Many families use the Advent wreath as the center of their daily devotions. Advent wreaths can be simple or complex, inexpensive or relatively expensive. In these instructions we will show you how to make your own Advent wreath with stick candles.
Remembering Christ through a DIY Advent wreath with stick candles
Advent prepares to celebrate the arrival of Christ as the child born in Bethlehem on the first Christmas. Advent begins on the last Sunday in November or the first Sunday in December, depending on which day of the week Christmas (December 25th) falls on.
An Advent wreath as a whole should remind us of both the immortality of our souls and God's promise of eternal life to us through Christ. The materials and tools required, as well as the steps to make an Advent wreath, are relatively simple. Follow our step-by-step instructions to make your own Advent wreath with stick candles and delight your family for the holidays.
Materials and tools required
- Styrofoam wreath form
- Candles: three purple, one pink, (optional: one white)
- Greens
- Fishing line, wire or pins to attach the greenery
- Lineal
- wire
- Newspaper
- marker pen
- Electric drill or knife for the openings
Step-by-step instructions for crafting
Step 1: Select the candles
Before you start making an Advent wreath, it is important that you choose the stick candles you want to use so that you can match the wreath to the candles.
At the end of the 1980s there was an interview on German shortwave radio with a candle maker who talked about candlesfor Advent wreathsspoke. It was announced that candles for Advent wreaths come in many different colors, including red, silver and gold. And that there are also candles for Advent wreaths that only consist of one color. This means you have the opportunity to find suitable candles almost everywhere and in every price range.
Step 2: Designing the wreath
You can use old newspaper and a marker to create the patterns. Draw two lines that are exactly perpendicular to each other. Centeringthe wreath. Measure several times from all directions to be sure the wreath is centered on the two vertical lines. Mark the intersection of the lines for the candle holders in the Styrofoam wreath. Note the marker stick stuck in the Styrofoam.
If you don't have a drill, you can use a serrated knife to make a socket for each candle. If there are any inaccuracies, you may need to use putty to fill the voids. Be careful not to break the Styrofoam wreath. You can also use a custom candlestick with a spike at the bottom punched into the Styrofoam. These should be available at craft stores.
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Step 3: Prepare the wire supports for the greens
Straighten the wire from two ordinary clothes hangers. These form circles to which the greenery can be attached. Use a compass to draw arcs in which the wire should be embedded. The pieces of wire are hidden by the square blocks. The square blocks also create a hole for the floorevery candledrilled. The wire must be far enough away from the bottom holes, but also not too close to the outer edge. Something else might pop out. You can use wood putty to fill the holes created by the chippings.
Step 4: Finish and add greenery
It’s up to you whether you use live or “plastic” greenery. The “plastic” green is definitely easier because it never needs to be replaced, just fluffed up a bit so it looks fresh and not like it has been sitting in a box for a year. You can attach live clippings from a needle-bearing tree, and the live greenery will smell pleasant. The choice is yours.
If you have access toan evergreen oneIf you have a tree, you can simply cut off a few small pieces without the tree looking like anything is missing. Whether with or without greens, the green color represents something lively. It is an allusion to eternal life. Wrap the greenery around the wreath until you like the craft.
Also read:Make your own Advent wreath for 2023: classic or modern?
