How to Make an Easy Advent Wreath
The holidays are upon us! This year there are only 3 full weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas so I'm starting to decorate a little early. Some of you are already decking the halls, but if you're one of those "let Thanksgiving have its moment" folks I totally understand. I finished the Crhacienda Dining Room makeover just in time to entertain family for the holidays. Today's post is a quick, easy, and inexpensive DIY to bring some holiday cheer to your tables. Cue Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You".
I've been wanting to make my own Advent Wreath for a few years because Christmas at the Crhacienda is always infused with a Scandinavian influence. My Danish roots have been encouraging me to pick up this tradition. Someone should have told 8-year-old me that Advent wasn't just about eating mediocre chocolates from a cardboard calendar. Advent traditions are celebrated differently for different cultures and faiths, that's why I love this DIY – it can be customized for your traditions and if you don't celebrate Advent it still makes for a beautiful centerpiece on your table. Most Advent wreaths have a minimum of 4 candles (one for each week leading up to Christmas) and some will add a fifth candle.
PREP
You don't need much for this DIY. I had almost everything in my house already, and I wouldn't be surprised if most of you did too.
Candlesticks. Visit your local thrift store to search for these brass beauties. I see them all the time and have gathered quite a collection. When I bought these they were less than $10 for all four. If you don't feel like hunting for vintage candlesticks? I found these from Target and these from Ballard Designs that have a similar feel.
Tray. Serving trays or rimmed trays are great to help save your table from any dripping wax. It also makes it easier to move the wreath. I had this ceramic tray already, but I've seen similar ones at thrift stores and flea markets that were very affordable.
Taper Candles. I already had plenty of candles on hand, but if I'm ever low I stock up at the dollar store.
Wreath. I decided not to use real greenery because of the mess when it starts to dry out and I didn't want a fire hazard around the candles. My local craft store had great artificial cedar and pine greenery for the wreath. I used two types to add depth and texture, and since I had a coupon they cost me less than $10. If you're not in the mood to make the wreath, this artificial one from Target looks great in-person. Just be sure your tray is about the same size as the wreath.
ASSEMBLY
The wreath came together quickly once I had collected everything so this is the easiest part.
Step One: Arrange the candlesticks on the tray. I alternated each of the different heights for mine.
Step Two: Form the wreath around the tray with the greenery. You really can't mess this up, the wires inside make it so easy and you just get in there and zhuzh everything because it takes a little work to make artificial greenery look more realistic. I mixed sprigs from each one to create depth and fill in open spots.
Step Three: Add the candles and burn the tips! Martha Stewart taught me a long time ago to always burn the wicks of your candles when you put them out. Even if you're not using them right away, burning them for just a second creates the impression that they're not just decorative. Candles are key to creating hygge during the holidays. It's a good thing.
STYLE
I love how easy this project is and I wanted to add a little something extra to get in the Scandinavian holiday spirit. I made these Danish paper stars after spotting them on Pinterest and figured I'd give them a shot. The tutorial below was pretty easy to follow, and the website has even more details for the tutorial here. I'm going to thread a few like ornaments and give them to friends with bottles of wine for host(ess) gifts at holiday parties.
I will say this about the paper stars, you have to be in the right state of mind for a craft project like this. It requires accuracy and patience and it might not be the right project for kids. It wasn't until I had finished a few stars that I felt more confident, so don't beat yourself up if you rip the paper along the way or need to replay the video a few (dozen) times. I used paper I already had, but there are tons of good options at your local craft store. The color possibilities are endless so you can customize them for your holiday color scheme. Just have fun with it!
In the end, they made such a sweet impact on the Advent wreath along with my favorite match strike (those little boots). If you're holding off on Christmas decorating, be sure to pin this DIY to your Christmas board on Pinterest. We've got some more Christmas styling favorites on our Christmas board too. So are you going to try this quick DIY for the holidays? Be sure to tag us on Instagram if you do, we'd love to see!
Source: https://wrenstedinteriors.com/diy-how-to-christmas-advent-wreath/