Giant Christingle
Giant Christingles are a great way to explain the 4 symbols of
the Christingle to a large audience.
They are also really fun to make with children.
Below are 4 different ways to make your own giant Christingle.
Version 1
You will need:
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One giant-sized polystyrene ball 12" diameter if possible,
available from craft shops or visit the Graham Sweet
website (minimum order of £50)
Four pieces of wooden dowelling (thickness depending on
size of orange - from DIY or model shops) or bamboo
garden cane
Wide red ribbon
Velcro tape (self-adhesive)
Orange paint (suitable to paint polystyrene)
Children's plastic toy fruits or painted foam pieces (cut up
bath sponges)
Aluminium foil
One white church candle (1" diameter minimum)
Method:
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Paint the polystyrene ball orange and leave to dry.
Using a sharp knife, cut a hole approx 21/2" deep in the top
to hold the candle.
Cut a star shaped piece of aluminium foil with a central
hole and stick to the top of the Christingle over the hole.
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Sharpen the points of the 4 wooden doweling and insert
into the top of the polystyrene ball to a depth that makes
them stable (approx 2").
Attach the pretend fruits to the sticks by wrapping selfadhesive velcro around the sticks and placing the matching
velcro on the fruits to be attached. Alternatively, make
holes in the centre of the fruits to thread them onto the
sticks.
Fix a length of red ribbon or paper around the widest part
of the sphere (use velcro if you wish to assemble as going
along).
To enable the Christingle to be freestanding it may be
necessary to flatten the bottom of the sphere to make it
stand upright.
Version 2
You will need:
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Two fibre hanging basket shells
DIY foam insulating filling (spray)
Newspaper ball
String
Four pieces of wooden dowelling (thickness depending on
size of orange - from DIY or model shops) or bamboo
garden cane
Wide red ribbon
Quantity of velcro type tape (self-adhesive)
Orange paint (suitable to paint polystyrene)
Children's plastic toy fruits or painted foam pieces (cut up
bath sponges)
Aluminium foil
One white church candle (1" diameter minimum)
Method:
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Prepare a large ball of tightly wrapped newspaper for the
centre of the sphere. This should almost fill the centre of
the two halves when placed together.
Cut a hole in the top of one of the shells (large enough to
take the candle).
Take the second shell and spray a 2" layer of foam inside
the shell starting from the centre and going round the
inside in a spiral motion.
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Place the paper ball on top of this foam in the centre of the
shell.
Put a foam layer on the outside of the ball so it is
completely covered and quickly place the second shell over
the top to form a ball. Please note the foam expands
rapidly so it needs to be done quickly and carefully, please
follow instructions on the can.
Tie the two halves tightly together with string taking care
not to make grooves in outer shell.
Allow it to dry for at least three days or a week.
When foam is completely set remove the string and with a
sharp knife cut the excess foam from the hole and trim the
lips of the two shells around the middle.
Paint the entire shell orange.
Proceed as above from point 3 in Version 1 above.
Version 3
You will need:
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Large round paper lampshade
Plastic plant pot (diameter a little larger than hole in top of
lampshade)
Newspaper torn into strips
Wallpaper paste
Orange paint
Four canes or wooden doweling
Flower arranger’s oasis foam
Children's plastic toy fruits or painted foam pieces (cut up
bath sponges), velcro to secure
Aluminium foil square
Thick red ribbon
One white church candle (1" diameter minimum)
Method:
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Soak the strips of newspaper in paste and apply to the
lampshade in overlapping pattern from top to bottom
leaving the top and bottom holes free of paper.
Repeat the process to give the shape more strength.
Dry in a warm place (e.g. airing cupboard).
Repeat the process by adding another two layers of
newspaper and allow to dry.
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When sufficient layers have been added and are dry,
remove the wire stretcher part of the lampshade via one of
the holes.
Paint the entire ball orange.
Make the holes for the canes to go through.
Cut four blocks of oasis approx 4" square and glue to the
inside of the shape at the point where the garden cane
sticks will penetrate it.
When placing the garden canes into the Christingle they
will pass through the oasis and should be held at right
angles. The 'fruit' can be attached to the sticks as in
version 1.
Attach the red ribbon around the centre of the Christingle.
Insert the plant pot into the top of the Christingle filled
with oasis and wedge the candle into the oasis so it
remains firmly upright.
Stick the aluminium foil at the top of the Christingle
around the base of the candle.
Version 4
You will need:
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Large balloon
PVA glue
Newspaper strips
Orange paint
Red tape or ribbon
Four kebab sticks
Large dried fruit and sweets e.g. dates, marshmallows
Large white candle
Blue tack
Method:
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Inflate the balloon and use the newspaper and PVA to
papier mache the entire balloon. Leave it to dry and apply
another coat or two of papier mache.
Once it is completely dry pop the balloon with a small
needle and paint the entire Christingle orange. Another
coat may be needed to ensure all the newspaper is
covered.
Attach the red tape/ribbon around the centre of the
Christingle.
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Skewer the fruits and sweets onto the kebab sticks and
secure these around the top of the Christingle using the
blue tack.
Make a hole at the top of the Christingle slightly smaller
than the bottom of the candle. Wrap a piece of blue tack
around the bottom of the candle and carefully insert it into
the hole.