How to Make a Tealight Holder
Tea light candles are a delightful small source of firelight, designed to be used for just one or two long burns. Generally sold in thin foil cups, tea lights are somewhat dull, often messy if burned on their own, and work best when used inside a decorative tea light holder. You can create your own tea light holder from air dry clay and give your tea light candles an earthy home.
Things You'll Need
- Tea light candles
- Air-dry clay
- Darning needle or toothpick
- Waterproofing sealant
Instructions
-
-
1
Pull a piece of clay about the size of a golf ball. Soften it in your hands until it's of a smooth consistency and is soft enough to work with. Mix in a little water, if necessary, by moistening your hands as your knead the clay.
-
2
Shape the clay into a ball by rolling it between your palms, or between one palm and your work surface.
-
-
3
Remove the tea light foil from the candle by turning it over, tipping the candle into your hand. Set the candle aside.
-
4
Form an impression in the clay using the tea light foil. Press the tea light foil, bottom down, into the clay. Press your fingers into the bottom of the foil to ensure that the impression is made evenly. Continue pressing until the walls of the clay impression cover the sides of the foil (if necessary, pull the clay up and around the foil to make this possible).
-
5
Refine the shape of the impression. Wiggle the tea light foil around a bit in the clay by pressing on the sides; this will make the impression just a little wider than the foil for easy removal. Take out the foil. Smooth out any bumps or imperfections inside the impression. Trim down any areas of the wall of the impression that are uneven using a craft knife.
-
6
Smooth out the outside of the candle holder with wet fingers, rubbing down uneven areas and any cracks or imperfections in the surface of the clay.
-
7
Create lines or patterns on the outside of the holder, if you like. While the clay is still moist from being smoothed out, use the tip of a large needle or a toothpick to carve any designs, lines or writing into its sides.
-
8
Let the clay air-dry until it's hard and dry to the touch and the color has uniformly changed to a lighter shade.
-
9
Spray or brush the dried clay with a waterproofing sealant. Let dry.
-
10
Paint with acrylic paint, if desired.
-
1
