DIY Network

Papier-Mache Candleholder From "DIY Crafts" episode DIC-147

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Candleholders in these unusual shapes were made by stacking empty plastic containers covered with papier-mâché and decorated with paint. Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Figure E Figure F Figure G Figure H Figure I Figure J Figure K

Carol Duvall, host of HGTV's The Carol Duvall Show, uses plastic bottles, jar lids, masking tape, papier-mache and paint to create unique candlesticks.

Materials:

Plastic 16-ounce water or soda bottle
Plastic spice bottle
Plastic fast-food restaurant sauce or salad dressing cup with lid
Metal lid from a pickle jar
Plastic top from mouthwash bottle
Masking tape
Craft knife
Newspaper
Wallpaper paste or Carol's paste recipe
Rice, popcorn or coins
Gesso
Paintbrushes
Acrylic paint
Paint pens
Glue gun and hot glue

1. Remove the lid from the fast-food restaurant sauce or salad-dressing cup, fill the container with rice, popcorn or coins to add weight for the base of the candleholder, and replace the lid (figure A).
   

2. Turn the salad-dressing cup upside down for the base, and hot-glue the top from a mouthwash bottle, turned upside down, onto the bottom of the dressing cup (figure B).
   

3. The next layer of the candleholder is the lid from a pickle jar. Turn it upside down, and hot-glue it to the mouthwash-bottle top (figure C).
   

4. Hot-glue a plastic spice bottle, right side up, to the pickle-jar lid.

5. Remove the ring from the top of the plastic spice bottle. The ring is punched with holes so you can sprinkle spices from the bottle. With a craft knife, cut around the edge of the ring about 1/4" from the edges, and remove the center (figure D).
   

6. Cut the top off a plastic water bottle, just below the point where the vertical sides begin (figure E).
   

7. Unscrew the top of the water bottle, and place the plastic ring from the spice bottle over the opening of the water bottle (figure F). Screw the lid back on the water bottle, catching the plastic ring between the threads and the top of the water bottle (figure G).
   

8. Pop the plastic ring back on the plastic spice bottle. The top of the water bottle will be upside down and will provide a perfect holder for a taper-size candle (figure H). This is the basic shape and foundation of the candleholder.
   

9. Cover all the plastic with masking tape. It'll be covered with papier-mache, but in some cases the paper won't stick very well to the smooth plastic. The masking tape's texture will enable the papier-mache to stick (figure I).
   

10. Cover the candleholder with papier-mache, using torn pieces of newspaper and wallpaper paste. Or, if you prefer, use Carol's recipe for papier-mache paste:

    You'll need 4 tablespoons flour, 1 cup water, 1 cup hot water and 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar. Combine the flour, water and hot water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and add the sugar.

    Let the papier-mache dry thoroughly, which may take two days. Apply a total of two or three coats of papier-mache, letting the candleholder dry thoroughly before adding another layer. Use comics or paper toweling for the different layers so you can tell one from the other (figure J).
    

11. Cover the candleholder with gesso. Let dry. Add a second coat. If desired, the gesso may be sanded for a smooth finish. Or leave a little texture by not sanding.
    

12. Now for the fun part: the decorating. Use paint pens or acrylic or metallic paint, and add designs (figure K). You could also paint the candleholder a bright color and add stickers. Or cover it with tissue paper or paper napkins, using decoupage medium.