How to Paint Holiday Candle Holders

Candles make any room look more inviting. Everywhere we go we can see beautifully decorated candle arrangements. Well now you can do a candle arrangement that looks difficult but is really simple for the holidays, the seasons or just to add a little something extra to your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Any empty clear jar or clear glass
• Glass Paint
• Paint Brushes
• Votive Candle (or any wide base candle that fits your jar or glass)
• Ribbon (optional)
• Small Rubber Stamps (optional)
• Sponge (optional)

1. These Easy Painted Holiday Candle Holders will be a favorite at your house as you amaze your friends with your creativity. You will be making these for gifts at Christmas and for birthdays.

2. Make sure your jars and /or glasses are completely clean inside and out. They also need to be dry. I like to recycle jars and Ragu jars are nice for a taller candle (make sure the candle has a wide base).

3. Decide where you want to display your candle holders. For instance, on your mantle at Christmas. Now choose colors that will work in that space. Traditional Christmas colors are red and green with silver accents. Maybe you want to do a Fall arrangement on your mantle. You might want red, orange, yellow, green and brown with gold accents.

4. If you want to use paint, decide on what you want to paint onto your jar or glass. If you can’t paint it’s o.k. You can still do this project. For the Christmas Candle Holders on a mantle, you might want to do red holly with green spiky leaves and use a white candle with a silver ribbon around the jar or glass.

5. Don’t panic. Now you can paint a beautiful Christmas scene, some simple holly, or just squiggly lines (keep with a pattern or make it random). If you are not comfortable painting, just place several dots all over your jar or glass in one or two colors. Set your jar or glass aside to dry.

6. Once your jar or glass is dry, I like to add a ribbon. If it is a jar I’m working with, I will glue some ribbon around the edge of the jar or around the center of the jar then tie a bow. I like to use Aleene’s Tacky Glue. Set aside to dry. If I am working with a wine glass, I put the ribbon at the top of the stem (right below the glass) or at the base of the glass. Either way, It is important to glue it in place. If you want a stiff bow or to have the ribbon hold it’s shape, use ribbon with wire.

7. If you plan to use a colored candle, you may consider not using that color when painting. The choice is yours. It’s time to chose your candle. Place your candle inside the jar. The candle needs to be one that will sit flat on the bottom of your jar.

8. VARIATIONS:
   1. If you want a unique design, put paint on your finger or thumb and wiggle it along the glass. Do it several times until the jar or glass is finished.
   2. If you have small rubber stamps, you can stamp your jar or glass with a permanent ink. They have to be very small stamps so they don't smear when you roll the jar over it.
   3. If you are more comfortable with a marker of pen, draw with permanent markers. Just be cautious because the ink can rub off with too much handling.
   4. If your jar or glass is shaped right, you can make a pine cone wreath for around the bottom of the jar or glass. Also, you can glue some small silk leaves around the base for a Fall look. Try small rose buds for Summer and a variety of small flowers for Spring. Baby’s breath works great for wedding candle arrangements.
   5. Take a sponge and gently dab paint all over your jar or glass (use more than one paint and let the paints overlap some. When the light shines through the colors, it looks amazing!
   
   * The possibilities are endless!

Tips & Warnings

• Wine Glasses are beautiful as Candle Holders. Most Dollar Stores sell them for $1 but Walmart sometimes has a better deal selling 4 for $2.50 to $3. Just check the glass to be sure a candle will sit flat against the bottom of the glass.
• If the candle does not sit flat, you can try to fill in around the bottom of the candle with some glass accent rocks to hold it in place. Just make sure the candle will stay in place.
• You could glue the candle to the bottom of the jar if you know you want it to be permanently attached to the jar or glass. The problem you may run into is once the candle is used, you might have to throw the candle holder away. Without gluing it, you can put a new candle in your candle holder as needed.
• Be careful! The glass will be hot after lighting the candle.
• Be sure to place your candles in a safe place where children and pets can’t knock them over.
• Be sure your paint is for glass and is not flammable.
• DO NOT put in your dishwasher. Your paint will come off.

Resources

• Easy And Fun Crafts Website

[bigearthguru]

on 11/22/2009 Great article about painting holiday candle holders! Thanks!

[judlee]

on 11/14/2009 I'm in the mood for some holiday crafts that I can do with my grandchildren. Painting holiday candleholders sounds like just the right idea! Thank you.

[konakai]

on 10/23/2009 What a great project to get in the mood for the Holiday Season. Painting Candles would be great fun. 5*

[sbarry77]

on 10/23/2009 what a great idea!! 5*

[izzytellsall]

on 10/20/2009 Great idea--candles add such a lovely touch to holiday decorations and it's great to know how to personalize candle holders like this!