Patriotic Votive Candle Holders

I host a family barbecue on the 4th of July, and I am always looking for little things to spruce up the outdoor decorations.

Last year we were attacked by mosquitoes. So this year, I am going to be prepared!

I made some patriotic candle holders to hold votive citronella candles. I made several in no time at all, and I think they will look darling down the center of my table, AND help to keep the pesky bugs away. Bonus!

Here is what you will need to make your own:

Supplies:

• Glass Votives
• Tissue Paper
• Mod Podge
• Foam Brush
• Star Die *
• Die Cut Machine*

If you do not have a die cut machine, you could easily hand-cut your own stars using scissors. Tissue paper is very forgiving!

Separate out the colors of tissue paper you would like to use, and fold it over several times. I found you could die cut a whole lot of stars at once.

You could enlist the help of your kids with this one, it is easy, and goes really quick.

It would be a great project for camping.

Die cut the tissue paper. Or hand-cut.

You will have a lot of stars.

I used a half of a sheet of each color of tissue paper, and I still have leftovers.

Cover the outside of your candle jar with a layer of Mod Podge.

Now start adding the stars. There is no set pattern here. You can overlap, or leave some space around each star, it is really up to you. The beauty of the tissue paper, is that you can see through it, so overlapping is a great look.

If the tissue stars tear (they are thin), just peel them off and replace them with another star.

Once you get the candle jar where you like it, cover the stars with another layer of Mod Podge to seal them onto the jar.

If you have not used Mod Podge before…do not panic!

Let it dry completely. It will dry clear. Those brush strokes will not be visible.

Here is my finished patriotic votive holder all finished:

Do not feel limited by the patriotic theme here. This would be a darling project with hearts for Valentines day, shamrocks for St. Patty’s or rainbow colored tissue for no set theme at all.

It would be a wonderful craft for kids– teaching them what happens when you mix colors.

You could also use the votive holder for small treat rather than a candle.

I hope you are inspired to try your own!

Shaunte

Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).