what's christmas without candles and flowers?
Candles are the ultimate mood creators, that complete your Christmas table and give it a cosy feeling. For this DIY we use four of them, as a nod to Advent, when a candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Prefer more or fewer candles? Go wild! Use your judgement when making this DIY. You can use matching colours, or go for a more exuberant, clashing feel.
you will need
- Concrete mix (tip: do not use cement, it is too hard)
- A mould to pour the concrete into
- Gold leaf
- Cling film
- Aluminium foil
- Sandpaper
- 4 candles (more or less is also feasible)
- 4 candle stubs (or more or less - choose the same number as the number of candles and the same size as the candles you want to use)
- Adhesive wax rounds (or something else to hold the candles in place)
- Watering tubes (to put flowers in)
- Some stems of your favourite flowers
how to make your floral candle holder
STeP 1
Make the platform for your holder out of concrete. Make sure the concrete mixture is the thickness of pancake batter and that all air bubbles have risen to the surface before letting it harden. You can do this by dropping the concrete several times on a flat surface. Pour the mixture into the desired mould. Do not fill the mould all the way to the edge, as it will rise slightly when you make the holes for the candles.
STeP 2
While the concrete is still wet, make the holes for the candles and the watering tubes for the cuttings. For the candles, wrap the stubs in cling film and press them into the concrete. Leave them in until the concrete hardens. For the tubes, wrap them in aluminium foil and press them into the concrete, leave them in for a while and take them out. Then decorate the tray with gold leaf.
STeP 3
Remove all candles when the concrete is as good as dry. If necessary, use sandpaper to smooth the edges of all the holes.
STeP 4
Is the concrete completely dry? Place your new candles and tubes in the desired spots. To make sure the candles stay in place, you can use adhesive wax rounds or candle glue. Fill the tubes with a little water and your favourite flowers. For example, red roses, the Christmas flower Amaryllis or the frilly Anemone.
STeP 5
Enjoy your tray! Light the candles and give it a nice spot in your home, or give it to a loved one as a gift.
ENJOY A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS
Check out our Christmas bouquet full of warm colours, a DIY bauble with a floral surprise and a miniature wreath for your champagne coupe. Can't get enough of the most wonderful time of the year? Neither can we! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more Christmas inspiration.
