the future (I've got some gorgeous saltdough stars that are very pretty and glittery and some painted pinecones covered in glitter the kids did a few years ago, they are keepers) but for now it's kiddy decorations central.

DuchessofKirkcaldy · 14/12/2013 23:53

It's your house. If you like something then you have it and to hell with what anyone else thinks Grin

Nix01 · 15/12/2013 08:06

The kids made red and white yesterday and wanted them hung in the kitchen so in the kitchen they are. I think it looks sweet, we eat most of our meals there.

Happyasasandboy · 15/12/2013 08:08

A

PeggyCarter · 15/12/2013 08:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

normaleggy · 15/12/2013 19:59

Do you like paper chains OP? Who cares if they're tacky or not, if you like them then have some, if you don't like them then don't have them! Why is everyone so obsessed with things being tacky or tasteful? It's your Christmas, do what the hell you like and screw what anybody else thinks.

I'm currently in my living room with paper chains on the ceiling, my real Christmas tree creaking under the weight of tinsel, assorted decorations and coloured lights because that is what makes me happy and feel Christmassy. If you put a fake colour themed tree with clear lights in my room it would never conjure up the excitement or atmosphere of Christmas so why would I have that just because it's dreary as fuck tasteful?

Sorry for the rant but I really can't stand the modern day snobbery over Christmas decorations!

Original poster
DancingLady · 16/12/2013 17:18

I'm not sure if I like them - hence the op. It's not snobbery, just gauging opinions. I'd be annoyed if I spent 3 hours making metres of paper chains and then hated them - and I've had some good tips on this thread (paper chains made from books is a fave) so it was useful! Smile

OP posts:
normaleggy · 16/12/2013 18:17

No I wasn't accusing you of snobbery, just the ones who turn their noses up at anything that doesn't come from John Lewis!