Valentine's Day Lights

Valentine’s Day is upon us and it is time to decide how to decorate this year. Lots of people like to have parties or some type of fun event around Valentine’s Day and there is no better way to decorate than with festive lighting.

Mini Lights - There are so many options for mini lights in colors that will match any Valentine's decor. Using red, pink and white on white wire to light up some of your centerpieces or table settings would be a great touch.

Themed Light Displays - With options like, double hearts, heart with cupid’s arrow and Cupid, you can find things to hang in your windows or even on the walls of a venue for a Valentine’s day party. Fun, festive and simple to install.

Traditional Christmas Light Bulbs - These come in a variety of colors and styles. You can get C7 or C9 bulbs in red, pink and white. These are available in a transparent style or in a opaque style. The opaque style will give you a softer light glow for a more romantic feel.

LED Globe Lights - Like the traditional bulbs, but come in 2 different bulb sizes. These also come in more color options. You can find these in red, pink and white. You could hang them across the ceiling for an outdoor patio look.

Starlight Spheres - These light spheres are just as whimsical and romantic as they sound. The are little balls of light. You could make a cluster of these in different sizes in the corners of your venue. It would be a great background for photos. You can get these in 3 different sizes in red, pink and white.

These are just to mention a few of the great products that would be perfect for your Valentine's Day party.

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Hannah
All American Christmas Co.

Chasing Christmas Mini Lights

We all know the look of traditional mini lights on houses around the holidays. Why not try to make your stand out a little more? We have something called a chasing mini light set. These would be perfect to spice up your indoor or outdoor holiday decor.

These Christmas mini lights come with 140 bulbs per set with a controller that controls the chasing speed. The lights will do just what the name says, they chase. It starts at one end and runs all the way down the string. Fun and festive. 

The chasing Christmas light strings come in many colors from amber to green to clear and everything in between. They have a 4 inch bulb spacing with a 6 inch lead and tail. These sets are for indoor and outdoor use. They will last about 2,500 hours. One more bonus with these lights, if one bulb goes out, the rest will stay lit. 

These chasing light sets are great for the holidays if you are looking for something more exciting to add to your Christmas decor. 

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Hannah

All American Christmas Co. 

Halloween Mini Lights

It is already almost the middle of September, this year seems to be flying by. But, one of our favorite holidays is coming. Who is ready to do some Halloween decorating? We know we are!

We are very proud to offer a wide selection of lights that will do the job for all Halloween decorations. One of the most commonly used lights for Halloween is the mini light strings. These come in a wide variety of colors and light counts.

The two most popular for this type of application would be the orange mini lights on black wire and the clear mini lights on black wire. These would fit in perfectly no matter what type of overall Halloween decor you decided on. These are also great for indoor or outdoor use, so they are great to use at parties. Your guests will love the ambiance these little lights create.

We also offer a very cool set of mini light icicles for Halloween. This is a 100 light set of icicle lights on black wire with orange bulbs. String these all around your house to show the trick or treaters or party goers their way to the candy and fun. They are fun and festive!

Have a fun and safe holiday and be sure to go all  out with your decorations!

Icicle Christmas Lights

Icicle lights, one of the easiest and most commonly used ways to decorate a home or business during the holiday season. Hang them along a roof line or gutter and you instantly have holiday cheer surrounding you. These are an old faithful in the Christmas light world, but why not check out all the new options that have come out in the last few years.

There will always be the traditional mini light icicles. These come in 100 and 150 light counts with a variety of colors. But these fun and festive lights also come with a few other options. We offer dripping, twinkling and color changing icicle lights. Some people like these because it gives you a look of dripping ice or falling snow from the roof line. 

Another option that might be a good a choice for businesses are the commercial icicle lights. These are a heavier duty set with tougher wire, 20,000+ hours of life and you can connect 10 sets end to end. This would be useful if you were trying to cover a larger building for the holidays. 

Another option is the popular LED icicle lights.A lot of people have switched over many of their holiday decorations for LED lights over the last few years. One thing people might not think to change is their outdoor icicle lights. But this could be a big money saver around the holidays, especially if you have them on all the time. There really isn't a lot of options for LED icicle lights. They offer two light counts, and three to four color choices. But even with the limited options, there really is something to fit every one's taste.

We are proud to offer a wide selection of icicle lights to meet any decorating needs or desires.

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Hannah
All American Christmas Co.

