Miy Wooden Avent Candle Holders ~ Lighting the way to the Holidays
Hands-on time: Under two hours to make 4.
Total time: Drying time for the stain (8 hours per coat).
Skill: Moderate, with basic tool skills.
Project cost: Under $25.00.
Materials & tools:
• 4” x 4” wooden fence posts (two 30 cm high, and two 25 cm high)
• Newspapers
• Saw
• Pencil and a ruler
• Vise, drill and 1-1/4” diameter drill bit, spade bit
• Electric sander and medium to fine grit sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Pre-stain by Minwax and a sponge brush
• Minwax PolyShades (one-step stain & finish all in one) in colour of your choice (I used Natural Cherry gloss
390/490)
• High-quality natural bristle brush
•Tea light candles, 3 purple, 1 pink, 4 white
(Materials for this project are available at hardware stores)
Making block advent candle holders is a clever way to utilize pieces of wood leftover from other projects, such as
last summer’s new deck or fence. Wooden posts are cut to size, and holes are drilled for the candles. Minwax
PolyShades was applied to add rich colour with a durable protection while enhancing the wood grain — all in a
single step. These modern-style candle holders can used year round.
Advent is a term for the period that begins on the Sunday nearest November 30 and lasts until Christmas. The
word advent is derived from the Latin word “adventus” meaning “to come”. The four advent candles symbolize
the four weeks of advent. Typically, the purple candles symbolize joy, peace and love, and are lit on the first,
second and fourth Sunday of advent. The pink candle symbolizes hope and is lit on the third Sunday. At midnight
on Christmas Eve, the candles are replaced by white candles. Theses candle are used until the Epiphany. This
tradition has long been practiced by several religious faiths. Families set up advent candles arranged in or
around a wreath that is either set on a table or suspended from the ceiling. The circle wreath is a symbol of
eternity and life, and the candles are the light of the world.
Measure and cut with a saw four wooden blocks in the sizes indicated above, or to any other size, as there are
no rules for the height of advent candle holders, just as long as there are four. Traditionally, they are all the
same size, but there is no set rule. I just decided to give these wooden holders a modern look.
Making block advent candle holders is a clever way to utilize pieces of wood leftover from other projects, such as
last summer’s new deck or fence. Wooden posts are cut to size, and holes are drilled for the candles. Minwax
PolyShades was applied to add rich colour with a durable protection while enhancing the wood grain — all in a
single step. These modern-style candle holders can used year round.
Advent is a term for the period that begins on the Sunday nearest November 30 and lasts until Christmas. The
word advent is derived from the Latin word “adventus” meaning “to come”. The four advent candles symbolize
the four weeks of advent. Typically, the purple candles symbolize joy, peace and love, and are lit on the first,
second and fourth Sunday of advent. The pink candle symbolizes hope and is lit on the third Sunday. At midnight
on Christmas Eve, the candles are replaced by white candles. Theses candle are used until the Epiphany. This
tradition has long been practiced by several religious faiths. Families set up advent candles arranged in or
around a wreath that is either set on a table or suspended from the ceiling. The circle wreath is a symbol of
eternity and life, and the candles are the light of the world.
Measure and cut with a saw four wooden blocks in the sizes indicated above, or to any other size, as there are
no rules for the height of advent candle holders, just as long as there are four. Traditionally, they are all the
same size, but there is no set rule. I just decided to give these wooden holders a modern look.
On the top face of each of the blocks, draw an X (from each corner) with a pencil and a ruler to find and mark the
centre.
Secure the wooden block in a vise, then drill a 1-1/4” diameter hole, as deep as the tea light candle cup, in the
centre of it. Stop and check if the tea light fits, then continue drilling if needed to adjust the depth. Repeat steps
for each holder.
Sand the wooden blocks until smooth. Start with the medium grit sandpaper and finish with the fine grit
sandpaper. Dust off with a tack cloth.
For uniform staining, first apply a coat of pre-stain to each candle holder. Let dry about 10 minutes. Apply a light
coat (to avoid drip marks) of the one-step stain in your choice of colour to each of the candle holders. Let each
coat dry for eight hours before recoating. Normally, at least two coats are needed for an even and polished
finish, but additional coats may be applied for richer colour. I applied four coats, one in the morning and one in
the evening over a two-day period. To avoid drip marks, after each coat application, wait five minutes and use
upward strokes with the paintbrush around the top edges of the holders.
Once the stain is dry, insert a tea light candle into each of the candle holders.
Adorn with festive beaded wire if desired and let the count down to the holidays begin. The holders will look
simply majestic when displayed in a row on a buffet, down the centre of a table or gracing a mantel, or placed
inside a large wreath. Light one candle each Sunday, an additional one the next Sunday, and so on until
Christmas.
Variations:
To make Hanukkah candle holders, cut eight wooden holders in the same size and height. Cut a ninth (and
centre, the Shamas) holder taller. Stain blue, paint silver, or decorate with gold leaf accents, such as Stars of
David.
To use tapered candles, simply drill a smaller hole at the other end of the wooden block, then turn them over to
use different size candles.
No need to clean your paintbrush between each coat; simply kept it sealed in Glad® Press’n Seal™ wrap.
Minwax PolyShades also allows you to easily change the colour of currently stained or varnished wood items
without stripping.
| Miy Wood Advent Candle Holders C r e a t i o n s & I n s p i r a t i o n s "f o r t h e p u r e j o y o f m a k i n g t h i n g s" |
“Lighting the way to the Holidays in style” |
Miycreations Project, article and photographs
by MaddyLane
by MaddyLane
Make it Yourself Creations... The Spirit of Making Things ~ Naturally Simple
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