Simple Decoupaged Stained Glass Candle Holder

Thanksgiving Glow

So, there is nothing quieter than a house after all of the family has been home and the last one leaves. So, I sit and write this post in the after-glow of a Thanksgiving weekend feeling grateful and happy and sad (that they are gone) all at the same time. We are complex creatures, are we not?

Stained Glass Candle Holder

In the buzz of activity, we had the chance to slip in one fun craft with the grands that I want to share. This sweet stained glass candle holder is so simple to make but fun for every age.

Believe it or not, I made one of these in a high school speech class for a demonstration speech. I loved it then and I love it now. I use a couple of them for Christmas decorations every year.

Steps to Make a Candle Holder

Grab a Jar

Each grand needs a jar, a canning jar or empty mayo jar of any size and shape that you would like. We used pint sized canning jars for ours.

Colored Tissue Paper

A variety pack of colored tissue paper gave, well, a variety of colors to choose from! It doesn’t take a lot of tissue to cover a jar, so I took one piece of each color, stacked them and cut a few long strips of the papers about one inch wide.

Then I snipped the strips into small triangle and square pieces, letting them fall into a shallow dish the kids could reach into later.

Decoupage Delight

We used the simple technique of decoupage to cover the outside of our jars with the colorful tissue paper.

The grands used old paint brushes to paint the outside of the jars. I used Mod Podge for the glue. I’m sure that liquid craft glue, like good old Elmers Glue, would work just as well.

Tip- Put paper down on your table and keep a watch out so a little grand doesn’t paint the bottom of the jar with decoupage and glue it to the table! (Like mine did! 🙂

Stained Glass Tissue Paper

They stuck pieces of the tissue onto the glue covered jar, overlapping the tissue as they went. It was fun to see what colors each grand chose to use.

After the entire surface of the jar was covered with tissue pieces, they painted over the whole jar again with the decoupage.

It was all dry within minutes.

Top It Off with a Ribbon

We tied a ribbon around the top of the jar and placed a tea light inside.

Stained Glass Candle Holder Glow

They loved seeing the light twinkle through the jar.

“Oooo- it really looks like a stained-glass window, Nana!”

Indeed it does!

Enjoy!

If you try this craft, let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.

Photo credit goes to Bethanie Achenbach.

You'll Need:

Clear glass jar for each child
Tissue paper in a variety of colors
Ribbon (about 12" length)
Decoupage
Old paint brushes
Newspaper to cover the table
Tea light (battery powered is safest)

Instructions:

Put newspaper down to cover the table
Stack one piece of each color tissue paper, cut into 1" strips then cut strips into square and triangle shapes.
Pour decoupage into a little bowl.
Paint the decoupage on the outside of the jar, cover the entire jar (not on the bottom or the inside)
Lay pieces of tissue paper on the glued area, overlapping the pieces, adding more decoupage if it doesn't stick.
When jar is completely covered with tissue pieces, paint over the entire outside of the jar again with decoupage.
Allow to dry.
Tie a ribbon on the neck of the jar.
Put tea light inside and enjoy!!