Crafting with candles, clay, pine & cones

Somehow I thought it was the 1st Sunday of Advent today, so I'd prepared for our traditional candle-crafting afternoon. I had looked forward to a cozy afternoon together, listening carols, enjoying the scent of pine while doing the candle decorations ... when I realized that the 1st Sunday of Advent is first next week, I decided that we're crafting early this year - "The exception proves the rule" :)

We start by setting a piece of clay on a tray or in a jar. Thereafter we plant a candle or too to the clay, and decorate them with branches from pine trees, chestnuts, pine cones, ribbons and other things. I love this Danish Christmas tradition, that I adopted after moving here.

We're often having something sweet, chocolate, ginger bread 

and other Christmas treats while crafting.

We've gathered the pine cones and chestnuts during the fall, 

which have dried up til now and are ready to be used.

This year I bought a few ribbons in red & white. 

I could bind the pine branches, we didn't use today, 

with the ribbon, and set them to a jar or hang them somewhere ...

My mom send me this angel to me long ago when I was studying 

- it's one of my favorite Christmas decorations.

The cone with the golder color is painted by our sons 

when they were in kindergarten... long time ago!

Our youngest son added the sweet 

 Winnie the Pooh elephant to his decoration.

 

 Our oldest son made a beautiful decoration using only natural materials, 

cinnamon sticks and chestnuts.

Due my mistake with the Sundays, 

we get to enjoy the candles 

a week longer than normally :)