Advent starts this Sunday, December 2nd and normally on a day like today I am running around to a few stores to find three purple and one pink candle. I’ve tried painting the candles, which looked like a joke. I’ve thought about ordering them online, which did not happen cause well, I am not good about that.
Last year, I painted some vases and stuck a candle inside and they turned out okay. They looked really great before I actually used them, but once I did, the big candles made for a melted, black charred mess.
This year, I refined it a bit and painted little votives, but this time on the INSIDE only. On the outside they are smooth and polished looking, at night they glow better than any candle I’ve used.
I don’t have any tutorial pictures, but it was a really simple process!
Add some paint in the color you love to the glass votive. Add a teensy tiny bit of water to thin the paint, and swirl it up and around the votive wiping off any drips on the outside. If the paint is not sticking, you added too much water, and should add more paint. (Don’t ask me how I know.)
Dump out any excess paint, then cure according to the paint manufacturer’s instructions. I used Martha Stewart craft paint and their instructions were to:
let paint dry for an hour, place items into a cool oven, turn oven to 350 and bake for 30 minutes. Turn the oven off and let the glass cool completely in oven. Do not use for 72 hours.
Here’s what the wreath looked like when we lit it, and completely confused my kids after explaining Advent to them and why we don’t light all of the candles yet. 😉
and totally in the dark (oooh, ahhhh! Creepy flashlight face!)
We are Catholic and I always forget that so many other Christians celebrate Advent as well. Happy Advent to you, and happy early birthday, baby Jesus!
Deborah says
My family, which currently is my husband and I, celebrate Advent with a Jesse Tree. We begin hanging ornaments Dec. 1. Each day we hang a new ornament and read the accompanying Scripture. This usually happens in the evening. The first reading is Isaiah 11:1 – the root of Jesse. The ornaments tell the Christmas story by showing how God preserved the line of Jesus and on Dec. 25 we read of Jesus’ birth. It is a fantastic way to keep Christ the center of our celebration and has become a very special family tradition. One day we will pass down our ornaments to our children….once the Lord adds them to our family. Our Jesse Tree ornaments will be heirlooms. You may want to start this tradition in your family. I make Jesse Tree ornaments so other families may have this same special experience. Visit my Etsy shop – Pink Scissors Design to see photos. https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/PinkScissorsDesign
Leisa says
Hi. I didn’t see the instructions for curing on my MS Craft Paint bottle. Was I supposed to get a bottle with these instructions or did you find that elsewhere ? Thanks!
So excited to make this.
Ann Marie Heasley says
Hmm, maybe I saw the instructions on their site? I don’t remember. 🙂 I did a quick search and found that you can either wait 21 days (ain’t nobody got time for that) or follow these instructions:
-Allow painted glass project to dry at least one hour. Make sure the paint is dry to the touch before baking.
-Place project in a cool oven.
-Set oven to 350° F and bake for 30 minutes. Turn oven off.
-Allow glass project to cool down in the oven to room temperature, then remove.
Hope that helps and thanks for asking! I’ll add these instructions to the post to avoid confusion. We’re still using these!
Mariana says
Nice photos and nice new camera 🙂 I love this last-minute Advent idea!
terry g says
I am catholic and have an advent wreath that is plastic made to look like clay that displays different children from around the world around the outside edge, that I won 30 years ago a my church’s annual Christmas bazzar
Lauren says
Yes! We had an advent wreath every year growing up. (We’re Lutheran.) Though to my very orderly nature, it was a little annoying to have the candles at different heights! Also, some of ours have an additional white taper in the middle as “the Christ candle.” Thankfully we made them either the Sunday before advent or the the first Sunday of Advent in Sunday School, so Mom and Dad never had to go get one. I really like the votive idea- we might be doing that at our house this year. Thanks!
Rochelle says
I’m Catholic like you and just like you I always forget to get my candles. I usually end up puttng out the Advent wreath that my son made in CCD which is made of 3 purple and 1 pink pipe cleaner and then feel guilty all Advent that I’m not a better Catholic mom!
Love this idea especially since I forgot to get my candles again(!!!) and now only have tomorrow to get my wreath together (or pull out old trusty)!