Painted Spring Candleholder

It is so hard to believe we are already in the month February.  Although yesterday felt like a Spring day with temperatures in the 60's.  Today we are back to cooler and cloudy weather with rain in the forecast for later this week.

A few week ago I found this funny little metal candle holder at a thrift sale, I think I paid $1.00.  I immediately thought it would be gorgeous painted for Spring in soft pastels with a few crystals added.

You can see it in the background of the photo below.

Here is a better shot after I added 4 wooden beads to cover the screw threads beneath the cups that hold the candles.  There was probably some sort of large bead here originally.

When I first spotted it I thought it reminded me of cherry blossoms.

So I began by painting the entire piece white and letting it dry.

Next I painted the petals of the flowers soft pink and the leaves a soft green.  I also painted the wooden beads at the top pink and green

Then I hung a few chandelier icicle shaped crystals on the branches.

Then tied a pouf of nylon netting to the base of the branch and fluffed it out.

And lastly I added a pair of bobeches with crystals to the candle cups.

I will probably use this as part of my Easter centerpiece this year.

So happy that it turned out the way I envisioned.

before

after

Happy Crafting!

What to do With a Single Glass Candle Holder

What can you do with all those, oh so pretty, single glass candle holders at the Thrift Stores?  Or did you break one of your favorite candle holders and just have one left.  Don't toss it out or give away, Make a battery operated candle holder with it.

Find yourself a single candle holder and a single glass light shade and make a fast, easy Holiday battery operated light you can put almost anywhere.  In the window, in a curio cabinet, on a table where you don't have electricity, in the bath to set the mood for guests or in a china cabinet.

Here is what I used for mine.  A glass candle holder, glass shade, battery operated candle (taper or tea light),  small green wreath, Tacky Wax, a few red berries and some red ribbon for a bow.

Adhere your tacky wax or museum wax in several places around the top of the candle holder and gently but firmly adhere your shade.  If you want to make a permanent light you can attach the glass shade with E6000.

Wire a few red berries to your wreath and tie a bow with your ribbon.  Add your choice of battery candle.  That's it, your done.

So easy and so fast with a great big festive Holiday look.  Make two or more and add to your table centerpiece.

Great last minute decoration.

Happy Crafting!

Two More Altered Bottles

It is still very hot outside and now I have a cold so I am only working on small projects.  Such a bummer to catch a summer cold.

I have been saving special bottles until I had time to alter them.  

The first one started life out as an L'Occitane Perfume bottle.

I unscrewed the top, cleaned it very well then found an image in my files I thought would look cute with what I had in mind.

I decided to use these two little angels.

And I really like the little saying at the bottom.  

I added pretty little string pearls to the bottom and pearl medallions to the sides.  Next I glued the bottle to a Dollar Store glass candle holder using E6000.

At the top I covered the bottom of the clear knob with pink velvet ribbon added crystals and pearls and beads to the top.

I used two metal filigree pieces around the neck of the bottle.  And on the left side added a white rose, lace and more pink velvet ribbon.

I used distress ink on the back of  the images added another metal filagree piece and stamped some vintage words.  Then I gave all the paper images a light coat of Mod Podge.

This little altered bottle is now living on the nightstand in my guest room.

For the second bottle I poured white acrylic paint and silver glitter then turned it upside down on paper towels to dry.

I added this image I found on Pinterest by printing it out on decal paper and applying it to the bottle.

I added a couple of rows of lace and vintage rick rack to the top of the decal and to the bottom of the decal.  On each side of the decal I applied  silver Stickles to the edges.

Frst I inserted a chandelier acrylic crystal into the cork top.  I used a cork covered with silver foil, next I dripped with wax then silver Stickles.  

Around the top edge I glued blue velvet ribbon, added to silvered metal pieces, 2 white roses, 2 drapes of silver pearls.  And added a lace medallion to the front and back.

Also added a lace medallion to the back.

Happy Crafting!

Angel candlesticks

While cleaning my workroom I came across this pair of angel candlesticks.  One of my saved for the future projects I had forgotten about.

I liked the shape but not the color.  There was a bit of white wash but still too much gold tone for my tastes.

So I am painting them with chalk paint.  I couldn't decide if I was going to use pink or white.

I decided to go with the white first.

close up of original finish

I went with a combination of both.  Here is a picture of just the white paint on one of them.

First I painted the entire piece off white and then mixed some of the white with pink to create a blush color that I used on the high areas to give them an overall blush color.  I let that dry.

Next I mixed a little pearl acrylic paint with alcohol in a mister and sprayed the areas I wanted to give a very slight sheen to.

I had a really hard time photographing these to show the blush color I ended up with, they are actually as softer shade of blush pink in person . No matter the lighting or background I just couldn't get a true color.

They have a very soft pink tint.

I am afraid I need to get to bed since I ended up working on these after dinner and then took pictures.

Hallie is sitting here looking at me with that look of "why are you still up" I want you to go to bed so I can cuddle for awhile before I start my night antics.  If you have a cat you know what I mean.  They don't sleep at night.  For them it is time to play.

Here are the finished pieces.

Really bad lighting

Happy Crafting!

Dollar Store Candle Holders and Cloche

I have seen this idea on Pinterest many times, so thought I would make my own for my buffet.

I used 4 glass candlesticks and 

candlestick

4 glass vases from the Dollar Store.

glass vase

2 wooden finials and 4 wooden plaques.

I added a small wooden plaques that I glued with E6000.  All the wood was painted with gray and white acrylic paint to resemble zinc.  I added a black and white bow to each piece.  And on the cloche I added a finial and painted it to match.

These can be used as a votive holder.

5 flat back pearls around the edge to keep the glass from slipping off.

 With out the glass cloche I can use these for battery operated pillar candles.  On each piece I added a small clear heart under the bow.

Here is the detail of how I attached the vase to the candle holder.  I used a pimiento jar lid that I painted to match the wood.  Using E6000 the jar lid helped make the transition between the two glass pieces.

I can also use these with pillar candle in the hurricane style pair.

My buffet is under a window and these look so nice with the candles glowing at night.  I really like to use the battery operated candles, no worry about fire if I forget they are lit.

Happy Crafting!