During the holiday season, making decorations is loads of fun. And, it is a great way to decorate your house on the cheap — just like Mom or Grandma did in the good old days. Our holiday retro crafty series started with the putz ranch house patterns — and now thanks to a suggestion from reader Janet — we’ve added a retro modern holiday yule log centerpiece to the list. This retro crafty edition also has a special holiday treat — my first video on Retro Renovation! Leo makes an appearance, too, of course.
If you (or a neighbor) have a birch log hanging out on the wood pile — as well as a few candles and some old Christmas decor laying around — this could be a holiday project completed without spending an additional penny.
Material and tools list to make a holiday yule log:
- A small log — mine is from a birch tree and is about 15 inches long and three or four inches in diameter
- Candles — size and color of your choice
- Greenery — I got my garland at Michael’s with a 50% off coupon for about $3.50 but you could use whatever you have around the house
- Poinsettias — again, use what you have or go to the craft store
- Retro wooden ornaments or other small holiday decorations to add
- Drill and drill bit to match the diameter of your candles — I whittled my candles a bit with a box cutter to ensure they fit the holes snugly
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
- Optional — wood sticks to stabilize the log. I used some small scrap wood pieces. If you are handy with a table saw, you could also cut off a thin piece of the bottom of the log to make a flat, steady surface for the log to rest on.
BE SAFE! It is important, if you are going to light the candles, to ensure your base is steady… and remember, a solid safety practice is to never leave lighted candles unattended. Reader/Scout Leader Marta also adds below, to be very cautious/attentive if you plan to lighting candles near artificial stuff — it may ignite if too near to a flame — plus, you can add a bobeche/drip holder to catch hot wax drips and to further dial up the safety quotient. But again: Don’t leave unattended!
Further — Nowadays, you can find electric candles that are pretty darn realistic looking.
Back to Kate’s story
Instead of the usual photo step by step, I’ve created a video to show you how to construct your own retro modern holiday yule log centerpiece. It’s easy!
My centerpiece — which starts with a totally retro idea and adds a sprinkle of lime green — for a modern twist — turned into a fun and festive holiday centerpiece, don’t you think? Now, who is going to make a yule log centerpiece this holiday season?
Marta says
Meant to say, I liked the voice over type of video Kate used. It helped me pay understand the directions better, I think. And, Kate, your face is so wonderfully expressive, it keeps the video entertaining as well.
Jay says
Kate, your creative talents know no bounds. You get the fun assignments. The finished project looks great! Martha Stewart, look out!! I think I know what the centerpiece will be on your holiday table – looks great with your Fiestaware.
Kate says
It was a fun assignment — did I mention I love working for Pam? One day I’m writing stories and editing photos, the next day I’m shooting video of how to transform a log into a centerpiece. Never a dull moment! 🙂
Marta says
Awesome, Kate! Leo looks like he wonders why you’re wrecking a perfectly good piece of fetching wood, lol. And, I love those candles.
Now, the Scout Leader in me must provide a word of caution; If anyone wants to light the candles, keep all greenery/decorations/etc. away from the candles. Artificial decorations ignite in, well, a flash. It’s a good idea to use bobeches (candle drip rings).
This is a terrific craft project to do with kids, too, and as Kate illustrated, a perfect way to give a second life to the ‘boo boo’ ornaments.
pam kueber says
Thanks for the additional safety tip, Marta! I bolded the safety tips in the story.
Marta says
Well, there was an ‘unfortunate event’ at a friend’s wedding when the beautiful silk arrangements with candles went up in flames when the candles got about halfway down. That party was really smokin’!
Eartha Kitsch says
I was thinking the same thing but then again, I’m afraid of fire so…. There are some really cute and nearly realistic taper candles on the market these days that could be used instead. Just put little batteries inside and turn them on. A Google image search of “fake taper candles” will bring up the most convincing ones. They’ll even add to the kitsch factor! Sometimes, candles will throw off one lone flickering spark and before you know it, flaming yule log on the table!
