Celebrate the spirit and meaning of Christmas with this easy tutorial to make a beautiful advent wreath DIY using fresh or faux winter greens.
The Advent wreath, a beloved Christian tradition, symbolizes the journey towards Christmas. More than just a festive decoration, it’s a beautiful reminder of the spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ.
This year, create your own DIY Advent wreath and infuse your home with meaning and light. Follow this easy step-by-step guide to craft a personalized wreath that will become a cherished centerpiece throughout the season
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About the Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is a cherished Christian tradition that symbolizes the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Crafted from evergreen branches, the circular shape of the wreath represents eternity.
Traditionally, Advent wreaths feature three purple candles, one pink candle, and often a fifth white candle in the center. Each candle represents a different aspect of spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus. However, some people opt for an all-white candle design for their homemade wreaths.
Meaning of the Advent Candles
Each Sunday during Advent, a new candle is lit, marking the progression towards Christmas. Here’s the order and symbolism of each candle:
- Week 1: The Prophecy Candle (Purple) – Symbolizes hope and commemorates the prophets who foretold Jesus’s birth.
- Week 2: The Bethlehem Candle (Purple) – Represents faith and recalls Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
- Week 3: The Shepherd’s Candle (Pink) – Signifies joy, celebrating the halfway point of Advent and the shepherds’ anticipation of Jesus’s arrival.
- Week 4: The Angel’s Candle (Purple) – Embodies peace and represents the angels’ message of joy and goodwill.
- Week 5 (Optional): Christ’s Candle (White) – Lit on Christmas Eve, symbolizing the purity and light of Christ entering the world.
Creating Your Own DIY Advent Wreath
Making your own Advent wreath is a great way to personalize this tradition. Whether you prefer fresh or faux evergreens, the process is simple and allows you to infuse your personal style into a cherished holiday tradition.
Materials You’ll Need
Not many supplies are needed to make your own wreath. And if you are blessed with a landscape that has lots of fresh evergreens to cut? Then you can make this Christmas DIY budget-friendly and sustainable.
- Container: Choose a vessel that complements your style, such as a decorative bowl, platter, or even a vintage urn. I love the rustic elegance of this vintage compote bowl.
- Floral Foam: Floral foam will help secure the candles and greenery in place.
- Candles: Traditionally 3 purple, 1 pink, and an optional white candle. Here’s a source for the candles I used.
- Evergreen Branches: Fresh or faux Christmas greenery, depending on your preference.
- Pruners or Scissors: You”ll need pruners or sharp scissors or trimming branches to the desired size.
- Decorative Elements: Pine cones, berries, ribbons, or other festive touches.
While I’m a huge proponent of using fresh greens, sometimes you just want to use something that’s set and forget that will last without thinking about it. If you choose to use faux greens to make this Christian advent wreath, go for it! I’ve made it both ways and it’s really a matter of preference what types of greens you choose to use.
How to Make an Advent Wreath DIY: Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Your Container: If using fresh greens, ensure your container is watertight or has a liner to prevent leaks. Cut floral foam to fit snugly inside.
- Secure the Candles: Insert the candles firmly into the floral foam. Consider using candle holders for added stability and to catch dripping wax.
- Add the Greenery: Begin by creating a base layer of greenery that drapes over the edge of the container. Then, fill in the gaps with shorter branches and sprigs, creating a full and lush look.
- Incorporate Decorative Elements: Tuck in pine cones, berries, or other embellishments to enhance the visual appeal of your wreath.
When using fresh instead of faux greens, make sure to use a little dish or something to catch the water in on the bottom so nothing leaks out. The only thing to keep in mind when cutting evergreen branches, some types of greens have prickly leaves like holly, so wear gloves when working with them.
How I Designed My DIY Advent Wreath
As with any arrangement, keep in mind the thriller, filler and spiller technique to container design. It’s a great way to design any container garden or centerpiece arrangement.
I started the Advent Wreath by inserting the four candles into the floral foam at the center of the wreath. The candles are the thriller or height element of the design. Because I am using what I have on hand, I don’t have the pink and purple candles, so I’m using white instead. I then inserted a few pine looking sprigs to the base of the arrangement so it creates a spilling effect.
To keep the greens to scale with the urn, I want them to drape 2x the width of the container. Then, I kept stuffing around the base with the pine looking sprigs until it looked full enough to add the filler.
Next I added some filler greens to make the arrangement look fuller, as well as to add more texture and dimension. So I tucked in some cedar branch and juniper faux greens. The sprigs were smaller than the pines I used, making great filler.
When tucking in the greens, be sure to keep some space away from the candles so when they candles burn down they don’t ignite the greens. To add more texture and dimension, I tucked in some pinecone sprigs.
The ones I have are flocked and grouped in threes on a floral pic. But I love how they instantly added some life to the advent wreath, don’t you? And finally, I tucked in some faux red berry sprigs to coordinate with my Christmas decorating style this year. Adding them really makes the whole arrangement pop, don’t you agree?
Tips for Success
- Fresh Greens: If using fresh greenery, mist it regularly to keep it hydrated and vibrant.
- Candle Safety: As with any burning candles, ALWAYS keep an eye on them.Ensure the greens are placed a safe distance from the candle flames to prevent fire hazards. As the candles burn down into the greens, swap them out for fresh ones, or use flameless, battery-operated candles for safety.
- Personalization: Feel free to experiment with different colors, textures, and embellishments to create a wreath that reflects your unique style.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Q: My fresh greens are drying out quickly. What can I do?
A: Mist them with water daily and consider placing the wreath in a cool location away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
Q: How can I prevent candle wax from dripping onto my wreath?
A: Use candle holders to catch the drips, or trim the candles slightly shorter to reduce the risk of dripping.
Q: Can I use different colored candles?
A: Absolutely! While the traditional colors have symbolic meaning, feel free to choose colors that match your décor or personal preference.
Creative Variations
- Modern Minimalist: Use a sleek container, white candles, and simple greenery for a modern look.
- Rustic Charm: Incorporate natural elements like pinecones, berries, and twigs for a rustic feel.
- Festive Flair: Add ornaments, ribbons, or even small figurines to create a more festive wreath.
Final Thoughts About Making a DIY Advent Wreath For Your Home
Have you ever made your own advent wreath before? If so, how did you make yours? Tell me more in the comments below.
For more information about the sacred meaning of the advent wreath, read this article.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today!
Enjoy your day! xoxo
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