Patriotic Lights and Displays

The Fourth of July is just around the corner and I know everyone is getting excited for the cookouts and parties that come with it. But have you thought about how to decorate for your favorite summer gathering? Here at All American Christmas Company, we are proud to offer a selection of patriotic lights and decorations so that you can show your American pride.

Starlight spheres are great for using outside for late night parties and barbecues. We offer a large selection of sizes, including spheres on stakes to line walkways and driveways. There are even special patriotic options, such as the USA sphere that resembles the American flag and solid colored red, white and blue. You cannot go wrong with this festive globe of light.

I know most people don't think about using light displays for much more than around Christmas time, but we have some great patriotic light displays that are perfect for this time of the year. We offer an American flag and USA in red, white and blue. These are great for hanging outside for your July 4th barbecue. It will not only give a little extra light but also show you're proud to be an American.

One other option to consider is string lights in patriotic colors. These are available in all of your favorite light styles; LED bulbs and strings, mini lights, icicle lights and rope light. Any of the more traditional patriotic lights will work with your decor and give you some fun light so that the party can continue into the night.




Try to get creative with your lighting and have fun. You cannot go wrong with any these options, any of them will be sure to show your American pride on the fourth of July!

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Hannah
All American Christmas Co.

DIY Garden Lights

Summer is quickly approaching and I think a lot of people out there are trying to think of fun and new ways to spice up their favorite outdoor spaces. Let's try making some glowing garden lights.Whether it is your backyard, garden or even just your flower beds, this little project will be perfect.

All you are going to need is a couple of the globe light covers, which you can find at any thrift store or hardware store. And a few strings of mini lights, you can choose any color you like. An extension cord, just in case you aren't near a plug. You might also want to get some spray paint, if you want to change the color of your globes.

Now, choose where you want your glowing garden lights to go. The possibilities are endless, it all just depends on your outdoor spaces. These would be nice around a pool, lining a walkway for a wedding or party, setting in your garden and flower beds so you can enjoy them any time of day. You find what works for you. 

Next, stuff your garden globes with mini lights, as many as you like. If you want more light, use more mini light strings. And vice versa. You may also consider using LED lights since they use less energy and might be more friendly with your electric bill. 

Last, put your glowing garden globes in their place and light them up. This is your chance to sit back and
enjoy your handy work. This might be the most affordable and simplest DIY project you can do for your outdoor spaces. Have fun and enjoy your new creation!

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Hannah

All American Christmas Co. 

All About Mini Lights

Green Wire Clear Mini Lights

Mini Lights

Mini lights, the small glass bulbs Christmas lights that adorn houses, businesses, restaurants all over the country. These have become a staple in decorating and while they are definitely still commonly referred to as "Christmas Lights" they are in no way just for the holiday season. In 2013 All American Christmas Co. plans to tighten the screws on our Mini Lights and try to simplify the staggering amount of choices there are. 

Differences to consider when choosing Mini Lights

There are a handful of differences between Mini Christmas light strings and if you're not well informed subtle things can dramatically change how you'll have to approach lighting a project. Use the info below to give you a little insight on how to use Mini christmas lights

• Bulb Spacing - This is the distance from bulb to bulb. This detail should come with the largest caveat, spacings are almost never exact and should be taken as approximations. The wire between the bulbs can often be cut at different lengths that will give slightly different spacings. The most common factory spacings are 2.5", 4", & 6" but like I mentioned before the variance in construction can take spacings from 2" to 3" and 4.5" to 5.5" just depends on the production runs. All American Christmas Co. tries to offer the most accurate spacing measurements possible.
• Bulb Count - This one is pretty easy, just the count of bulbs on a light string. There is a varying amount of options for some counts on the spacings and what not but for the most part this is pretty self explanatory.  The number of bulbs on a string range from 10, 15, 20, 35, 50, 100, and 150. The most common counts are 50 and 100, with the majority of bulb spacings being available for those two counts.
• Lead Wire - A "Lead" is the length of wire from the male plug of a light string to the first bulb. This amount of wire can vary depending on the manufacturer with some sets having short leads that are close to the spacing of the set itself and some sets have long leads which easy in decorating with a sing string. Most lead wires are shorter on longer sets and longer on shorter sets.
• Lighted Length - Lighted length refers to the footage from the first bulb to last bulb. This can vary depending on the spacing of the bulbs themselves and the lighted length is pretty easily calculated. Simple take the Total number of bulbs minus one multiply by the spacing (in inches) and then divide by 12 this will give the total footage. Example: (100-1) x 4" = 396" , 396"/ 12 = 33 feet
• Bulb Voltage  - Mini light bulbs are not universal, if you've ever tried to replace mini light bulbs with bulb voltages that aren't the same you'll notice certain bulbs will burn hotter and inevitably will burn out faster. The most common voltage 2.5 volt and are 50 & 100 bulb count strings. As the bulb count drops the voltage goes up, 35 count have 3.5 volt, 20 count have 6 volt, 15 count have 8 volt, and 10 count and have 12 volt. 

