Looking for an original and fun Advent decorating idea? In the mood for an easy and quick craft project that will result in a lovely alternative Advent wreath? Let me show you how to make this DIY Advent Decor featuring milk bottles.Â

Good day everyone!
It is here!
That time is here!
That time that I go into overdrive and try to blog for 12 Days straight: 12 Days of Christmas decorations.
I don’t know why I do that to myself…
Ah, who am I kidding. It is fun. And at the end of it, my whole house is decorated for Christmas and I can sit back, do nothing but stare into the candle light.
Speaking of candle light…

The project of the day is all about candles…
A day late, but I just couldn’t start without a little Advent decoration. So here is this year’s version of an Advent wreath: my DIY Advent Decor featuring Milk Bottles

This one turned out very cute, if I say so myself. Didn’t start out this way, though. I had this beautiful idea and vision in my head. I started doing it, taking a thousand How-To-Pictures in the process, fully counting on giving you an awesome tutorial.
And it was turning out so cool, and exactly as I planned. And than the final step was curing the project in the oven, so I did!
And then I went on to do other stuff, and I forgot about the oven…
And I burned my project…..
Beyond possible repair……

If you are looking for more traditional Advent wreath ideas you might like my Four Candles Advent Wreath, My Walnut Wreath Advent Centerpiece or my Modern Advent Candle Holders with Wreath.
So plan B it was.
When I was in town looking for replacement supplies, I stumbled across these:
Not the prettiest bottle, but good base material. I love the wide-mouth milk bottle.
So plan B was: to cheat a little and prettify a ready-bought bottle.
And this is how they turned out.

How to Make a DIY Advent Decor Featuring Milk Bottles

These are the steps I took to come from the before bottle on the left to the after bottle on the right.
- I painted the cork on the original bottle white.
- I added washi tape to the tea light holder.
- I made small paper tags with numbers to replace the pine cones.
If you want to see more Easy and Fun DIY Advent Decorations, then just click that link.
How to Make the Numbered Advent Tags
To make the tags I added a line of glitter glue to some extra small packaging tags.
I then punched a circle out of white cardboard. And painted the edge black with a Sharpie.
The numbers are old scratch-off numbers that I added in the center.
From a distance, these paper tags look just like vintage enamel tags.
(PS I once faked vintage enamel tags before, you can see them on this Advent Table Decoration)
And then all I had to do was prettify the vignette.

If you want to make something similar, I suggest using wide-mouth bottles and looking for tea light holders/tea light picks in the floral arranging department. Those are little tea light holders with a pick underneath, usually used in wreaths. You could bend a little hook on that pick and dangle your little ornament/tag/number from it. (sorry searched high and low but did not find a source for them online).
That little tea light was burning all day yesterday (well, I had to replace it from time to time, of course), celebrating the first Advent.
Happy Advent to you all!
The season has officially started. And I am getting ready for it!
And now I must run!
I have 11 more projects to finish!
This is my fourth year that I have done a little DIY Advent Decor. I guess that is a tradition in and of itself.
Here are the previous ones:


Super simple and easy Advent Decor

DIY Advent Centerpiece with ‘enamel’ tags.
So I will see you tomorrow, and don’t forget to go visit my friends and see how they have kicked off this series! I promise you they have done good!

I have found some more Holiday projects that are perfect for starting the Christmas decorating frenzy.
Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
SuZeQ says
Ohhhhhhhhhhh, Marianne … I just love what you have created. Just found you (through Donna) and I will definitely return. Merry Christmas!!!!!
Marianne@Songbird says
Well welcome! I am glad you found me and I’d love to see you back here. Happy Holiday season!
Donna - Funky Junk Interiors says
So pretty! I adore the bottle bases as candle sticks! Love how you filled them up!
Emilou says
Morning Marianne, So happy you bring your traditions here on your blog. I love your new Advent candle idea.
Blessings and smiles, Emilou P.S. We are currently getting snowfall and it sure is ‘beginning to look a lot like Christmas’.
Marianne@Songbird says
Ah, a white Christmas. So very rare in these parts. But the cold has hit. Gloves and scarves are a necessity to go out these days. If only I could stay inside and enjoy the candle light…
Thanks for always faithfully coming by and leaving me comments. It is good to know people actually read my blog from time to time.
Michael Wurm, Jr. says
This is great Marianne! We always had an Advent Calendar growing up. I’ve never had one has an adult. I think your idea may spark me to create one. Beautiful photography too. 🙂
xo Michael
Liz says
Hey Marianne,
This is my first time to your blog and I’m loving your ideas. This one especially. This advent candle decoration is an awesome idea and a creative alternate to the traditional advent wreath. I also love the numbers inside the jars as I’m always wondering OK which candle do I light next? LOL!
Anyway, thanks for the great idea,
Liz
Marianne@Songbird says
Welcome to my blog. I hope you will be back. And I am so happy that you like my project.
Val @ Love My DIY Home says
Very pretty Advent decoration – I shared it on my Love My DIY Home facebook page. I think it is quite fancy and detailed, but replicable. Those are the best projects!
Marianne@Songbird says
Thank you for sharing my project!
Ans says
Hallo Marianne. Heel mooi die Advent Candles en wat zul je gejammerd hebben toen je andere project mislukte. Veel sterkte de komende dagen. Je zult het stikdruk hebben met dat full time werken erbij. Groetjes van down under. En ps, hardstikke leuk dat je de kerststerren van onze andere zus op je blog hebt gezet. Wie had dat ooit gedacht!
Karen says
Very, very pretty! Can I ask where you found the bottles? I think they are so cute! Thank you for a great idea.
Marianne@Songbird says
Hi, I found the bottles in a Dutch discount store. But I am sure if you look for wide mouth bottles in craft stores you can find similar ones.
Yvonne (FunkyForty) says
Love this post – it’s so fresh and super nice for Christmas! You have brilliant photos!
Yvonne from x