Display Your Menorah Candles in Style

You might think Chanukah is early this year.  However, it's right on time, like it is every year!  According to the Jewish Calendar, Chanukah is always the 25th day of Kislev, which this year coincides with this coming Saturday, December 8th. 

 

It seems to change every year because the Jewish Calendar takes into account both the cycles of the moon and the sun.  To make up the difference between the solar year, which is 365 days, and the lunar year, which is 354 days, the Jewish Calendar adds one extra "leap month" about 7 times every 19 years.  I agree--that's a lot of math to calculate.  Since it's been awhile since my algebra class, let's just move on to the craft project!

 

It's always wonderful to polish the beautiful silver menorah and dust off the colorful ceramic Chanukiot.  However, have you ever thought how drab the store-bought box of candles looks sitting next to the beautiful menorahs?  

 

Here is a crafty way to display your menorah candles in style. 

 

In addition to a box of Chanukah candles, you will need the following supplies:

 

- Libbey 4" x 4" square glass votive holder
- Scrapbook Paper or Gift Wrap
- Ribbon
- Flowers
- Buttons
- Dreidel or Menorah Charm
- Tag punch or ready-made tags
- Chanukah stamps
- Ink Pad
- Mod Podge & brush
- Strong double-sided adhesive tape

Instructions:

Make a template measuring 1-1/2" wide x 13-1/2" long, creating a slight arch. The paper band must arch to accommodate the width difference between the top and bottom circumference of the glass. Wrap the template around the glass to be sure it fits, overlapping the ends. 

Trace the template onto a 12" x 12" scrapbook paper, angling the template to fit the paper and cut out along your traced markings. To save paper, you can cut two sections and piece them together, adding an extra 1/2" for overlap.

Mod Podge the paper band and let dry. Using good adhesive, adhere band to the glass, gently pulling it taut, and overlap the ends. 

Embellish the candle holder using ribbon, flowers, charms, die cuts and stamped images on punched out tags.

Place the candles inside the glass holder, and you have a beautiful way to display the menorah candles throughout the eight nights.

 

These make wonderful hostess gifts. Wrap the entire candle holder with clear cellophane. Tie with ribbon and a matching tag, and it's ready to go!

And for those of you who like to plan ahead of time, next year we will be eating latkes for Thanksgiving, as the 25th of Kislev falls the day before Turkey Day.  Oy!

For those of you celebrating Chanukah, wishing you and your family a very Happy Chanukah full of beautiful light and miracles!


Sharing this holiday project at these parties:

French Country Cottage
Ginger Snap Crafts
Practically Functional 

Keeping it Simple Crafts
A Bowl Full of Lemons
Sewing Barefoot
I Should be Mopping the Floor
Or So She Says

Twigg Studios
Two Yellow Birds
From my Porch to Yours
SNAP!
Jann Olson
Yesterday on Tuesday
Katherine's Corner
House of Hepworth's
Night Owl Crafting
Mine for the Making
Beyond the Picket Fence
Bloom Designs
One Artsy Mama
Answer is Chocolate
My Repurposed Life
Life as We Know It by Paula
504 Main
The Thriftiness Miss
Craftionary
Serenity Now
I Gotta Create
Crafty Scrappy Happy
Alderberry Hill
Doodles & Stitches
Shaken Together
clean and scentsible
This Gal Cooks
The Chicken Chick
Cupcakes & Crinoline
Three Mango Seeds
It's so Very Cheri
Setting for Four
barns and noodles

 

Sparkle, Shimmer & Twine with Tulip Shimmer Sheets

Burlap and twine are two of my favorite "go-to" [also known as "must-have"] embellishments.  I love their natural, earthy look and texture.  However, as we all know, opposites attract.  This became evident once again when a brown paper package recently arrived on my doorstep.  I quickly opened the package to find a goldmine of Tulip's Fashion Glitter and Shimmer Transfer Sheets.

As I am participating in Tulip's Shimmer Holiday 2012 campaign, Tulip sent me a great selection of their glittery and shimmery products to try.  I decided to combine my "go to" favorites with Tulip's Fashion Glitter Shimmer Transfer Sheets and their Glam-It-Up Iron-on Glass Crystals to create a set of glass candle holders that will literally make the holidays shine!  

