How to Make a Primitive Jar Candle Holder

Enjoy the soft glow of candlelight on your porch or kitchen counter. This primitive jar candle holder will be a charming accent to most anywhere you choose to display it, or would make a wonderful "welcome to the neighborhood" or housewarming gift for pennies. Make a dozen at a time to have quick gifts on hand.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Quart size canning jar or recycled jar
• Mustard acrylic paint
• Brown acrylic enamel paint
• Small bit of contact paper
• Rubbing alcohol
• Paper plate
• Paper towel
• 2" star pattern
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Needle
• Sponge
• Tea candle
• Sprig of pip berries
• Scrap of fabric

1. Wash and dry the jar thoroughly.

2. Put rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and wipe the outside of the jar eliminating any smudges or fingerprints.

3. Trace a star onto contact paper using the 2" star pattern.

4. Cut the star out of the contact paper. Peel and stick the star to the front of the jar. Press and smooth the star down firmly.

5. Pour the mustard acrylic paint on a paper plate. Apply the mustard paint to the outside and bottom of the jar using the sponge. Completely cover the jar and allow to dry.

6. Pour the brown acrylic enamel paint on a paper plate. Apply the brown paint to the outside and bottom of the jar using the sponge. Completely cover the mustard paint and allow to dry.

7. Score around the edges of the contact paper star and carefully pry the star off of the jar leaving a star shaped window.

8. Rip a scrap of fabric one inch wide by about eighteen inches long.

9. Tie the fabric strip around the rim of the jar with the stem of the pip berry sprig under the strip and hanging down. Tie a bow and trim the ends. Arrange the berries to the side of the star window.

10. Drop in a tea candle and enjoy the ambience.

Tips & Warnings

• If the edges of the star window look jagged or uneven, use a stencil brush and pounce a mustard border over the window edge.