How to Make Ceramic Candle Holders
A ceramic candle holder is made from an earthen clay that is fired in a kiln. The surface of the ceramic candle holder is glazed or painted after it is fired. A simple shape for the base of a candle holder is one that is flat and cut into the desired shape. A dished candle holder is made by taking a cut piece of clay and draping it inside a dessert bowl. A hand-built tapered candle holder is easily added to the surface of the clay base. Allow thirty minutes to create the wet clay base.
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Things You'll Need
- Ceramic clay
- 18-by18-inch canvas fabric
- Rolling pin
- Yardsticks
- Dessert bowl/sauce bowl
- Craft knife
- Kiln
- Glaze or acrylic paint
- Artist's paintbrushes
- Stilts
Instructions
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1
Place the 18-by-18-inch piece of canvas on a flat, stable work surface. Put a ball of clay approximately 3-inches in diameter on the center of the canvas. Place two yardsticks on either side of the clay parallel to one another. Move the yardsticks apart approximately 8-inches.
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2
Press the clay with the palm of your hand to create a large round pancake approximately 1/2- to 1-inch thick. Roll the clay between the two yardsticks until the clay is the same thickness as the yardsticks. Remove the yardsticks.
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3
Drape the rolled clay over the inside of the dessert/sauce bowl. Carefully press the rolled clay into the curvature of the bowl by lifting the edges of the clay and slide it into the curved shape. Do not push the clay and make it thinner.
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4
Cut the excess clay extending past the edges of the dessert/sauce bowl with a craft knife. Remove the excess. Round the edges of the cut edge with your finger.
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5
Roll an approximately 2-inch ball of clay into a long snake. This is called a coil. Eye the center of the clay draped in the bowl. Position the end of the coil approximately 1/2-inch from the center. Make a circle with the coil. Continue coiling the clay upward until the tapered candle holder is 1 1/2-inches tall. Cut or pinch the remainder of the coil from the holder.
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6
Smooth the outside and inside of the coiled holder with your finger. Use your fingernail and attach the outside of the bottom coil to the clay dish. Smooth the fingernail marks.
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7
Sit the completed clay candle holder in a safe place to dry. The clay will take between 24 to 48 hours to cry depending on the humidity and the temperature. Fire the clay candle holder at the appropriate heat for the clay and kiln.
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8
Glaze or paint the fired clay to the desired color. Re-fire in the kiln if using glaze. Make sure to use the appropriate temperature setting for the kiln.
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Tips & Warnings
Change the diameter of the clay holder for various sizes of candles. Eliminate the center holder if using the ceramic candle holder for large pillar candles. Use various size bowls to make additional sizes of ceramic candle holders. Add a handle if desired.
