2010-12-22

December 22nd

**Welcome to my little Christmas blog! Here you'll find something Christmassy every single day until the big celebration on 25th of December! Some of the things I have created myself and some have been made by you, my dearest readers!
Thank you and the Happiest Holidays!**

DECEMBER 22nd

We're almost there, dear friends! I hope you have done all the shopping, and all the gifts have been wrapped up beautifully already. But wait! You need an extra gift right this minute? Something quick but pretty (and hopefully handmade?) for a colleague, teacher, neighbor? Not to worry, this will only take a few minutes!


You'll need:

a table candle ( long candles can be decorated too)
thin metal wire (note to myself: buy thinner, mine's too thick)
pliers
beads and/or sequins
(optional: cellophane to wrap, trim)


I keep these basic but good quality candles in my cupboard just in case. I had blue and white, and chose white for this quick project. If your candle has a plastic-wrap, remove that. Cut a longish piece (so that it will go about four time around the candle) from your metal wire.

;">
Choose one end of the fire and make the end look nice and neat by putting the bead in, and twisting the wire tightly.

Now take the other end and start putting your beads and/or sequins in (or like me, both). When you have ten or so there, start twisting the fire around each bead so they'll stay in place. Leave a little space between each bead, so it will be easier to handle (my wire is so thick, that the spaces are quite large). With nice and thin wire you can put the beads much closer to each other. Go through whole wire and twist one bead to close the end, just like earlier.

Take your beaded wire, and put it around your candle (when the wire is thinner than mine, it goes smoothly from bottom to up, but mine needed some shaping) nice and tight, and you're done!

If you have cellophane at home, it makes this little gift looking even more festive! Just take a big piece, place the candle in the middle and lift the cellophane up. Tie tight with pretty trim and if you still have a bit wire left, make an extra decoration on top. My heart is a bit wonky but cute still - and I am sure yours will be adorable!


Happy December 22nd!

Yours,
Mia


P.S. The candle needs some extra care: advise the receiver to pay extra attention to the wire, it's not burnable! It can be taken off and be used again, it could make pretty decoration too!

12 comments:

Teje said...

Beautiful and simple again! Thank you Mia! xxx Teje

Mia said...

Thank you Teje, for your nice comment again!

Happy 22nd!

Yours,
Mia

Helen Philipps said...

This is a beautiful way to make a gift so much more! I love receiving candles and so do some of my friends - but adding this decoration makes it so special! I love the beads and silvery sequins and the little wire heart. This is definately another idea of yours that I will be trying!
Not long to go now!! Helen x

Mia said...

Hello Helen,

I am a candle-lover too, and many of my wrapped packages have candles in there too! I also am fan of a pretty&handmade, so this is just it (and a quick one too!)!

Not many days... Enjoy!

Yours,
Mia

Pam said...

This has come on the perfect day - when I've just found a box of large church candles in the back of a cupboard!
Thank you Mia for all these great ideas,
P x

Mia said...

Hi Pam,

I am so happy you're back on line! I wish you've been well?

Happy candle-decorating, it's Christmas soon!

Yours,
Mia

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Great idea for last minute and yet beautiful and useful gift. I will be making this one too. Thank you Mia! Hope you blog after we reach Christmas!!!! The month of December has been very special with your wonderful ideas. Happy Day to you. I will pop in tomorrow.
xo Robin❤❉❤

Anonymous said...

Lovely Mia, I think just about every one loves a candle and this is a lovely way of decorating them. A great idea for a last minute gift too!
Happy Wednesday from a still freezing N.Ireland!!
Vivienne x

Jane said...

Hi Mia, I have just got in from work,only 1 more work day left for me on Friday-yipee! That is a really quick,simple and great idea for a last minute pressie, thanks for sharing :0) I also love candles, we are burning an advent one at the moment, only a few more days to go!
Happy Wednesday,
Love Jane x

Mia said...

Hi again, Robin!

Thank you so much for your beautiful message! This December has been wonderful to me too, thanks to you all!
I'll definitely blog after Christmas too, but I am re-thinking that 5days-a-week -sort of system. I think I'll make less posts but hopefully there will be more to see and read on each of them :)

Happiest Wednesday!

Yours,
Mia

Mia said...

Hi Viv!

I hope you're keeping warm in your freezing weather! It's VERY cold here too, -25c as we speak, so next to the fireplace is where I am spending this evening!

Have a happy day and soon the greatest Holidays!

yours,
Mia

Mia said...

Hi Jane,

Only one day for you, that's over in a heart beat and then many days to enjoy with your loved ones!

Have a cozy and happy night and kiss to B again!

Yours,
Mia

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