I love Kate’s video and the end result of the centerpiece! Super cute!
Eartha Kitsch says
I had to add the link to these. These are super vintage, kitschy looking with their dripping wax: http://www.lightsforalloccasions.com/p-2434-taper-candle-6-inch-with-flickering-amber-led-bulb-set-of-2-caramel.aspx?gclid=CL66qZHgg7QCFQY5nAodHFcAFg
Now I want to go find myself a log and get to drilling!
Jay says
Ahhh! yes merry kitschy indeed, these look like the candoliers I put in the windows. What a shame they are only 6″ tall, should be taller for the yule log.
Eartha Kitsch says
I guess with the six inch, they’d just look like they’d halfway burned down. : ) I did find red, white and green 12 inch LED ones but nothing with that cool antiqued drip yet.
pam kueber says
Those are cool! I am going to add this info to post as soon as I get a minute…
Eartha Kitsch says
That site alone has hundreds of different ones in varying colors and states of melt-down. My mother-in-law always has tons of the LED tea lights down the middle of her table at Christmas, tucked away in greenery and they’re very ambient and nice. The ones where you can’t see the flames (i.e. pillar candles) are the most realistic but for a happy glow, LED ones are fun!
pam kueber says
Back story to this one: Because of Janet’s suggestion, Kate got inspired to do this retro crafty. Last Friday, her job was to log off the blog and log onto this project (hehe). I thought it would be another post “in writing” — and she up and went and surprised me by making her first video. Way to go, Kate!!!!
I love the fact she says “boo boo.”
Kate says
I always try to exceed your expectations Pam! 🙂
Mid Century/Mid TN Mom says
Loved the video, Kate! The yule log turned out very nicely too. Glad that you are finding uses for all those items that I kept for so long like the candles and little wooden ornaments. 🙂 That green is still my favorite color!
Kate says
Aww thanks Mid Century Mom! Keep sending me cool retro stuff and I’ll keep finding ways to use it! 😉
Robin, NV says
Kate – my mom always claimed that unlit candles were bad luck. Light them long enough to burn the wick! I have no idea why she thought that but seeing unburned wicks gives me the willies.
Awesome project! You should definitely pay attention to the sap problem that Janet pointed out. Wouldn’t want to ruin a nice table or credenza.
Kate says
Thanks for the tip Robin. I’ll have to light them, if only for a minute or two.
I didn’t cut the bottom of my log, it mostly sat flat and level, but the two small pieces of flat wood help stabilize it so it won’t be rolling off anywhere. It is also a pretty dry log — its been on the wood pile for two years. Still if anyone does try this and does cut the bottom of their log, it is a good idea to take into account that there could be sap (especially if you use a pine log — those can be sticky.)
Jay says
Sounds like superstition to me; actually lit burning candles scare me more then unlit candles especially when there are pets in the house.
Annie B. says
Using candles with (as my mother says) “uncharred wicks” is a real decorating no-no in our part of the world. Why this is so, I haven’t a clue. A generational thing, naturally.
Kate, love the Cule Yule Log. Great video, girl! You’re cuter than a bug’s ear and dang smart, too.
Rebecca Madison WI says
Great job Kate. I really love the lime green candles.
Jenny A. says
It turned-out great! I don’t know if we have any birch trees close by but I’m sure I can find something suitable. I enjoyed your video, too. You and Leo are both naturals!!
Jeanne says
Love the video and the project! I like the fact that you did voice-over instructions rather than talking while you’re creating the centerpiece. What a great idea for a centerpiece. Now I want one. And I heart Leo! 🙂
Kate says
Aww thanks Jeanne! Leo is such a ham, isn’t he? 😉
Janet in CT says
Kate, your video came out great! I love those little wooden ornaments and your yule log does indeed look PROFESSIONALLY done! I want to add that since the log is cut on the bottom, I think but am not sure that it may “weep” sap. I would say either keep it on a placement or spray it with lacquer or some kind of sealer if it does. Great job! Sure brings back memories!