Different ways to decorate your Christmas Tree

Has decorating your Christmas Tree become a bit of a bore?

Are you tired of pulling the same dusty ornaments out of the same dusty box and putting them on your Xmas tree the same way, year after year?

Here are some inventive and unusual ways to decorate your Christmas Tree this year, presented in alphabetical order.

Apples - this is a very old-fashioned way of decorating a tree. You can use real apples, but they will tend to go bad after a few days. Instead, get big, shiny, red apples from craft stores and hang them all over your tree. You can paint some with glitter or tie ribbons on them to make them stand out more. The beautiful red colour of the apples stands out wonderfully against the dark green of the tree.

Bears - Lots of lots of teddy bears. Get big and small ones, dress them in holiday outfits and gently tie them to your tree. You can usually find lots of inexpensive teddy bears at dollar stores or second-hand stores. Don't forget a very special bear for the top of the tree.

Candy - This is a wonderful idea, and kids go wild for it. Head to your nearest bulk food store and stock up on all sorts of wrapped candies. Don't just think candy canes, try mints, toffees, bubble gum, caramels...anything that is wrapped will work. Next, tie them on the tree with pretty pieces of ribbon. This may take a while, depending on the size of your tree, but creates quite a surprising effect!

Deer- Reindeer are popular ornaments at Christmas. But have you tried covering your whole tree in only reindeer? This is an easy way to create a dramatic tree, that has a strong sense of nature about it. Don't restrict yourself to one type of ornament; choose large and small, brown and black and white. The main idea is to only have reindeer to make a visual statement.

Eskimos - This can be a lot of fun. Cover your tree with fake snow, or glittering tinsel, then add several Eskimo ornaments, plus igloos, husky dogs, the North Pole, and other northern related items. This is a great non-religious tree that still celebrates the spirit of winter.

Flowers - For those who don't like winter, decorate your tree with flowers, either fresh or fake. For maximum effect, use either similar flowers (all roses) or flowers of a similar color (all red). Or both!

Glitter - This is fun, but can be quite messy. it is not recommended for houses with pets and kids. Spray your whole tree with glitter, which can be bought from a craft store. Add silver balls and white lights. Then watch your tree sparkle like a thousand stars.

Hockey - Surprise the hockey fans in your family by decorating the tree with hockey-related items this year. Tie on pucks with red ribbons, find miniature hockey equipment from toys stores, and put up hockey cards of your favorite players. As well, you can choose the colors of your favorite team, and decorate the tree entirely in those colors, with a glittering puck for the top!

Icicles - A lovely way to decorate your tree. Plastic icicles can be found at many decorations store or craft stores. This looks best if there are minimal other decorations on the tree, just icicles and flashing white lights.

Jazz- Bring on the spirit of New Orleans and decorate your tree Mardi Gras style! Use purple, blue and silver lights, plus miniature instruments and lots of beads. You can also add Mardi Gras masks.

Kittens - Get some feather boas from a craft store of costume store and use them as garland on your tree. Then add decorations of kittens in all shapes and sizes. This makes a lovely soft-looking tree...soft as kittens!

Love - A beautiful tree for the happy couple. Decorate your tree as if it was Valentine's Day instead of Christmas. Use hearts, lips, kisses, and other romantic objects as decorations. Put on some silver garland and red and white lights. Don't forget a big "I Love You" sign for the top of the tree.

Mittens - This looks adorable. Find all those mittens that have lost their matching partners and cover your tree with them. You can either tie them on so they hang, or actually place them over the ends of the tree branches. A nice toque for the top of the tree is a comical highlight.

Natural - An environmentally-friendly tree. Do not use any plastic or glass on this tree unless it can be recycled. Make ornaments out of old newspapers, empty bottles, and other reusable items. Add in garlands of edible berries or popcorn. Do not use any lights in order to save energy. Be as "green" as you can!

Oriental- An elegant tree decorated with ornaments and items representing China and Japan. Try visiting a Chinese market and purchasing paper fans to spread out and tie to your tree. Look for oriental symbols such as the yin/yang or the double happiness sign. Buy some Asian silk and create stunning bows.

Princess- For your little girl, there is nothing prettier than a princess! Go pink and glittery for this tree, using white lights and mirrored silver balls to add some pizazz. Feather boas work well as garland and a tiara would do nicely as a tree topper.

Quotes - Book-lovers and wordsmiths will appreciate this tree. Write out your favorite quotes on special paper using your finest pens. Choose different papers and colors of pens. Curl the pieces of paper by rolling them briefly around a rolling pins, so that they curve in an S shape. Clip them to the branches of the tree so everyone can read one or two at their level.

Ribbons - A variety of silk ribbons make this tree stand out. Go to the library to find a book on how to tie as many different bows as you can, then place them all on your Christmas tree. You can use all one color, or all one pattern, or go for a multi-colored look.

Snowmen - Nothing is more adorable than pudgy snowmen ornaments! This are readily available at Christmas time. Start a collection and add to your tree every year, until it is filled with these jolly fellows. Looks best with white lights and silver tinsel.

Ties - Not sure what to do with all of those ugly ties you keep getting for Father's Day and Christmas? Put them on your tree. This will cause a great laugh amongst your friends.

Universe - Many dollar stores carry glow-in-the-dark stars and shapes. Use them to decorate your tree with everything form the universe: stars, moons, suns, planets, comets, etc. Then, when the lights are turned out, your tree with glow with pretty green constellations!

Velvet- Wrap your tree in elegant swaths of velvet in rich, deep colors. Purple, burgundy and navy look especially lovely. Decorate sparsely with silver balls and white lights to showcase the velvet draping.

Wood - Craft stores sells a variety of wooden cut-out shapes. Arrange a craft day a little bit before Xmas to get everyone to paint their shapes in their own style. Then you can drill a small hole in the top of the wood, thread through a ribbon, and tie the ornament to your tree.

XXX - Adults only tree. For a couple who has no children, and can hide the tree in the bedroom when guests visit. (Need I say more? You can use your imagination on this one!)

Yankee - celebrate the good old US of A with a red, white and blue tree. Bring out your decorations from the fourth of July and decorate your Christmas tree.

Zoo - A menagerie of animals can frolic on your tree. Go to dollar stores or second hand stores to find small animal figurines and clip them on to your tree. You can also decorate with jungle style garland, or animal print bows.