Eight crafty ideas for a brightly lit Hannukah
HOLIDAY DIY
By Patty Marsters
pattym@lwsb.com
The Festival of Light officially begins at sundown on Dec. 10, so to gear up for those eight cozy days and nights, we present some DIY Hannukah décor ideas.
Menorahs: The centerpiece of every Hanukkah is, of course, the menorah. The nine-armed candelabrum recognizes the eight nights the candles burned during the rededication of the Second Temple, though the oil should have only lasted one. This gave Judah Maccabee and the other Jews participating in the ritual time to find more. The ninth candle, the shamash or helper, is used to light the others and is traditionally offset. There are several easy methods for making your own menorah.
In honor of the miracle of the oil, you can make a menorah using small jars or votive holders and household olive oil. Pour an equal amount of water into eight vessels, topping each with an eighth to half an ounce of olive oil. Carefully drop a floating wick into each one. You can use a birthday candle in a miniature bottle for the shamash.
To incorporate gift-giving, wrap a trinket or candy (e.g., a dreidel, chocolate coins, etc.) in eight small boxes. Wrap each one in festive paper, then, using double-sided tape, attach a tealight candle to the top. Use a slightly larger, empty box for the helper candle.
Luminaries: Recycle aluminum cans into a glowing adornment. Pour water into an empty can, then place it in the freezer. Meanwhile, draw a Star of David or other traditional design onto a piece of paper that’s about the same width as the can. Once the water is frozen, tape the design to the can, and using a hammer and nails, punch the design into the can. After you empty the can and let it dry, you can spray paint it. Once it’s as you want it, you can place a candle inside the can and watch your pattern take shape on the walls.
A simpler option is to poke holes into thick craft paper that will fit around a Mason jar or tall vase. Use Modge Podge or a spray adhesive to attach the pattern to the glass.
For a subtler reminder of the seasonal light, you can make a winter-inspired candle holder using Epsom salt, food coloring and a glass jar. In a small bowl, mix a good amount of the salt with a few drops of blue food coloring. Remove some of the salt, placing it on a clean sheet of paper or paper towel. Mix another couple of drops of the food coloring with what remains in the bowl to get a deeper shade of blue, then transfer the leftovers to the same sheet of paper or paper towel. For an extra layer of color, add some undyed salt to what you already have. You can arrange the salts in an ombre pattern or mix them randomly. Spray adhesive onto the outside of the jar, or spread a layer of Modge Podge or white glue. Roll the jar in the salt, covering as much of the glass as possible. You can add salt by hand to any empty spots. To set the design, spray with a clear sealant.
Garland: Paint popsicle sticks silver and/or blue, then glue into triangles. Arrange triangles into Stars of David, then glue into place. Thread thin white ribbon or string through the stars, then hang as décor. It can be as long or as short as you like. You can supplement this simple garland with clothespins also painted blue and/or silver that can be used to hold the Hannukah cards you receive or pictures of loved ones past and present.
Hanukkah tree: Repurpose your thankful tree from last month, or find yourself some small branches. You can leave them natural or spray them with silver or gold paint. “Plant” the branches in a jar or other small vessel filled with decorative glass pebbles or rocks. Hang small dreidels (available at most dollar stores) and chocolate gelt as decoration. (This is a small, tabletop version of a more expansive Hanukkah bush.) Bonus craft: If you’re mailing Hannukah presents, consider decorating the outside of a large envelope to represent a menorah, then placing smaller envelopes with warm wishes or tiny gifts inside. Or, for slightly larger gifts, use a poster tube for the outer container. Craft paper and glue are easy to cut and paste into a menorah, or if you are using a box, you could fashion the sides to resemble a dreidel.
As with any holiday, it’s equally important to remember why we celebrate as it is to have fun with it.
Dyed Epsom salt applied to a glass jar creates a simple luminary that's pretty day or night.
Patty Marsters
