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How To Celebrate Christmas With An Advent Wreath

Do you know the story of Advent? Learn how to celebrate Christmas with an Advent Wreath. Make an easy modern Advent Wreath and download a free Advent Printable to tell the story of the Christmas season.

Have you ever celebrated Christmas with the lighting of an Advent Wreath? It’s a tradition often found in churches, in which a candle will be lit during each Sunday of Advent. On the first Sunday of Advent, the first candle is lit. On the second Sunday of Advent, an additional is lit, and so on through the four Sundays of the Advent Season. Each candle represents a different focus during Christmas; Love, Joy, Hope, and Peace. In the effort to create a meaningful home, I wanted to bring the tradition of the Advent Wreath into our Christmas Celebration.

 

Disclosure: I was provided product from DecoArt to create this project. All content, photos, and views expressed are my own.

Disclosure: This page includes affiliate links.

how to make an advent wreath

I’m sharing this advent wreath as part of Handmade Holidays 2016 {yesterday, I shared a DIY Personalized Recipe Box gift}. Today’s theme is Handmade Holiday Decor, and if you are like me, Christmas brings out the crafty side. I want to fill my house with handmade decorations… in order to create a cozy Christmas home. How about you?

Supplies Needed

How to Make an Advent Wreath

To begin, assemble the pedestal stand. I attached a Walnut Hollow Wooden Clock Panel to a wooden candle holder. To ensure everything is centered, use a ruler to find the mid-point of the candle holder and mark that spot. Squirt wood glue onto the surface, then align the hole in the clock panel with the marked spot. Use a screwdriver to screw into the clock face and hold the two pieces tight. This will help keep the two wooden pieces tight and aligned while the glue is drying.

wooden pedestal used to make a diy advent wreath
person measuring wood to make an advent wreath
wood glue used to make an advent wreath
make an advent wreath

Once everything is dry, start painting. DecoArt Enchanted Chalk Finish is a classic green color that works perfectly for Christmas, but also the general blue and green palette found throughout our home. Therefore, this pedestal stand can be used year-round. After two coats of Enchanted Chalk Finish, I distress the edges with a sanding block. Next, apply a coat of Clear Creme Wax, followed with Deep Brown Creme Wax, for depth.

Decoart Enchanted products used to make a diy advent wreath
person painting a diy advent wreath
sander used to make an advent wreath
decoart paint products used to make an advent wreath

Once the pedestal has a nice, antique finish, let it dry. Afterward, place 4 candles of varying heights in the center of the stand and wrap the Christmas garland around them. Using wire snips, cut the garland to the correct length. Next, use floral wire to tie the ends together, creating a wreath around the candles.

modern advent wreath with black candles
floral wire used to make an advent wreath

The real magic happens when you remove the wrapping on the candles and start placing them back inside the wreath. I chose deep, black, pillar candles for the modern and dramatic look that they would create. Place the tallest pillar first, add the mid-sized pillars to each size, and finish with the smallest candle.

a diy modern advent wreath with a black candle
A diy modern advent wreath with candles
modern advent wreath, black candles, christmas centerpiece

What is Advent? Download an Advent Printable

This Advent Wreath makes a beautiful centerpiece, on its own. However, we’ll be using it, as an illustration, to celebrate the story of Christmas this year.

advent printable, advent wreath tradition

If you’d like to celebrate Advent with your family, download a Free Printable with details about the meaning of an Advent Wreath. As a note, I’ve also included the fifth candle, which is found in some Advent Wreath celebrations and lit on Christmas Eve.


Would you like to download the free printable? Click the button, below, to sign up for our newsletter and gain access to the freebie library. Once subscribed, you will receive an email with instructions to access the library.

If you have any problems signing up, please send an email to loragreen@craftivitydesigns.com, and I will sign you up manually.


modern advent wreath, black candles, christmas centerpiece

I just love this combination of green and black and am thinking it will become a theme in my holiday decor this year. It’s just the right balance of modern, rustic and farmhouse style.

