From Flowers to Candlelight: DIY Candle Lanterns

Anyone have any of these collecting dust and taking up space at your house?

Of course yours are much cleaner and don't have water spots on them.  (note to self: buy more rinse aid)  Moving along...I have a handful of these that I couldn't throw away because I have a touch of "the hording" wanted to put to good use.  The weather here in Texas has been decent in the evenings - just plain sweaty during the day - and I have wanted some lighting to create a touch of ambiance for the back deck. Anyhoo - I took a few basic supplies that I had on hand and created a couple versions of a candle lantern.  The original idea was to work burlap (one of my fave materials) into the project.  Here's what I started with..

After I'd made the first, I decided to switch it up and try another with twine.  I'll show you both and see what you think about them.  The wire handles were made the same way for both.  I almost had to name this post "Crafting With Carlos" because I realized that as I was taking pics, I was including our turtle, Carlos into the shots.  He's a happy crafter, so let's just go with it, yes?

Cut yourself two pieces of wire about 15" or 16" - enough to wrap around the neck of the vase and twist together and meet at the top to form a handle.  I held a piece of wire on (in the pic above) "top" and "bottom" side of the neck and then connected them with a twist at the "left" and "right" side of the neck.

I continued to twist each side until the met at the top and wrapped the two sections of wire together to form a handle.

Cut a piece of burlap to a length that will wrap around the neck of the vase 1 1/2 times.  Find the middle thread in the piece and pull to scrunch and ruffle the fabric.  Secure around the neck of the vase with a couple stiches or hotglue or the less tasteful way, which was my way, with a stapler.  (I know, I'm a classy crafter).

After seeing this one, I decided I liked the clean, clear glass combined with the rough texture of the burlap, but wasn't sold on the ruffle, so I tried a simpler version with twine.  I just wrapped twine around the length of the neck of the vase covering the wire.

and because it's bad luck to leave a candle wick unlit...

Here she is in action...

So whatcha think?  Burlap?

 

or Twine?

I ran out of wire and we're on a spending freeze for a few days, so I'll have to finish my other lanterns up later.  I can't wait to see what they all look like together, lit in the evening.

What have yall been making?

Oh, and I hope to be doing a little partying with these folks this week!  Come join the fun!