Christmas Decorations - All or None

[Snowflake]

I always thought I was so well organzied when i packed my decorations away. This year I decided not to put everything out due to lack of time. Well I found out, I should put all or nothing out. some of the things I want to put out, I can't find anywhere. But I do know, if I find the tub it is in, everything I want is in that tub!!! So Frustrating, esp. when you think you are on top of things!!!LOL

[Twinkle]

Snowflake...I know just how you feel. Since I decorated early this year, I put up everything I found easily. There is such limited space at our house and it is so frustrating when I find new items in storage I forgot about. I want to put it all out but it is not possible. I have to tell you a story. When Sonny was a young boy he was given a Lionel Train set for Christmas. He was thrilled and set it up every Christmas. Well, Sonny's Uncle Tony was a train buff and had a room in his home dedicated to his trains. Sonny doesn't remember why but his father gave his train set to Uncle Tony. Uncle Tony passed away several years ago and probably his kids have the Lionel Train Set. Sonny said it doesn't matter but I know it does. I want to give him a Pennsylvania Express Lionel Train Set (his home is Pa) this Christmas but for the life of me, I don't know where in the world we will put it. I am going to get the set I just know it...It will be perfect around our Christmas tree and will certainly fit there.
Next year, I am thinking of asking Sonny to run tracks around our walls and add to the trains.
:c12:

[Christy Carol]

I am so with you on this!!! I thought I was done, completed and finished.

Until I got to thinking today and realized I had bought some things last year after Christmas that I hadn't see this year. So I went to digging. Big mistake!

Well, no. Maybe not a big mistake, I did find a table runner I needed. But I did find a bunch of sit around stuff that I don't have enough room for it to sit around!! At the first of the season I didn't think I was gonna have enough to decorate an entire house and now I have too much. But I don't want to not use it.

Oh whoa is me!

[scooterbugs25]

I wonder if we all have this same problem? LOL

I can relate to this as well! Oh too well :)

[Snowflake]

Well I am glad to know I am not alone in this. Twinkle those trains sound lovely. I bought my self a Lionel several years ago. Last year I put it up, but my idea wasn't so great. We have carpeting and have to do something different as the Lionels' can't run on carpet.

Sometimes, I don't know how I accumulated so much Christmas stuff. I think this year when I pack up, I should keep some of the old stuff out for my garage sale, but that is easier said than done, esp. when you are ready to get everything put up and out of the way
I keep going to up the attic and getting one more thing!

[lightitup]

Oh My to have the problem of having too much. Just a dream for me. I don't think I will ever have too much. So many of those indoor decorations can be used outdoors too. I use small ceramics on my porches. I do want to so badly do some window scenes and this year I will do it.
Train sets on carpets used to be a problem I had a few years back. My hubby the brain he is cut a piece of plywood that would fit under my tree and painted it white. He tacked the train tracks to it and set it on the carpet. The train worked perfect and the tree skirt fit perfect under the tree and did not interfere with the train. I really enjoyed that but had to move the trains to go around the walls because his train fettish was too much for around the tree. This year I bought a train to go around the tree and now we can't find the board so he will cut me out another one this summer.
Here is the one going around the walls
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/lightitup/train%20layout%20ideas/HPIM1002.jpg

My goal for next year is to have the village and garden railroad going. here is a couple of insprirational photos of what I want it to look like. With Christmas lights and decorations of course.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/lightitup/train%20layout%20ideas/DSC04538_op_800x600.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/lightitup/train%20layout%20ideas/DSC04562_op_800x600.jpg

[number4son]

I would love a train to go around the walls, but I suspect the wife would outlaw it, even though she loves trains, too. She's just ask, "Do you see anyone ELSE with trains running around their walls?"

[lightitup]

I would love a train to go around the walls, but I suspect the wife would outlaw it, even though she loves trains, too. She's just ask, "Do you see anyone ELSE with trains running around their walls?"
Now you can honestly say yes #4 and show her the picture below. hehehe.

