How to Paint Your Own Candle Holder
When candles are lit they provide lovely ambient lighting, but they can also be beautiful decorations when unlit. You can convert plain glass or clay candle holders into works of art with a few strokes of a paint brush so they will look beautiful even when you aren't burning them. Add some seasonal motifs to your candle holders to enhance your holiday home decor, or give painted candle holders away as gifts to friends and family for any occasion.
Things You'll Need
- Candle holders
- Dish detergent
- Sponge
- Butter knife
- Template or stencil
- Dry erase marker or chalk
- Acrylic craft paints
- Palette or disposable plate
- Craft paint brushes
- Spray acrylic sealer
- Drop cloth or large box
- Ribbon (optional)
- Gift tag (optional)
- Candle
Instructions
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Purchase a candle holder made of glass or unglazed clay, or recycle an old heat-proof container. You can use an old candle holder that has been cleaned of wax remnants, a mason jar or terracotta flower pot with the bottom hole covered.
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Clean the surface of the candle holder with a mild dish washing detergent and sponge. Scrape off any bits of wax or debris gently with a butter knife. Rinse and dry the container thoroughly.
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Transfer a design to your paint surface if you have a specific image in mind. Tape a stencil or template to the surface and transfer the design using a dry erase marker for glass, or chalk for a clay candle holder. Alternatively, you can paint free-hand designs if desired.
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Squirt some acrylic craft paint onto a palette or disposable plate. Mix colors if desired by lightening them with white. Use black to give them a darker value or mix primary colors to create secondary and tertiary colors.
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Apply paint to the candle holder, starting with the base color, and allow it to dry. Add shading or highlighting if desired to create more depth to your painting and allow it to dry. Finally, make darker outlines and edges so they will be neat and crisp, then allow it to dry.
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Spray your finished product with two coats of clear acrylic spray sealer, allowing it to dry between coats. Spray sealer outdoors or in a very well ventilated area, and protect your surrounding surface well by setting the project on a large drop cloth or in an open box so it acts like a shield.
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Tie on a ribbon on the candle holder as a finishing touch. If you are giving it as a gift, tie a gift tag to the ribbon. Place a candle inside. If it's a glass candle holder, choose a candle color that looks good as a backdrop for your paint color.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are new to painting, keep your images simple at first.
If you are trying to paint a specific image on glass, tape the image to the inside of the glass, facing out. You'll be able to see it through the sides of the container and can use it as a guideline as you paint. Remove the template when you are done.
If you don't like the way your painting project is coming, scrape it off the glass with a butter knife, or paint a fresh base coat on your clay container and start over with a blank canvas.
References
- Photo Credit malerutensilien image by Esther Hildebrandt from Fotolia.com
