When I was a little girl, candles were only lit on special occasions.
They illuminated our holiday tables, celebration dinners and birthday cakes.
Days and nights, when the house was filled with guests and good times.
Needless to say, the warmth they cast, extended far beyond the wick.
Naturally, when I grew up and settled into a home of my own, I tried to capture those same lovely feelings by lighting candles of my own.
And that went on for a long time...until.
Until one Christmas when my sister came home from dinner at our house, to find out that there had been a fire at hers.
A small votive that she'd blown out before they left the house, reignited and burned the garland on her fireplace. Thankfully, the damage was contained, but it was scary and a mess nevertheless.
And from that day forward, I became a battery operated DIYing candle lover.
A devotee...and I've never met one I didn't like.
Here are my favorites:
So when I spotted these indoor/ outdoor versions on clearance, I grabbed them.
They were bigger than any candles I currently owned and I knew they'd make quite a statement wherever I put them.
As is.
However, once I got them home, I realized just how large they were and, unlike many of my other timer candles, they were made of plastic, not wax
That made them the perfect candidates for a craft I've always wanted to try.
Decoupaged Candles.
Since these candle were plastic, had so much surface area and a relatively soft curve, I figured the process would be easier than on a smaller pillar.
And...once I found these red rose napkins at a local Christmas Shoppe, I had to give it a go.
Rose Napkins For Decoupage |
The process itself was very straightforward. It was no different than any of my {many} other decoupage crafts.
I started by separating the napkins, so that I would only be working with the top, printed layer.
While that does make them a little trickier to separate, it usually means they're a bit thicker, sturdier and less prone to tearing when wet.
Which leads me to my next step. Adding the decoupage medium to the candle.
I used Dixie Belle's Satin Sealer, but you can use Mod Podge or a homemade version if you like.
I just applied it, generously, with a brush over the entire candle surface.
Then I grabbed my rose napkin and gently placed it on the candle, lining it up with the base of the candle.
That would ensure that my pattern would be straight and I wouldn't need to trim the napkin on the bottom.
The glove helped my fingers glide over the top of the wet napkin without getting stuck and pulling or tearing it.
As I said, the candle was large, that meant I needed two napkins to cover it completely.
So once napkin number one and smooth, I lined up a second one, matching roses as best I could, trimmed the excess with scissors and repeated the process.
Then I put a fresh glove on and smoothed out any last imperfections.
I actually prefer working with rice paper decoupage sheets, like I used on my rooster project, because they're sturdier and rarely rip. However napkins are readily available and inexpensive, so sometimes they're worth the hassle.
I've tried the iron on decoupage method before and I have to say it's much easier and I never had an issue with tearing.
I actually purchased this small iron for decoupage projects, but it didn't show up in time for this craft. Maybe next time!
Luckily, I didn't have any bumps in the road. I just moved on to the final step, which was to finish off the top edge of the candles by wrapping it slightly over the top and trimming away the edges.
That's it!
That's all it took to turn those plain plastic battery operated candles into charming and unique accents.
Created to match my decor.
In my colors and my cottage style for anytime of year.
And looking lovely anytime of the day or night.
🕯
Have you decorated candles?
Happy Crafting Friends!
I have done several.......with old music paper!!! They turn out fine, and I have had many compliments! Yours are lovely, and I may have to copy your idea!! Thanks for sharing! Blessings, J
ReplyDeleteI love that, J!! Music is a constant presence in our home. I need to make a few of those this holiday season. Maybe carols!! Did you use wax candles or plastic? I'd like to try wax next...Thanks for sharing, Happy Fall my friend!!
DeleteHi Kim. I am so doing this. What a great idea. Makes these do pretty. Where did you find the indoor outdoor candles. I have not seen those. Have a great evening. Hugs. Kris @junkchiccottage.
ReplyDeleteHi Kris! So glad you liked this craft. Knowing you want to make your own is the best compliment you could give me! ❤️ I found mine at Home Depot on clearance, you may still be able to find them there. I'll try to update post with some options, thanks for asking!
DeleteYour sister is incredibly lucky that the fire didn’t spread. My sister experienced a kitchen fire when her husband decided to cook breakfast one weekend. Luckily no one was hurt, but the entire kitchen was write off and had to be replaced. I’m all for anything that doesn’t have an open flame! Your candles look lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sara...yes incredibly lucky. To be honest, the dining room wall did burn behind the fireplace and the entire house has smoke and water damage, so they did have a pretty big mess to contend with, but yes, SO lucky the fire itself didn't spread to any other room. I'm sorry for your sister. That sounds just awful...and yes, from that moment on, open flames were a thing of the past around here!
DeleteThey look beautiful. I'm making some for the holidays. I have tons of battery operated cables from Amazon. The colors are perfect for your cottage.
ReplyDeleteVery cute!
ReplyDeleteDeanna Rabe
Adorable. I ordered some of the flameless candles you touted quite a while ago and I love them. I rarely burn real candles anymore either. Have a wonderful upcoming weekend- xo Diana
ReplyDelete