DIY Valentine's Day Table Lamp - Upcycled Candle Holder
How this craft project came together...
So, it all started with the short trip I made to a seaside town which is a 3 hour drive from Kolkata - Tajpur. I made it a point to take this short break with my 6 year-old son as the sea is very calming in this part of the world and it is also a great place for collecting sea-shells!
Apart from the fun we had on the beach, my son and I collected a lot of shells which he is proud of! They came in various colours and shapes. My favourite were the tiny, butterfly shaped shells that come in plenty and in very subtle colours. We made it a point to collect at least a 100 pieces for our craft projects! We have a lot of other plans for different crafts for the next few months and I am really excited that I will be sharing all of them with you!
All you need to make your romantic Valentine's Day Candle-holder...
I used a pickle jar from an Indian brand. Alternatively, you can also use a 400 gm Mayonnaise jar or a Jam jar. You will see the amazing results behind this suggestion right at the end of the hub!
So here is what you need to make your candle-holder:
1. An empty glass mason / pickle/ Jam/ Mayonnaise jar (400 gms size)
2. A strong glue - I used Fevicol, my favourite.
3. Some Jute twines
4. Sketch pens of colours of your choice
5. Small piece of corrugated paper sheet
6. Tiny butterfly shells collected from the sea-beach
7. White, decorative sand or Epsom Salt
8. Tea-light
9. You can use Washi Tape for additional decoration as a border. I haven't used it in this project, although I have posted a picture of it. I was planning to but in the end, I saw that it was looking better in its simplicity without the Washi Tape.
Stick the sea-shells on to the body of the jar. This requires a bit of patience and precision too. Glass jars can be tricky with shells and even the strongest glue as, the shells seem to slip off very easily. So stick a couple of shells at a time and keep the jar flat on the table without moving it. The good thing is, they stick fast, within about a minute to the surface.
Useful Tips: Clean your glass jar very meticulously before starting the project. A clean surface facilitates faster bonding of the shells and glass surface.
After the shells are stuck fast, tie the neck of the jar with the jute twine and a tag of your choice. You can put any message on it , but remember to keep it short and sweet. A long message will require a bigger piece of paper and corrugated sheet and that will only steal away the beauty of this luminous object.
Once you are done with decorating the jar, place it upright. Take some Epsom Salt or decorative white sand and pour a tablespoon of the sand into the jar so that the bottom is covered.
For all of you who are not familiar with Epsom Salt, it is a concoction of magnesium sulphate salts which are available for very cheap in drug stores.
Decorative white sand is available in home-decor stores or even stores that sell marble-ware.
Alternatively, you can just use some sand from the beach. I opted out of this as the sands in this region have a dark-brownish colour which will steal the beauty of this candle-holder.
This is how beautifully the jar casts its butterfly shadows all over the wall once it is lit! Try making 5 of these and placing them in a row - they will look fabulous!
Why I Used a Pickle Jar !
Did you notice the shadow it has cast beneath? That's the magic!
That is what I was referring to when I said in the beginning of this hub as to why I specifically used a pickle jar!
Do not put a lot of sand in the bottom of the jar - for this will prevent the jar from casting a shadow!
Your table is ready for the most romantic, candle-lit dinner this Valentine's Day.
Try this easy project this Valentine's Day and make it your most memorable one....
