Gettin' Crafty: Christmas candle holders

For all those who give pom-pom critters for birthdays, feel an urge to stick googly eyes on everything or just occasionally get a twitch to fold some origami, we bring you "Gettin' Crafty" where we feature a craft you can easily make with minimal supplies and limited finances. Sick of...

By Sarah Myers

December 20, 2010

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For all those who give pom-pom critters for birthdays, feel an urge to stick googly eyes on everything or just occasionally get a twitch to fold some origami, we bring you "Gettin' Crafty" where we feature a craft you can easily make with minimal supplies and limited finances. Sick of boring silver candlesticks and not digging the pillar candle clusters? Yeah, us too. Here is an appropriate Colorado Christmas candlestick that will not take too much time out of your cookie eating -- I mean, baking -- schedule. Supplies

Wood slices from bases of Christmas trees (further explanation: the little one-inch

pieces of wood that you saw off from the bottom of tree trunks so that the trees absorb more water)

Sandpaper

Glue (I used Weldbond, a cheap non-toxic glue that "bonds most anything")

Candles and other decorations

Glass vases (I found mine at a craft supply store for a buck each)

Instructions

1. Sand down the wood pieces to make a flat surface. If the surface is not level, the glass candleholder will tilt, the flame from the candle will light something (or someone) ablaze, and Christmas will be ruined, all because you did not take the time to sand some uneven wood. No one wants that.

2. Using the glue, put a light coating on the glass vase and a coating on the wood surface. Press the two together. Wait. Keep waiting. Maybe a few hours, until you feel absolutely confidant that the glue has dried.

3. Done. Now wasn't that simple? Of course, you can fill it with candles or pine boughs or whatever merriment you want. I put candles in mine, and stabilized the candles with flax seeds and Red Hots to prevent the fire mentioned in step one. Because I will not ruin Christmas.

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