DIY Rustic Candlestick Holders

When I was young, our local park would host a Pioneer Festival along their trails each autumn. There would be various activities, crafts, games, and food reminiscent of the 1800 pioneer era. I remember vividly the making of buckeye necklaces and touring the authentic pioneer houses in the historical village. In a clearing surrounded by trees stood a long stretch of tables full of traditional baked goods. It was the warm, soft gingerbread that I reached for. It was most likely those cups of freshly pressed cider paired with the cool crisp air that fed my enchantment with autumn that continues to grow to this day.

We said farewell to autumn last week and welcomed Christmastime. We ventured to a local farm to choose our Christmas tree. A quaint little balsam fir to adorn our living room for the season ahead. When we arrived home, we gave it a trim on our back deck before bringing it inside. It’s always good to cut the base of the trunk right before placing it in the stand to allow the tree to soak up more water. We ended up cutting the trunk twice and a few layers of branches to get it just the right size.

The leftover pine boughs were placed in galvanized buckets and wicker baskets, adding extra cheer in various corners throughout the house. But as I looked out the back door and saw the two pieces of trunk, my thriftiness reared its head. “I don’t want to just throw those in the yard waste…” I said to myself. “What could I do with them?”

Immediately the Lord brought one of the Pioneer Festival crafts to mind! One of my favorite activities there was making candlestick holders. At the first station you drill a hole into a small but thick slice of wood. At the next station, you dipped a candle by hand. Up and down went the wick. Into the wax, into the water, into the wax, into the water, until a decent sized candle was formed. You then placed the candle into the wooden holder and were able to take it home to light and enjoy.

As snow softly fell outside, I grabbed those two fragrant slices of wood, my drill, and crafted two rustic candlestick holders. It is such a simple and lovely craft and I knew I had to share the DIY. Please enjoy this little piece of my childhood memories, from my cozy Christmas home to yours!

What You Need:

A stump of wood, approximately 2-3 inches tall and at least 2.25 inches in diameter

A hand drill

A 3/4 inch or 1 inch drill bit, depending on the size of your candles

6 inch beeswax taper

Step 1

Make sure your drill is fully charged and attach the bit. Begin in the center of the stump and drill a hole at least 1/2 inch deep. Please remember to take proper safety precautions during this step!

Step 2

Tap out the saw dust and place your candle into the hole. Make sure it is tucked in their firmly, so that there is no risk of it falling out.

Step 3

Light your candle and enjoy the rustic atmosphere these simple holders create.

If you craft one of these candlestick holders, would you take a photo and tag me on instagram @girlincalico? I love seeing your creations and inspirations. Christmas tidings to you my friend!

—Kaetlyn