Accentuating With Candle Holders

Written 19 January , 2012

People find many ways on how to use candles to decorate and accentuate their surroundings. However, very few take advantage of the aesthetic possibilities of candle holders. There are many different materials easily available to everyone that can be used to transform ordinary candle holders into a piece of art. What’s more is that they don’t even have to cost you that much and will even bring out that creative side in you. Moreover, embarking on a project like this allows you to form a bonding moment with your entire family with every member bringing his or her own creative ideas to the table.

Another important thing to keep in mind with these candle holder projects is that you can do them during your spare time because they do not require that much time allowing you to do your other chores. If you really enjoy doing this and become good at it, who knows, it may even become a source of income for you and your family. There are literally endless possibilities depending on where your imagination will take you. To help you get started, here are some basic ideas that you can follow or even improve on. Remember though before you begin with any of these projects that safety should always be your primary concern.

• Flower accents. Not many people realize that by simple adding decorative flowers to a simple candle allow you to produce a very beautiful décor. Make sure that you do not use candles with flammable materials on it for your safety. So you must have a big pillar candle with a diameter of about three inches, small votive preferably the same color as your candle, paintbrush, dried flowers, and an old pan.

  Put the votive in the old pot and place over low medium heat to melt the wax slowly. Once the wax has turned to liquid, you can lower the heat. Make sure the flowers as well as the leaves have been pressed before using them. Get your paint brush and dip it into the melted wax and paint some on the candle where you will place your décor. Immediately position the flowers and the leaves before the wax begins to harden. Remember that once the wax cools it will immediately harden so be quick when you do this. Repeat this step until all flowers and leaves have been put in place. Just a reminder, make sure of the design before beginning this process because it would be very difficult to change the design midway through the process.

  To seal all the flowers and leaves you have placed on the candle, you will need to brush the entire candle with the melted wax. This process gives it that smooth looking finish as well as ensures all the decorations are securely in place. You may need to use multiple coats for this process. To improve on the design, tie a ribbon around the candle or if you have a little bit more of the melted wax left, you can use that to paint small beads to embellish your candle. To finish off this project, get a candle holder with a slim neck. Put the decorated candle on it to give the appearance that the candle holder is the stem of the flower. For this project, it would be better to find candle holders made of materials that complement the materials that you used to decorate your candle.

• Centerpiece candle holder. For this project, you will need a pillar candle, a pewter plate, and skeleton leaves. The pewter plate will serve as the candle holder for this particular piece. You can use a plain white plate or even a plate with simple designs. Just make sure that the design of the plate will not clash with your candle. Get a 9-inch tall pillar candle and place a foam ring that can fit around the candle. Get skeleton leaves preferably the same color as your candle. You can design your candle with dried berries and similar colorful items. You can use glue to stick it onto the candle or melted wax like the process described for the flower accents. Once you have completed the decoration, allow it to dry off for about five to ten minutes to make sure it is securely in place.

  Use a beard moss to cover all visible foam around the candle. Make sure that the dried berries or other decorations will show through the translucent skeleton leaves. Place the decorated candle on the pewter plate to complete this centerpiece candle holder project. One advantage of this project is that you can actually decorate many types of candles to replace the used up ones. This will ensure that you will always have a centerpiece candle holder for decorative accent.

• Butterfly-inspired candle holders. This project can be used as décor or a gift for your friends and loved ones. You just need a few basic materials and a whole lot of imagination to come up with various designs. You will need a small glass, butterfly wrapping paper, decoupage, small paintbrush, yellow tissue paper, damp paper towel, and cuticle scissors. You can use any small glass you may have lying around your house for this project. Think of it as recycling.

Use the thin paper decoupage to cut out your desired design. You may have other ideas aside from butterflies and if that is the case then you can freely do that too. Use the cuticle scissors to cut out the designs and store them in Ziploc bags. Clean the small glass before doing anything with it. Take the paintbrush and brush on some decoupage at the back of the tissue paper making sure the edges overlap. Do this until the entire candle holder is covered. Repeat this even at the bottom of the small glass by turning it over. Once this is done, brush a finishing coat to make sure everything is securely in place. Excess decoupage can be wiped off with the damp paper towel. Wipe lightly.

Allow the decoupage to completely dry off for about an hour. Place the butterfly designs on the tissue paper. Remember to brush some decoupage on the back of the designs before placing them on the small glass candle holder. After placing everything and allowing them to dry completely, add two to three more coats making sure you give it ample time to dry before applying the next coat. Your finished product can now be displayed in your home or be used as a gift for any occasion. You can replace the candle once it is used up.

These candle holder projects are intended to give you some basic ideas for decorating your candle holders. You can use them to come up with your own designs. For more accents, you can also opt for scented candles. Just remember to always take safety into consideration and enjoy.