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Zach

DIY Mini Light Garland

We all know that these days we are trying to do more DIY projects. They help to save money but also they can help you to completely customize the wedding or party to the theme with recycled mini lights and inexpensive cups or cupcake papers. Now who can say no to that? One way to add fun and festive customization is to make covers for your mini lights to string around the room or venue. You can do this in several different ways using several different products. Some people use cupcake pan liners, clear plastic party cups covered with fabric or covering Dixie cups with scrapbook paper that matches your party décor.

Using Mini Lights to Light Your Christmas Tree

Who doesn't enjoy finding DIY tips and tricks, especially around the holidays? Well, why not try a few new tricks for lighting your Christmas tree. I know around here that is the least fun part of the holidays. We love the finished product, but not the process getting there. Hopefully these little tips will help make lighting your family Christmas tree a lot more fun and much quicker.

For those of you that buy a fresh Christmas tree every year, try using three 100 count mini light strings per one foot section of your tree. The rest of you that have an artificial tree, such as myself, use three 50 count mini light strings per one foot section of the tree. These shorter strings will be easier to work with when wrapping around the branches so that you can pack your tree up after the holidays with your mini lights still attached.

So many people nowadays choose to do a “theme Christmas tree”, fun and festive. If you like to do this, it is nice to pick mini lights in the color that matches your key ornaments. Say you've picked a gold and white theme for your tree. You could try using yellow mini lights. This will enhance the gold theme on your tree.  (In this case you might want to use less mini lights per section. That way your ornaments and decorations stand out and the Christmas lights are just there to enhance.)

We've all gotten our Christmas tree lit and stepped back to admire our work and thought, “Did I miss a spot?” All you have to do to be sure, step back from your tree and cross your eyes as you look at it. Wherever you see black holes, rearrange the mini lights to fill in the voids and have a perfectly lit Christmas tree.

Illuminating your Christmas tree can really make a big impact. All you have to do is, start from the base of the tree trunk with your chosen Christmas mini lights. Wrap your way up the trunk and around each branch all the way out to the tip. It will glow from the inside all the way out.

Untangling your Christmas mini lights, an every year occurrence. The best way to handle this situation; start by wrapping the strands around your arm, being careful not to pull on any bulbs.  While you are in the process of untangling your holiday lights, check which bulbs work and the ones that need to be replaced. Don’t wait until they are on your tree to start replacing bulbs. 

Stop by All American Christmas Company and check out the huge selection of mini lights.

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Hannah

All American Christmas Co.

Mini Lights Description Video

Click here to view our Mini lights page

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Zach
All American Christmas Co.
www.aachristmas.com
www.allamericanchristmas.com

May 30th, 2011 is Memorial Day! 10% off coupon code!

    May 30th this year is Memorial day, and many of us like to get together with family and friends on this holiday when we take time to think about the soldiers who have sacrificed for this country. If you like to decorate for this holiday we here at All American Christmas Co. have some great lighting products that would look great for any indoor or outdoor celebration. We have Patriotic Spheres which look great indoors and out, as well as solid Red, White, and Blue Spheres. Starlight spheres are a great way to easily decorate holidays and if you mix and match them you could use solid colors for more than just patriotic holidays.

    We also carry Red, White (or clear), and Blue incandescent and LED lights. Almost all of the Mini lights we carry come in those color options on White Wire, which look great for hanging around the house or outdoors. C7 and C9 bulbs are great for hanging up around decks and patios for a little extra light, our painted/opaque C7 and C9 bulbs are great for mood lighting. We have many LED light options as well but, they typically do not come on white wire but green wire looks great too!

Be sure to use the coupon code SAVE10 to save 10% on all online orders over $25! 

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Zach
All American Christmas Co.

www.aachristmas.com

www.allamericanchristmas.com

Mini Light Description Video

Click here to watch on Youtube.

