INPUT ARTICLE: Article: and proofread. If you have a spell-check feature, use it. Some programs, such as Microsoft Word, also include a grammar check that you should use. Proofread your letter yourself. Do not rely on the spelling and grammar checks to catch mistakes. Consider asking a friend, or even two, to proofread your letter as well. If no one is available to help, another good strategy is to spend some time away from your final draft (a few hours or even a whole day) so that you can return to it with a fresh perspective.

SUMMARY: Spell-check Read your letter aloud to hear how it reads.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It can be a real wreath or an artificial wreath; the size of the wreath does not matter either. You can find real wreaths in grocery stores and Christmas tree farms, while artificial ones are found in craft stores. Keep in mind that most stores do not sell these wreaths year-round. You are more likely to find them around the holiday season, typically November and December. Some wreaths come pre-lit or flocked with fake snow. You can use these if they fit your overall vision. Like artificial Christmas trees, artificial wreaths come compressed. Choose a point on the wreath to start at, then gently pull the branches away. Work your way around the wreath until you are back where you started. If the branches have smaller twigs, be sure to pull them away too.  You don't have to pull the branches all the way out--just enough to give the wreath a fuller appearance. Skip this step if you have a real wreath. The branches are already fluffed out. Purchase a can of fake snow spray from the craft store or Christmas tree farm. Follow the directions on the can to mist a light coating of fake snow onto your wreath. The product is similar to spray paint, except that it will coat the wreath with textured, white flocking instead. Let the product dry completely before moving on.  You can use as much or as little flocking as you want. Keep in mind that the more you use, the harder it will be to secure the items to the wreath. How long the flocking takes to dry depends on the brand that you are using. Check the can for complete drying times, but expect to wait 8 to 24 hours. Buy one to two strands of battery-operated lights for the wreath. Wrap the lights around the wreath, then secure the battery pack to the back of it. Use green floral wire if it is a real wreath. If it is an artificial wreath, simply bend one or two twigs around the battery pack to hold it in place.  Keep the lights proportionate to the wreath. Use standard-sized Christmas tree bulbs for large wreaths, and tiny "fairy lights" for small wreaths. A single strand of lights should be enough for a small wreath. A large wreath may require 2 strands. It will also help you figure out what sorts of items to put on your wreath. Listed below are some examples of popular Christmas themes:  Classic: candy canes, Santa Clause, Frosty, Rudolf, etc. Royal: solid backgrounds with gold flourishes and scrolls. Rustic cabin: gingham, plaid, reindeer silhouettes, snow-covered pines, etc. Winter Wonderland: snow, snow-covered pines, snowflakes, and icicles. Vintage: Victorian Christmas cards, angels, carolers, A Christmas Carol, etc. Red and green is a popular Christmas color scheme, but you can also try a less used combination, such as blue and silver. Keep in mind that not all color schemes work with all themes. For example, red and burlap will work much better for a rustic theme than red and gold. Here are some ideas to get you started:  Classic: red and green with white accents. Royal: gold and dark red or dark green. Rustic cabin: red and white/beige/burlap. Winter Wonderland: blue and white with silver or iridescent accents. Vintage: red and green with gold accents. Round, glass Christmas ornaments are a great, classical option, but you can also use shaped ornaments made from different materials, such as plastic snowflakes and wooden nutcrackers. For a more natural-looking wreath, try Christmas picks instead.  Match the items to the size of your wreath. The smaller the wreath is, the smaller the items should be. How many items you get depends on the size of your wreath and design. In general, the larger the wreath, the more items you'll have to buy. Christmas picks are small floral pieces, such as sprigs of holly or pine. They are often accented with berries and Christmas ornaments, and you can find them in craft stores. If your design includes a garland, it would be a good idea to wrap it around your wreath now. Secure the ends of the garland to the back of the wreath with pieces of green floral wire. Tuck some portions of the garland under the branches. This will give you are more organic appearance. If your design has any bows, lay them down first. Position the ornaments next, starting with the largest ones first. Do not glue, wire, or secure the items to the wreath; play around with the arrangement until you are happy.  Consider decorating just a corner of the wreath. Use larger items in the center of the design, and smaller items on the edges. Bunch items together in groups of three. If you want to work in groups of two, choose items of different sizes. Work in a clockwise direction, starting with the largest items first, then filling in the gaps with smaller ones. How you secure the items to your wreath depends on the item. For example:  Tie natural items to your wreath with pieces of green floral wire.  Hang ornaments from the branches like you would on a Christmas tree. Tuck long branches into the wreath, then bend the stem behind the wreath to secure it.   Hot glue items that cannot be tied or that can fall off, such as cinnamon sticks.

SUMMARY: Get a plain evergreen wreath. Fluff artificial wreaths up, if needed. Flock the wreath with fake snow, if desired. Wrap battery-operated lights around the wreath, if desired. Choose a theme for your wreath. Pick a color scheme that goes with your theme. Purchase items that match your theme and color scheme. Wrap any garlands around the wreath, if desired. Arrange the items on your wreath in groups, but don't secure them. Secure the items to the wreath once you're happy with the layout.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Double click the zip file to decompress it.

SUMMARY:
Go to WordPress.org/download and download the latest version of WordPress. Create a WordPress folder in your Documents section, or in another area on your computer. Place the WordPress zip file in the new WordPress folder.