Lighting an Advent wreath is a beautiful tradition that prepares us for Christmas and brightens the house on dark winter days. Each of the four Sundays of Advent, a new candle is lit, which means that at Christmas all four candles burn. This tradition, which dates back to the 19th century, functions both as a calendar that counts down to Christmas and depicts the impending birth of Jesus Christ as a growing light.
Making your own Christmas decorations is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Advent wreaths are traditionally made with pine, holly and other green plants, while our DIY instructions are for a stylish, modern version made from twigs. This DIY crown also has the advantage of being reusable year after year.
DIY ADVENT WREATH: CHOOSE YOUR WOOD
To make this decoration you will need branches of different diameters. You can use cuttings from your garden or collect wood on the go. You can often find beautiful weathered wood washed up on the banks of rivers and lakes, or collect branches and twigs from the forest floor. You should only collect pieces of wood that have fallen from trees; It is prohibited to cut branches in woods and other private land.
Before you begin your DIY Advent wreath project, let your branches dry for a day or two, leaving them spread out in a warm, dry place. When you’re ready, simply brush off the dirt and dust and your wood is ready to use!
DIY ADVENT WREATH: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Consider the color and size of your Advent wreath. When you have decided, prepare the following:
Materials and equipment required
- Branches of different diameters
- Garden pruning shears (eg. GTA 26 garden pruner)
- Optional: painting
- Optional: brush
- Optional: gold leaf or metal leaf
- 4 glass candle holders
- 4 candles
- Wooden board to use as a base
- Hot glue gun
- Personal protective equipment
DIY Advent wreath step 1: Cut the branches
For a secure hold, secure the branches to a table or workbench. Cut the branches to different lengths using garden pruners.
DIY Advent wreath step 2: Painting
Whether you decide to paint it or leave the wood bare, your wreath will still look just as beautiful. If you prefer a painted finish, you should paint the wood in your preferred color before starting construction and dry it thoroughly. For a really special festive look, you can even add a little sparkle with metal leaves on certain parts of the twigs.
DIY Advent wreath step 3: Prepare the base
A wooden board will form the basis of your Advent wreath; it should ideally be slightly smaller than the finished wreath itself, for better stability. It is important to avoid direct contact between candle flames and wood, which is why glass candle holders or cast candles are used. Position the candle glasses on the wooden board.
DIY Advent wreath step 4: Attach the wood
Now it’s time to put in the twigs. Using a hot glue gun, glue a layer of twigs to the wooden board. Glue the remaining twigs layer by layer, creating an attractive arrangement. Make sure you leave enough space around the candle glasses so you can easily remove them.
DECORATE YOUR DIY ADVENT WREATH
Your Christmas Advent wreath is finished and ready to bathe your home in a warm candlelight glow. You can also personalize it further if you like: dried orange slices, berries, pine cones and eucalyptus all make wonderful seasonal additions to your Advent wreath.
SUMMARY: DIY ADVENT WREATH
- A twig candle wreath is a DIY project that will get you into the festive spirit and add a rustic chic touch to your decorations.
- This wooden Advent wreath will last a long time and can be redecorated every year.
- Choose suitable branches from your garden or the countryside. Outside your own garden, only collect wood that is lying on the ground, never cut it from living trees.
- Let the branches dry in a warm place for one to two days, then brush them to remove any dirt.
When carrying out DIY projects with garden pruners, always wear personal protective equipment according to the instructions for use.
Cut the branches to different lengths using garden pruners. Paint and apply metal foil to the twigs if desired.
Place four glass candle holders on a wooden board and glue the twigs around them, in layers.
