A Simply Sweet DIY Hanukkah Menorah From Alphabet Blocks!

Hanukkah DIY Blocks Menorah

Who would have thought? Well, me, that’s who!  Because despite being a bit stressed out about the upcoming holiday and my self-appointed task of bringing more Chanukah crafts to the world, there are apparently still some good ideas patiently waiting their turn! At least this one came to light before Chanukah right? I was thinking about the two different spellings for our upcoming holiday, and about how to tell you my readers about why there are two spellings, and then I started to count the number of letters in each spelling, arriving at the amazing conclusion that no matter how you spell Chanukah, or Hanukkah, it has 8 letters, one for each night of the holiday! And the rest is history, including sending my son to the hardware store with a Hanukkah candle in his pocket to buy some nuts (as in nuts and bolts) for me!

Hanukkah DIY Blocks Menorah 2

You’ll Need:

  • Alphabet blocks
  • Nuts to hold your chanukah candles
  • coins or metal discs (not shown in my design, but a good idea if you’re going to light the candles)
  • wood worker’s PVA glue, or the glue of your choice

How To: Assemble your blocks, 8 blocks for the eight nights, and one for the shamash, which should be either higher or lower than the other candles. Arrange the numbers as I have, to show the direction in which we light the menorah, from right to left. Glue a coin to each block, and then the nut on top of that. Glue everything together with the wood worker’s glue. Set aside to dry overnight, and use for decorative purposes.

Note: As you probably know, never leave a Chanukah menorah unattended, especially those which use small candles like the ones I’ve shown here. If you decide to light this menorah, I’d recommend protecting the base with aluminum foil. And a suggestion just in from a reader, which I’ve added to the instructions, it’s wise to put a metal coin or disc under the nut for safety, and actually I think it would look great too!

 

Comments

29 responses to “A Simply Sweet DIY Hanukkah Menorah From Alphabet Blocks!”

  1. OriSnori Avatar
    OriSnori

    I would strongly recommend gluing pennies or 10 agurah coins between the bolts and the blocks. Will GREATLY reduce the risk of fire – though you should still NEVER leave them unattended – I know people who had houses destroyed from unattended chanukia fires.
    Have a safe holiday!

  2. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much, great idea, Ill add that to the post! Yes, fire is a huge risk, which is why I also put the note on the bottom of the post!

  3. vanessam Avatar
    vanessam

    Me encanta! Muy original y barato!

  4. Sara Rivka Avatar

    muchas gracias! thats about it for my Spanish!

  5. kristen Avatar

    thanks so much for having Jewish crafts. I am not Jewish but nanny for a Jewish family and have been looking for craft ideas to do with the kids!

  6. ffellig@yahoo.com Avatar
    ffellig@yahoo.com

    i loooove that project. you are wonderful!

  7. Sara Rivka Avatar

    love your comment , thank you!

  8. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Great Kristen, enjoy!

  9. Ellen Avatar

    This is so very sweet and lovely! Thanks for sharing; I absolutely adore this project! I’ll ask my son if he wants to do this for his school menorah project!

  10. tali buchler Avatar

    hi Sara,
    i like this very much,
    nice and simple.
    thanks
    tali

  11. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Hi tali, thanks so much, have a wonderful Chanukah!

  12. Sara Rivka Avatar

    thanks, I really truly was thinking of you when I tried to style these photos….you know white, colorful, a little scandanavian….the porcupine and mouse are from Denmark!

  13. Sara Rivka Avatar

    thanks, I was actually thinking of you when I tried to style these photos….you know white, colorful, a little scandanavian….the porcupine and mouse are from Denmark!

  14. Peaches Avatar

    !!!!!! Great idea!!!!! I already have blocks and bolts, too! At least the letters… Hmmm…Wonder if I have something suitable for a 9th spot… Hmmm… I’ll keep you posted. This is going to happen!

  15. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Great, cant wait to see your version! xoxoxo Sara

  16. DeeAnna Avatar

    I just put up a blog on how to make a menorah out of thrifty finds! http://www.SeptembertheMarch.blogspot.com

  17. lisa Avatar

    I love this idea! I’ve been trying to decide what menorah I wanted to get for my baby son and this is such a cute one! I’d love to try to make one for him.

  18. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks LIsa, its really so simple and cute, go for it!

  19. Stephen Avatar
    Stephen

    I think that you are using nuts, not bolts to hold the candles.

  20. Sara Rivka Avatar

    I guess it takes a the very rare male visitor to the blog to make that important correction….of course I do know the difference between two and thanks so much! Chanukah Sameach!

  21. rowie Newman Avatar

    love the idea supper creative

  22. rowie Newman Avatar

    easy
    i like i alt because i have all the supplies at home

  23. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    Love these! I’m making these for my children but am afraid of the wood catching fire. Any recommendations from you or the readers on what type of non-flammable sealer to use on the wooden blocks? Preferably waterproof too! Thanks!

  24. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Hi Jen, good questions! Since a lit menorah should never be left unattended, the main thing is to prevent the wood from getting too hot, so that would be done by attaching the bolts, or preferably menorah candle cups (available somewhere online) to an interface piece that sits on top of the blocks…..maybe something rubber or made from silicone. all the best!

  25. Orly Sultan Avatar
    Orly Sultan

    do you remember where you got the wooden blocks from? i searched online and all seem really expensive. any leads would be great

  26. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Hi Orly, I actually got these blocks at a dollar type store, knowing myself I never would have used them in this way if they had been expensive! Happy chanukah crafting!

  27. Shayna Avatar
    Shayna

    I am going to nake this for my grandson’s first Chanukah. Just an FYI, the shanash needs to stand higher than the rest of the candles.

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