Here's my video giving you a run down on mini lights, stay tuned for more videos! Thanks.

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Zach

All American Christmas Co.

www.aachristmas.com

www.allamericanchristmas.com

Mini Light Black Out & Color Caps

Black out caps have been a popular product for many years, they are a black cap that slides over bulbs that you don't need lighting. They are perfect for cleaning up decorating projects. Lets say you want to outline your homes windows with mini lights if you connect the strings end to end there will be extra mini lights hanging between the windows, and with black out caps you can black out the lights for cleaner decorated look. The picture to the left shows the difference before and after. There has been a growing popularity for caps for mini lights, and color caps have been showing up more and more.

Color caps work best of clear mini lights bulbs and are used to of course change the color of the bulb. Color caps are a translucent rubber that is colored and they come in all the most common colors. These are great for doing custom displays or decorating projects so you can get the perfect combination of colors. Using color caps is easier than changing out actual bulbs and cheaper too!

Click here to check out all our caps!

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Zach

All American Christmas Co.

www.aachristmas.com

www.allamericanchristmas.com

Craft Lights! Perfect for bottles and glass blocks.

We here at All American Christmas Co. are proud to carry the best mini light and LED craft light strings. For Mini lights our 20 count and 35 count light strings both are made with only one plug, we call these sets No End Connector sets (or NEC for short). These light strings have the male plug with up to 3 feet of lead wire (wire from the plug to the first bulb) and they end with a bulb instead of a female plug. So with these sets you cannot plug them end to end, which makes them great for decorating glass blocks or bottles.

Our 20's and 35's, as we call them, come in a variety of bulb colors with all the standard mini light colors being represented. These lights come on both Green and White wire. These strings are relatively short so you wont have a mile of wire inside your craft project, or have to have lights hanging outside the craft either, using sets that made for this type of project will help make a cleaner looking end product! Our 3 foot lead sets are great because you don't have to use and extension cord to plug the craft in in most instances!

We have a couple options for LED craft sets, we have two 25 light count sets that come on either white or green wire with Warm White leds. The sets are NEC and are a low power & long life alternative to mini lights. They have a higher upfront cost but are going to last over 10 times longer! We also have battery powered LED sets, they will last Approx 30 hours with 3 AA batteries, and would be great for decorating without having to worry about a wire running down the wall.

Click here for Mini lights & LED Craft lights!

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Zach

Mini Lights

Christmas Mini Lights have been and will continue to be one of the most popular Christmas lights strings available. They are a simple, relatively hassle free light string that comes in the same variety of colors that makes large bulbs so popular. Our Miniature Christmas lights come in a variety of spacings; 2.5 Inch Spacing, 4 Inch Spacing, 6 Inch Spacing, and 8 Inch Spacing are standard. There is also a large selection of bulb counts for different strings. All spacings come in 50 bulbs and 100 bulb per string sets, but the 4 inch spacing sets come in 15 light, 20 light, and 35 light.

The smaller mini light strings have been gaining a huge following in the craft market. The trend of lighting glass blocks and emptied wine bottles is becoming more and more popular, using 20 or 35 light count, a glass drill bit, and a little ingenuity can lead some nice looking results. These smaller bulb count strings generally do not have any sort of end plug, we call them NEC sets ( No End Connector sets) and they are probably our most popular light string.

At the complete opposite end of the spectrum our Commercial 6 Inch spaced lights are the toughest and longest mini light sets we carry. Unlike most other mini lights these sets allow you to connect 6 sets end to end, these sets allow for LONG decorating runs without having to worry about extension cords. Generally standard mini light sets only allow for 3 sets to be plugged end to end.

Many of the past problems that plague mini light users have been remedied. In the not so distant past when a bulb would burn out it would usually kill half the string. Current production strings have a simple fix, a shunt. If a bulb is shunted then it has a small piece of wire wrapped around the filament leads, if the filament burns out the shunt continues the flow of electricity through the bulb. This simple little strand of wire keeps burnt out bulbs from killing half of your light strings. Now, if a bulb is loose or twisted then generally it will also kill the string. Usually this can be fixed by a light push on the top of the bulb if it's just loose, for twisted bulbs you have really inspect each bulb.

I hope this blog has given you a little insight into the world of Mini Lights, please visit our mini light page to view our selection.

Christmas Mini Lights Product Page