Patriotic candle holders
Nothing says 4th of July like fireworks, family and the red, white and blue. And these patriotic candle holders will definitely set the mood for your holiday gathering. Not only are they easy to make, but they are inexpensive, too.
Use old glass cylinders, glasses, jars, mugs or any other glass containers you may have around the house. Just make sure they are clean and dry before you start. You’ll probably want to avoid any glass with patterns, too, or your stickers might not fully adhere and you won’t get crisp star shapes.
Check your craft stash for any star-shaped stickers you may have left over from past craft projects. You’ll need several for each container (we used a total of 36). Now the fun begins! Pick your pattern and apply the stickers!
You can either spray your containers with adhesive then apply glitter or use glitter spray. It all depends on the amount of glitter coverage you want—the spray and dip method will definitely give you more coverage.
Once you light them up with a candle, they are perfect for a nighttime gathering and celebrating 4th of July festivities!
- 3 glass containers
- star stickers (we used 12 for each container)
- spray adhesive
- red, silver and blue glitter
- OR glitter spray in red, silver and blue
- 3 small flat disposable pans
- X-acto knife
- tea lights
- Clean the surface of your glass containers well. If you have any residue on them that won’t come off with soap and water, use a little bit of Goo Gone. Make sure the glass is clean and dry then place star stickers in the desired pattern (we used 12 stickers per container and staggered them in 3 rows).
- Pour red glitter into a small, flat disposable pan—foil or takeout containers work well because they can be tossed away after this project. Choose one that is wide enough to lay the glass down on its side.
- Apply a light coat of adhesive spray to the exterior surface of the glass (including the stars), one small area at a time. Wait a few seconds for it to become tacky then roll the glass in the tray of glitter.
- Shake off excess glitter then spray another section with adhesive and repeat the process until the entire container is covered with glitter. Make sure there are no bare spots! Repeat with the other 2 containers using silver and blue glitter.
- Once all 3 lanterns have been coated with glitter, gently peel off the star stickers. Use the X-acto knife to cut along the edges of the star if needed then use the knife to lift up one edge of the sticker to make removal easier.
- Spray each lantern with a clear, glossy acrylic finish. Allow to dry several hours before placing tea lights inside. Light just before the party starts.