[Snowflake]

Your pictures are great!! when you say you want your trains to go around the walls, are you talking about being close to the ceilings etc?

[White Dove]

awwwee..LIU
I thought I was the only one that had such a train fettish..
I DREAM of someday having several trains running in,thru,and out of the house..
I would LOVE to see pics of your trains
won't ya share then,pleeeeease.32ed:)::):

[cindylouwho]

what a neat idea with those trains! I'd love to see pictures when you have it completed.

[Smokyturtle]

OOOHHHH!! Trains!!! lol:g12:

[lightitup]

I was putting crown molding up in my office and my hubby put a hole in the wall from his office to mine so I am guessing a train set will be arriving anyday around my walls. I knew he would wait till I got up the crown molding and decide to do this. Now you won't see the crown molding. Maybe he is trying to give me a hint. I will take pictures of the train going around. inside and outside. I have tried the natural landscape but it doesn't work too well cause there is too many trees shading it. I think I am going to get some indoor outdoor carpet that looks like grass and put it out there. hahaha

[Christmasplease]

I have a train set I haven't used yet. It is built so it can go around the tree or at the bottom of the tree. Just wondering, don't your presents get in the way of the train?

[Snowflake]

I don't set all of our presents under the tree every year. Some years I set them close to the tree. One year I had a wooden sleigh that I set them in near the tree. I just do different things.

[cindylouwho]

We had a train set for a few years when we first got grandkids. You just have to be careful where you set your presents, so it does not interfere with the train or sit on the tracks. It is pretty easy to fit it all in.

[Twinkle]

I see this thread actually began in '07, the year I bought Sonny his Lionel Train set. Well, the set was not large enough to circle the tree and needed to have more customized tracks for it to work. In two years, I haven't done it yet. We have part of the train set on the fireplace mantle and display year-round. But, maybe, just maybe, I will complete the set this year so we can actually have the trains running around our tree this year. I better get busy because Christmas is just around the corner.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/Lizilu2/Christmastraincute.gif?t=1257128221

[mother christmas]

Sorry just found this thread and decided to discuss what we have. I will take some pictures of it one day and post them.

We have a running American Flyer train set. One of the engines that we have is over 50 years old and we love it. When my 15 year old son was 6 we gave him his very own engine.

[angelpugs]

I have those plastic totes that i put my stuff in as i have so much and of course i keep buying but,can't help it.I had a big christmas train it was red and green with christmas pictures on it as time went on i couldn't use it so i gave it to a family who could.:61::c32:2797

[jollyheather]

I love the moving train you have Twinkle!
I had noticed that this thread started im 2007 also and i was aondering iff all the intentions had come alive. Good to read many did in one way or an other. We do not have the train theme here but i sure like the idear off it. I remember my brother having a 5 square (maybe more) meter table and on it he had a modle train set and landscape. I just loved it when he played with it. And i always wanted to help him but was not allowed.

For me i bye new stuff every year and i store them in boxes. Last year i started to number the boxes and in box 1 i put a list off what is in each box. In that case i know i only have to find box #1 to know what can be found in each box. Oh and this does sound organized! :g27: I only wish i was that in live in general.

[granny]

I have a Christmas storage room in the basement - nothing but Christmas decorations. The room has floor to ceiling shelves, one closet, a small desk and chair. This is also my wrapping station and where I store unwrapped gifts. Shelves are full of figurines and stuff I do not want to put in boxes. The boxes are stored according to theme. Each one is inventoried and numbered so I match each box with a master list. Long ago I use to be a facilities manager - those skills definitely come in handy.

granny

[lightitup]

Now if I was only as organized as granny I would be one happy camper. So granny I have a spare room I use as a craft/junk room. I am going to change it to a christmas indoor room and free up about 30 totes. How do I accomplish this. I have to keep a double bed in there. I have about 5 shelving units in there and probably about 30 plastic drawers. Where do I begin???
My shed is fairly organized but right now because my hubby put out decorations this year it is one huge mess. I want to get it going back to the way I had it five years ago. LOL