Celebrate the season with intention, by making this beautiful centerpiece. How to Make an Advent Wreath, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern Advent Wreath, by @CraftivityD

How to Make an Advent Wreath

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Learn how to Make an easy modern Advent Wreath and download a free Advent Printable to tell the story of the Christmas season.

Tools

Instructions

  1. Use a ruler to find the mid-point of the candle holder and mark that spot. Celebrate the season with intention, by making this beautiful centerpiece. How to Make an Advent Wreath, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern Advent Wreath, by @CraftivityD
  2. Put wood glue onto the surface, then align the hole in the clock panel with the marked spot. Celebrate the season with intention, by making this beautiful centerpiece. How to Make an Advent Wreath, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern Advent Wreath, by @CraftivityD
  3. Use a screwdriver to screw into the clock face and hold the two pieces tight. Celebrate the season with intention, by making this beautiful centerpiece. How to Make an Advent Wreath, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern Advent Wreath, by @CraftivityD
  4. Once the wood glue is dry, paint the pedestal stand and let it dry completely. Celebrate the season with intention, by making this beautiful centerpiece. How to Make an Advent Wreath, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern Advent Wreath, by @CraftivityD
  5. If necessary, lightly sand the first coat. Then, apply the second coat of paint. Celebrate the season with intention, by making this beautiful centerpiece. How to Make an Advent Wreath, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern Advent Wreath, by @CraftivityD
  6. To protect the paint, apply clear wax with a rag. If you'd like a deeper tone, use dark wax. Celebrate the season with intention, by making this beautiful centerpiece. How to Make an Advent Wreath, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern Advent Wreath, by @CraftivityD
  7. Place 4 candles of varying heights in the center of the stand. Celebrate the season with intention, by making this beautiful centerpiece. How to Make an Advent Wreath, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern Advent Wreath, by @CraftivityD
  8. Wrap the Christmas garland around the candles and cut the garland to the correct length.
  9. Use floral wire to tie the ends together, creating a wreath around the candles. Celebrate the season with intention, by making this beautiful centerpiece. How to Make an Advent Wreath, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern Advent Wreath, by @CraftivityD

If you liked this Christmas Tradition post, you might also like:

17 Modern Advent Wreath Ideas, DIY Advent Wreath, Modern takes on a Christmas Tradition by @CraftivityD

17+ Modern Advent Wreath Ideas for a Beautiful and Meaningful Christmas!

how to enjoy the blessings of intentional living, magnolia journal, joanna gaines

How to Enjoy the Blessings of Intentional Living, with thoughts from Joanna Gaines. 

A Christmas Tradition: U-Cut Tree Farm Photos, and tips on documenting family memories.

More Craft Projects for Advent:

Kelly

Friday 1st of December 2017

I just love this! The green color of the cake stand is so beautiful against the black candles! Pinned and scheduled for Facebook :) Best, Kelly

Lauren

Friday 10th of November 2017

Such a great project! Always lovely Lora

Lora Green

Wednesday 15th of November 2017

Thanks, Lauren!

Shani | Sunshine & Munchkins

Wednesday 16th of November 2016

I never would have thought to use a clock face screwed to a pillar to make a stand! I love the idea of the advent and how it helps us focus on the reason for the season.

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Wednesday 16th of November 2016

Me, too! A simple, beautiful message :)

Vanessa @ {nifty thrifty things}

Wednesday 16th of November 2016

I love the stand - very cute idea! Thanks for sharing the how-to, Lora! :) XO! Vanessa

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Wednesday 16th of November 2016

Glad you like it!

Chelsea Wolf

Monday 14th of November 2016

I meant to make an advent wreath last year and never got around to it! I love yours and might have to copy it! Advent is just around the corner!

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Wednesday 16th of November 2016

Yes! Coming so fast...

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