crafty 'can'dleholders

Combining recycled and natural materials, these easy-to-make candle holders and can be adapted to suit any decor.

Soda cans have a very strong rounded base. With just a few snips of the scissors, this base can be transformed into an original bobeche (wax catcher), then mounted onto a pretty piece of wood, a wooden disk, or a branch to be planted into a flower pot, for example.

sconce detail

Rinse a few empty cans. With a pair of scissors, pierce each can and then cut out the base straight along the bottom edge (except for the flower candle holder - see below). Soften the sharp edge with sandpaper. Then, punch a small hole in the bottom of each bobeche using a nail and hammer.

flower pot candles

To securely hold your candles in place, you will need to make spikes out of nails. Remove nail heads using sharp pliers. Hammer a nail into the center of each can base, sharp end up. Make sure the spikes are perfectly perpendicular to the bobeche, otherwise your candles will not be upright.

Flower candle holder
The flower-shaped bobeche is mounted on a round piece of wood, about 3 cm thick, of a smaller diameter than that of the can. To create the flower bobeche: pierce the can and then cut off the top of the can, about 3 cm up from the base. Cut the sides into strips. These �petals� will curve naturally. Round the tips with scissors. Hammer a nail, sharp end up, into the wooden disk, punch a hole in the bottom of the can, assemble the two pieces, and then add a candle.

Branch candle holder
Cut a 10-inch (25 cm) branch lengthwise. Being careful not to split the wood, hammer a carpenter�s nail (2-3 in. / 6-8 cm long, sharp end up) into a flat 4x4 in. (10x10 cm) square mount. Carefully mount the branch onto this spike, and then remove it again in order to insert the nails and add the bobeches. Lastly, fix the branch firmly back onto the carpenter�s nail.

Flower pot candle holder
Cut some sturdy fallen branches about 8 in. (20 cm) long. Once the bobeches and candles have been assembled, plant them in a flower pot, then fill the pot with fine gravel.

To learn how to make your own candles, click here.

June 2007 [recycling crafts]
Comments: [0] > following page >