When to put out display props?

[Sickie Ickie]

I'm working on some display props and am thinking on getting them out the week of Christmas, so as not to have things stolen.

Anybody else thinking of doing props? When do you oplan to have 'em out?

[buddytheelf]

My mom just got a lighed trainset so we'll be putting that out along with those plaine and boring clear lighed raindeer things. Man I wish we has a gient frosty.

[Mistress Muffy]

Our place has mostly lights, the only props we have is that Santa on the ladder, a small snowman & a small santa. We do put up huge wreaths on each side of the house & we have all that candy stuff we are starting to make, last year just had a little bit on the front porch. There are also some lighted candy canes & a small train that go out on the lawn. We can put stuff out at anytime cause we have no problems here so far.

The only other thing we have is all that garland I make that is put around the door, the front window & the columns in front of my house. I do the garland the 1st week of Dec. & with the heat & sun here I mist it everyday with a squirt bottle.

I remember as a kid we use to go to "Candylane"........Ickie you may be to young to remember that.....do you remember "Santa's Village"? Candylane was a group of houses in the suburbs that did amazing decorating. One house had these huge acrylic cases that he built scenes in. They were all lit up inside. Back in those days that was really something. My favorite was the one w/ the pink piano in it...it was a real piano & a lifesize Santa was playing it. I would love to re-create what that guy did! Guess what he did was all worth it especially when its still in the mind of someone my age!

Muffster

[Sickie Ickie]

Ya know, I never got to Santa's Village or Candylane. However this just solidifies my theory that many displays we do are for the dreaming of kids. Those dreams can last a lifetime.

Most of the Christmas props I'm thinking of, I fully admit, are twists on the Hallow's Eve props I know. Ultimately if you tear off the holiday casings, the motors and gears and pneumatics, are just built to make something move. Static displays are created as fantasy scenes. So thoughts popping in my head are frequent and plenty. In my mind, it's not hard to make the prop transitions. Each feed off the other. That's why I'm soooo surprised that there's not many Christmas prop makers. Most dabble in only lights.

My hope is that this forum will break all kinds of beariers and new pioneering will be put forth.