Here's a tutorial on this holiday DIY project.  In addition to the Shimmer Transfer Sheets and Glass Crystals, gather the following materials:  burlap, three tall glass cylinders [hello, dollar store] and baker's twine.  You will also need circle punches, a paper cutter, an iron, double-sided tape, and a hot glue gun.

First, iron the burlap so it lays flat and wrinkle-free.

Cut out three pieces of burlap, each 4" wide x 12" long.  This was a good size for my glass cylinders allowing for a one-inch overlap. 

Punch several small and large circles from the red shimmer transfer sheet.  I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the punches worked with the shimmer sheets.

Carefully position the shimmer circles, smooth side down, on your first piece of burlap.  Place a clean dishtowel [or other lightweight cloth] on top of the burlap.  Using a hot iron, press your design for approximately 40 seconds. 

When I lifted the towel, I wondered how a few of the circles ended up on the towel.  When I looked closer, I realized I had placed a few of the circles wrong side up on the burlap, so they adhered to the towel instead.  I guess that is one way you can decorate two items at once! 

After a few additional punched circles and a little more ironing,

I ended up with this design, much better for the intended project.

For the second candle holder, cut long strips from the red and gold shimmer transfer sheets.  Since I cannot cut a straight line, I used a paper cutter, which worked out perfectly.   Then iron the strips onto the burlap in the same way as above. 

 

For the third candle holder, cut small triangles to create a banner.  Place them in a curvy line.

After ironing the triangles onto the burlap, adhere twine above the triangles to create a banner. [I found that a hot glue gun worked best for this step.]

Then, using Tulip's Glam-It-Up Heat Setting Tool, adhere red Glass Crystals to the top and bottom of each triangle.  The heat-setting tool made it so easy to adhere the crystals exactly where I wanted them. 

Is it just me, or do the triangles seem to resemble reindeer?

 

Adhere the burlap strips to the cylinders using double-sided sticky tape. 

 

Then add a few embellishments:

Perhaps a bow tie

[also made from the shimmer sheets]

Or use twine to tie cinnamon sticks and holly around the burlap.

Add pillar candles, and you have a beautiful centerpiece ready to be displayed on a table or mantel just in time for the holidays.

There you have it!  Burlap and Sparkle!  Who knew? 

Thank you, Tulip, for inspiring me with your beautiful shimmer and glitter products.  For many more shimmery and glittery ideas, visit Tulip at: http://www.ilovetocreate.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovetocreate
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ilovetocreate
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ilovetocreate

 

[All opinions expressed here are 100% my own. Find my full disclosure here.]

 You can find even more creative ideas here:

 

Attending these parties:

Navy Wifey Peters, Love & Laundry, Katherine's Corner, I Gotta Create, House of Hepworth's, The 36th Avenue, Yesterday on Tuesday, Katie's Nesting Spot, A Glimpse Inside, Beyond the Picket Fence, 12 Days of Christmas, Someday Crafts, Sugar & Dots, Vintage Wanna Bee, Cowgirl Up Link Party, Bloom Designs, Craftionary, French Country Cottage, 52 Mantels, Momnivore's Dilemma, simply kierste, The CSI Project, From My Front Porch to Yours, Whipperberry, Answer is Chocolate, Doodles & Stitches, Primp Junktion, My Simple Homelife, It's a Hodgepodge Life, My Repurposed Life, The Chicken Chick, Serenity Now, Shaken Together Life, Create, Craft, Love, Twigg Studio, Maybe Mathilda, Two Twenty-One, Serendipity & Spice, Keeping It Simple, The Gunny Sack, Brassy Apple, Our Delightful Home, Practically Functional, Primp Junktion, Or So She Says, Sewing Barefoot, ninth street notions, Skip to my Lou, The Dedicated House, Say Not Sweet Anne, A Bowl Full of Lemons, 733 Blog, Shanty 2 Chic, Inspired by Charm, No Minimalist Here, It's Overflowing with Creativity

A Coordinated Ensemble

Here it is late January, and I'm still writing up my to-do-list for the new year.  So many things to take care of.  One of my resolutions is to carve out crafting time a few times a week.  Until I get this prioritized, I have decided to re-post favorite Valentine's Day theme projects.  Here's one which includes an entire coordinated ensemble.  Enjoy!

