Holiday "Candles" Craft

What You Need:

• Drinking straws
• Yellow pipe cleaners
• Cardboard egg cartons
• Paper plate (optional)
• Paint, scissors, glue

What You Do:

1. Have your child cut egg cartons to build a Menorah, Advent Wreath, Kinara, or Diya.
2. Because the Menorah, Kinara, and Diya are made from various materials, your child can paint them whatever colors he prefers. The wreath should be painted green to represent the evergreen boughs traditionally used.
3. Ask your child to cut the drinking straws into an appropriate length to be placed in the egg cup, approximately in half. Advent wreaths often have three purple and one pink candle. Any color straws may be used for the others.
4. Make small slits in the bottom of each upside down egg “cup” of the Menorah, Advent Wreath or Kinara and invite your child to insert the cut drinking straws.
5. Cut the straws for the Diya about 3/8” longer than the finished size. Make three ¼” slits in the bottom of each straw before inserting the uncut end up from the bottom of the egg carton cup. Spread the four cut pieces and place tape over them to anchor the straw in the cup. If you like, cut a leaf shape from a paper plate to “float” the Diya.
6. Cut pipe cleaners into 3 ½” lengths. Bend each in half around a finger and pinch the top of the loop into a point: a candle flame! Insert the bottom ends into the straws to “light” the candles.

Safe and fun, these candles can be "lit" over and over!