Frosting Your Own Candle Holder

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             How About
 Frosting Your Own Candle Holder Glass? 


Finding the right glass can be tricky!

First on the list is to locate a particular interesting piece.  Now picture that with either a tea light, votive, or filling it with wax.  What type of wax? Well.... that we will have to discuss but right now lets say you have the wax already in mind and have been practicing to get it just right.

Lets look at the glass with a tea light or votive candle in it.
Have to ask yourself:

Will it provide a unique glimmering view when it is lit?

Will it provide your potential customers enough WoW Factor as it is without being lit?

Is it what your potential customers looking for?

I have found the best way to determine best votive or tea light holder is to purchase a couple different ones and practice. Practice lighting different sizes in day light and in the dark.  What does it look like to you? Does it provide an interesting and neat viewing experience? Ask others like close friends and family members. What are their reactions?

You will be able to decide the size, color, and design of the glass that provides that WoW Factor.  Typically, those that have the neatest viewings had areas of the holder where the light would shine through. Glasses that have an exterior that bends the glimmer or an etched out design can give that WoW Factor when its lit.

Now, typically finding special glasses can be difficult and time consuming.  Especially when your not sure where to start!

How about Frosting Your Own Glass?

 Making candle holders that provides a unique viewing can be a fun experience. Buy small holders from Jo-Ann or other craft stores. Or find a clear glass to practice on. I recommend getting a roll of blue painters tape (Home Depot), cheap package of variety of paint brushes and acrylic paints (any craft store or local WalMart). Be sure to have a layer of either newspaper, paper towels or even aluminium foil on the table before you start painting. I use aluminium foil and fold the edges on the table. Makes for an easy clean up and safe guards my table without having to reposition it several times if it moves.

Think about the spacing on the holder when a candle is lit.  Think about lines, curves of lines, X's, squares, rectangles, and circles. Basically any geometric shapes will work. Now that you have a design in mind- I recommend using a pen or pencil. Cut a piece of blue tape. Draw what shape your are planning on using. Cut that out and then make duplicates by placing your cut tape design on top of another piece of tape. Continue to cut out as many shapes as you are planning on using. Keep in mind you wont be using your first one you cut. Why? Because its usually bigger then the others.

Place each on carefully on the glass. This can be tricky. Make sure you carefully shape it onto the glass prior to pressing and running your finger on the sides.  Be sure to make sure you press the sides of the tape prior to painting or you will have "bleeding" of paint.

Once you pick out the colors you can begin to start painting on the holder. I recommend starting with white to start out. White acrylic paints are thicker and does not require a lot of layers. You can also purchase paint thickner for the other acrylic paints. Once you have the paint on at the point where you are satisfied with the color you can begin to slowly peel the tape. Its better to peel the tape prior to it fully drying.

I recommend this process due to several times I would wait for it to completely dry and I find that the tape actually rips off several layers! Then I would have to spend several hours fixing it.

When you begin to start peeling the tape- use your fingers to slowly guide the tape off. Its alright if you see that there are areas needing fixing. This process allows less fixing.  There will be some parts that will have some "bleeding" when it's semi dry.  Using your nail or any item that has a flat surface can be used to carefully scrap off areas needed.

Once you are satisfied with your master piece try it out!  Put a candle in it. Light it. Observe it in day light and in the dark.  Does it look good? Does it provide the glimmer the way you wanted it?

If you said yes then you can go to the next step of placing it in the oven to bake the paint onto the glass. This ensures that it adheres to the glass.

If you said no, that's okay! This art takes practice. Fix what you want to fix. You don't have to use the tape again. Try fixing with the brushes.  Then review it with a lit candle. Repeat until you have the desired effect.

Now your ready to "burn" it on. Allow your holder to air dry for at least 1-3 days. Then place your holder onto a cookie sheet or pizza pan in the oven. Let the glasses slowly heat up and cool down. This is important to ensure the glass doesn't break. Set the oven on 315-325 degrees for 15-25 minutes.  I provided the range 315-325 because some glasses are thicker than others.  I have also read that others use 350 degrees. I am a bit cautious because that creates a higher likelihood of the glass breaking or the paint actually burning. Try it if you feel comfortable. If it is a thinner glass try the lower temperature first.  Be sure you have the glasses in there PRIOR to starting your oven and letting them cool in the oven completely prior to taking them out. Once it is completed allow the glass to sit for another 2 days before using. Make sure if you are using other paints to read instructions as all paints are different.

If your not comfortable with placing your glass in the oven or you don't want the paint smell then you can allow your glass to air dry for 21 days.  Based on some reviews this is another process where after a significant amount of time-the paint is permanent. This method can be used for other paints.

Here is an example of one of my own

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gg.glimmergems@gmail.com

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