Hellobee

I love seeing the joy on kids’ faces when something they’ve made is proudly displayed or used. This project is one that is so good for creating that experience. Even very young children can decorate this candle holder, which makes a fun and festive addition to your family dinner table.

Does it look a little like a kid-craft? Yes. Does it show signs of being a recycled 2-liter bottle? Yes. But that’s what makes it charming.

For a finished product that is more in keeping with a particular holiday or simply to suit your tastes, limit the colors of tissue paper you offer your child. And be sure that they attach the tissue to the inside of the bottle so that any wax drips can be peeled off the plastic.

An adult will need to do the cutting, but kids of all ages can do the decorating!

You will need:

Empty 2-Liter Bottle
Scissors
White Glue
Paint Brush
Tissue Paper
Ribbon
Candle

Remove the label and cap from the bottle and set the cap aside. You’ll use it later.

Crunch the bottle flat in the middle so you can cut through it. After you’ve made a slit, cut around the bottle at about the place where the top of the label was.

Make sure that the cut is smooth and that the base sits flat.

Mix a little water and glue in a bowl. It shouldn’t be watery, but it needs to be thin enough to paint with a brush.

My mix is about 2 parts all-purpose glue to 1 part water. If you use school glue, it will be a little thinner and need less water.

Place the cap back on the top of the candle holder. It will prevent glue drips!

Brush some glue on the inside of the candle holder. Stick some tissue pieces to the glue, then paint on more glue.

Add more glue and pieces of tissue. Overlapping the tissue gives it a color mixing look. Depending on your tissue paper, it may even bleed some, which is beautiful!

When overlapping, you may need to help your child brush glue onto the tissue so all of the corners stick down.

Fill the entire inside of the bottle top, right up to the neck of the bottle.

Set the bottle on its cap and let it dry. The glue will look white and the tissue looks a little milky as it dries, but once the colors are more vibrant, you’re ready to move on.

Trim away any tissue points that are sticking out along the edge.

Remove the cap and discard it (along with the glue drips). Wipe away any excess glue in the neck of the bottle. Even though the tissue is dry, sometimes there will still be some glue left where you remove the cap.

Cut away the extra plastic ring from the seal on the cap.

Tie a ribbon around the neck, and the candle holder is finished!

All that’s left to do is add a candle! I’ve found that IKEA’s boxed candles are a perfect fit for these bottles, but other taper candles also work well.

If you want to avoid having real candles out and in use, try placing a battery-operated tea light under the candle holder. It will be safe enough to use in your child’s room!

These make a great project to work on with a group too. Consider saving up a few bottle tops so you’re ready the next time you need to make a craft with your child’s class, scout troop, or even for a party!

Happy Crafting!