At play group we spend about 3 or 4 weeks crafting for Christmas and one of these crafts is a particular favourite - making candle holders for Advent candles!
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| Whilst these were beautiful, we worried about their stability. |
Last year we made these beauties! We used recycled Gu pudding ramekins, flower arranging Oasis and fresh greenery - choosing lavender, olive and rosemary from my garden, to add some lovely scent.
As lovely as they were, we were somewhat worried about the stability of the candles - even though we strapped the squares of oasis we had wedged into the ramekins, with floristry tape, and inserted plastic candle holders (made specifically for use with oasis). The base just didn't feel weighty enough, to be around little ones. They really needed to be well soaked with water.
This year, to add weight, we decided to ditch the oasis and go with Plasticine instead! It felt reassuringly heavy and there was no need for the additional plastic candle holders! Obviously real leaves weren't going to last long without water, so we swapped real leaves for plastic (we pulled apart a plastic holly ball, decoration). It didn't seem to dim the popularity of the craft - almost all of the children who were old enough to do craft took part!
This is how we did it:
Equipment:
- Gu pudding ramekins (we collect them throughout the year)
- Plasticine/knife (Plasticine from WHSmith)
- Advent candles (bought in bulk online from this site)
- Plastic greenery/berries/flowers
- Robin decorations (Hobbycraft)
- Washi tape (Hobbycraft)
- Ribbon/scissors
- Star Stickers (Baker Ross)
- Metallic craft pom poms
- Permanent markers (for labelling craft)
Preparation:
Cut each Plasticine bar into 4 pieces. Warm the pieces of Plasticine up by molding them with your hands. Squidge Plasticine into ramekins and insert candle.
Cut lengths of ribbon.
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| We try to make each craft as'doable' as possible for little ones. |
Method:
1. Children insert plastic greenery and cute craft robins into Plasticine.
2. Either use Seasonal Washi tape around the ramekin or tie ribbon around ramekin or stick ribbon round ramekin.
3. Allow children to apply stickers to the ribbon. We love the star stickers from Baker Ross, because they're big enough for little hands to apply easily!
4. Use permanent marker to write each child's name on the base.
5. Place on table near sign-out sheet, for children to collect on their way home.
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| All ready to go! |
NB:
During our notices (which take place before singing) I always try to remind parents about the importance of being careful around flames and with the glass dish. I try to do it without sounding like I'm treating them as kids, but just as a reminder! I'd hate for here to be any needless incidents!
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