A heartfelt handmade gift means so much, both to the giver and receiver. You know how much love goes into making something special, so it is equally important to know who your recipient is as you create it.

I decided it would be fun to create an entire coordinated ensemble of altered artwork to mix and match for a good friend or two.

Finding vintage-style coordinating scrapbook paper online a few years ago, I loved it so much that I bought all that was available. It's a subtle Valentine mix of dark red, soft yellow, sage and black -not a hint of pink or bright red in the bunch.

Since I just altered a wood photo frame (see February 2 post), I decided to create coordinating items, adding a small notebook, pillar candle, clothespin clips, a large spiral notebook, a note holder, and of course, a glass jar filled with chocolate.

Here is the beginning of my embellished mini notebook. I found these small spiral notepads (with pens) on our recent visit to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo -- in the college bookstore for less than $2 each. Here are the before and after notepads.

And here is it is shown with the matching pen and altered clothespin clip. Embellishments include ribbons, chipboard circle stamped with "Friendship is a work of heart," a wooden bead and metal heart charm, and of course, the coordinated scrapbook paper.

And a surprise envelope inside for love notes or perhaps a sweet gift card?

And a few stamped images throughout the pages.

...the large spiral notebook

...matching tile coasters

...an embellished pillar candle

and this altered glass hinged jar full of kisses--chocolate kisses!

And a photo of the complete ensemble:

Now it's time to steal a few of those kisses...xoxo

Linking up to these fab blogs:
The CSI Project: Red Inspired Challenge
Cheap Crafty Mama Valentine Party
Serenity Now)
Bacon Time with the Hungry Hypo
Project Queen
Rook No.17
Carolyn's Homework
Making the World Cuter
Today's Creative Blog
Passionately Artistic
Lil Luna
Ginger Snap Crafts
Blackberry VIne
A Glimpse Inside
Happy Hour Projects
The Answer is Chocolate
One Artsy Mama
Happy Go Lucky
At the Picket Fence

Be My Valentine

You look so familiar.  Do we know each other?  

Oh yes, I recognize you now. 

We frequently run into each other in the $1 aisle at Tar-che[z]!

Well in that case, you probably bought a few of these tin mailboxes. 

Did you get one in red, white or pink? Oh, one of each color! Me, too...

Most probably you will use this cute little box to "mail" Valentine goodies to your special someone[s].  That's exactly what I'm going to do. 

But first, I must alter the mailbox...

Materials: 

• one tin mailbox (your choice of color)
• Decorative scrapbook papers
• Three coordinating Ribbons
• Metal Charms (lockets, keys, hearts, etc.)
• Flowers
• Buttons
• Mini tag
• Mod Podge
• Dymo label maker          

Measure and cut one piece of decorative paper to cover the main piece of the box. I cut it 4" wide x 12" long. The 12" just barely covers the entire body of the box. Adhere paper to mailbox using Mod Podge, starting at the bottom center of the box.

Carefully move the flag out of the way as you adhere the paper.  If the area around the flag anchor tears, you can cover it with a flower later, and no one will be the wiser. Let paper dry with flag in up position. 

 

Cut additional piece of paper 1" wide x 3" long. 

Adhere to one of the open sides. 

You can, of course, cut two pieces of paper, and embellish both sides.

Let dry.

Using Dymo label maker, type "Be My Valentine"

or other phrase of your choosing, and stick label below paper. 

Apply another coat of Mod Podge over the entire mailbox.

Cut 5" lengths from three different ribbons. 

Tie together all three ribbons into a knot,

catching charm locket in knot as well. 

Tape ribbon ends of one ribbon to inside of mailbox.

Trim additional ribbon ends.

 

Embellish flag with flowers, buttons, key charm, and mini tag. 

 

Add contents.  For the chocoholic, use kisses.

Or fill mail box with stationery, tissue pack, key chain and a candle.

You can also add a gift card and coupons.

Done.

Don't forget to place the flag in the up position!

Partying with these lovely bloggers:

Home Stories AtoZ

Serenity Now

x

Happy Hour Projects

A Glimpse Inside

Ginger Snap Crafts
Oopsey Daisy
Answer is Chocolate
Serenity Now