How to Make Inexpensive Candle Decorations

Simple candle holders have a great deal of untapped creative potential. These are generally inexpensive and come in all shapes and sizes, making candle holders a suitable project base for just about any decorative style or occasion. By decorating candle holders with simple craft items like buttons, you can create a budget-friendly decorative item that's uniquely your own. It's also a economical way to put spare crafting materials to good use.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Candle holder
• Newspaper
• Hot glue gun
• Craft buttons
• Tweezers

1. Wash the candle holder with soap and water to remove any dirt or dust. Dry completely.

2. Place the candle holder on a flat surface. Cover with layered sheets of newspaper. Plug in a hot glue gun and allow it to heat up for approximately five minutes.

3. Separate your craft buttons by color and lay out on your work surface. Arrange the buttons in the order you intend to glue them to streamline the process.

4. Begin gluing the buttons onto the candle holder one at a time. Dot a small amount of hot glue and carefully press a single button onto the holder using a pair of tweezers. Continue gluing buttons around the candle holder, working your way down in rings until you reach the bottom. Glue the buttons close together on the candle holder.

Tips & Warnings

• Alternate the size, color and opacity of your buttons to create a lively look. Experiment with different color schemes for holidays and interior decorating styles.

• Glue stylized buttons onto your candle holder, such as hearts, birds and flowers. Most craft stores offer a variety of specialty buttons that can give your designs visual interest or a focal point.

• Use jewelry beads instead of buttons to create your candle holders. Jewelry beads are typically sold in long strands, which make it possible to count out exactly how many you need to buy to cover your candle holder.

• Create a series of candle holders for parties and wedding showers or give them as gifts. It's common for most retail stores to sell candle holders in packs of two or more, so buy in bulk to save money and keep your designs consistent.

• Do not attempt to touch newly applied hot glue with your bare hands. Use a pair of tweezers to situate the buttons on the glue.

• Supervise children working with a hot glue gun.

• Unplug your hot glue gun when you are finished using it.

References

• Making Stuff is Fun; Button Candle Holders; February 2010
• Under the Table and Dreaming; Candle Holder Tutorial; January 2010