General Discussion & Chat: 3rd Annual DG Christmas Craft Workshop..won't you join us!, 1 by Bettypauze

Bettypauze wrote:
Just finished my back deck, quite a few pieces of 4x4s or 1x1s which make excellent gifts...re-use and re-fabricate right...

Here's an easy project anyone would love to receive....

Trio Candles....

Purchase a length of 1x1" - most likely for $2.00 and might make 3 sets...(if you've none laying around that is..)

Home Depot for example if you've no tools, are great in cutting to length...for each set you need...a 12" and 10" and 8" piece..

I normally stain the 3 pieces - some of us have cans and cans just siting around, if you don't then buy a dk. brown bottle of acrylic and water slightly and give them a coat..when dry, I then paint the 3 pieces (1 set) with acrylic paint, this also can be bought at the $$$ store...I've done them in maroon, blue, green...1 or 2 coats of paint should do it..

let dry..then sand so that you age them with stain (or brown paint) slightly showing through here and there...gives it a nice touch..

I take a piece of wood, cut out what looks like a flame, (because I have the tools I get extra fancy but really there is no need..also, because I use the band saw to chip away wood and one day if I'm not careful I'll be minus fingers..lol..I'm careful - no fretting...lol..also I make the 3 flames slightly different sizes each i.e. large candle-large flame...I paint the flame yellow and just drag with a brush or your finger a bit of red to make it look as though its burning...with appropriate drill bit size I drill a hole at the bottom of the flame and one in the middle of the candle, use my glue gun to attach the dowel/skewer/match to the flame and candle...now looks like a real candle...

With a piece of wire I secure the 3 candles together..

Not sure if it's easily available at your craft stores but you can purchase glitter glue sticks for the gun..I purchase 'gold' of course this was one of my workshops using 4x4's making then for outside i.e. 36" then 32" and then 28"..they were gorgeous so I ordered a box from the manufacturers and still have a few sticks dragging around....

This part is fun, I put the trio of candles on tin foil (so I don't make a mess with the hot glue)...

At the top of each candle I start putting the hot glue to the top ..this secures the candle/wick part but the more you add the more it drips down to look like melted wax...

I now find a pretty Christmas ribbon .. I take a piece of ribbon, tie it around the 3 candles to hide the wire, then I make a pretty ribbon and glue it with hot glue to the ribbon that's hiding the wire...of course I would be without sparkles...I take a brush and lightly put decoupage glue here and there on the flame, the ribbon and some on the candle and it's just the prettiest piece....

Bet I've confused you right? Have some in my supply stock so will make one during the week and post..most likely you've all seen these anyway..but for those who haven't it would be fun...

Attached is a photo that if you needed gifts but didn't want to spend mega $$$ you could have little sections cut from the 1x1 or 2x2 or 4x4's and make..just painting, scarves etc. for decorating