How to Make Candlestick Holders With Apples

Decorating the table for festive fall meals can be quite a task. However, a craft like creating candlestick holders from apples can be something the older kids can do. It sure makes a great centerpiece for your meal. The apples make nice candle holders for about a day. They will start to turn brown after that. It's best to create them just an hour or so before everyone shows up for the meal. The apple decorations will look and smell their best.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Several Large Apples
• Apple Corer
• Knife
• Nail
• Potato Peeler
• Lemon Juice
• Candles
• Wax Paper

1. Choose several apples that stand up straight on their own. If you use apples that have a bit of a lean to them, they will cause the candle to lean a bit. This allows hot wax to fall onto your table. Make sure the apples stand straight on their own. They shouldn't wobble at all, or you risk creating a candlestick holder that could tip over. That's a definite fire hazard.

2. Cut a hole in the apple using an apple corer. The hole should start at the top where the stem attaches to the apple. Let it go about halfway down into the apple. Young children should not perform this task. They might get injured by the sharp end of the apple corer. Make sure the hole in the apple is straight so the candle won't lean. Remove the apple core from the apple, leaving a hole in the middle.

3. Decorate the outside of the apple using a knife or other sharp object. Carve designs in the skin of the apple. You can use a knife or a potato peeler to do this. If you want to create a more detailed design, you can use the sharp end of a nail. Again, when using sharp objects, you should only allow adults and older children to perform these tasks. Young children may get hurt if they try to do this.

4. Coat the outside carved sections of the apple with lemon juice or a fresh fruit spray. You can pour the lemon juice over the apple or spray it on. Do whichever you prefer. The faster you cover the apple in lemon juice after carving it, the less chance you have of the apple turning brown. The lemon juice helps the apple to keep from oxidizing. The apple will turn brown eventually, but the lemon juice should help to keep your candle holder looking fresh during the meal.

5. Place a candlestick into the hole you carved in the top of the apple. Make sure the candlestick fits snugly into the hole. If there is excess room, wrap the end of the candlestick with wax paper until it fits in the apple snugly. This will keep the candle from shifting around and dripping wax everywhere. Place the candles in the apple candle holders on the table. Light the candles. Enjoy your new homemade fall centerpieces!

Tips & Warnings

• Use lemon juice or dissolved fresh fruit wash to keep apples from turning brown while they are on display.
• Don't allow young children to use knives or other sharp objects for this craft. Adults should take care of coring the apples and using sharps to decorate the outside.