When I was a kid my dad had a metal work table in our garage with this incredible vice grip that could smash almost anything if you could muster the strength to twist the handle hard enough. Not sure why, but tin cans were my favorite things to smash. I have had a long relationship with tin cans and to this day I can't stand to throw them away. They're perfect for soooo many things AND an excellent upcycle item! Since many of you are pet parents, use LED tea lights in these candles instead of the real thing and they'll be just as gorgeous. Reuse and repurpose as much as you can, my wonderful friends, and don't forget to Make Your Mark!
Already wrapped and given away to my sweet friends
Like many of you, I'm obsessed with Halloween! Every year I make something to add to my collection of decorations and this year it was these hauntingly beautiful candles. Totally my style! I used some amazing silicone molds from Prima and jazzed them up with my favorite DecoArt paints. So easy, even an unskilled skeleton could do it! Happy Halloween, possums!
Don't forget to Make Your Mark!
My skull looks too real!
Love the hints of gold so much!
Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Pillar Candles
DecoArt Matte Metallics in Vintage Brass
Stick-Um Candle Adhesive
Prima Silicone Molds
Hair Dryer
Large Glue Gun
Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Carbon
HERE'S HOW
1. & 2. Fill your favorite Prima and skull molds with hot glue and let them dry
*Should only take about 5 minutes
3. Warm the hot glue pieces around a cup with a hair dryer to curve them so
they adhere to the candle easier
4. & 5. Spread a generous amount of Stick-Um Candle Adhesive to the back of the hot glue pieces and adhere them to the candle
*IF you're having a hard time sticking your pieces to the candle, use a straight pin. Hold the pin with pliers, heat it up and stick it through the hot glue into the candle
6. Warm the pieces again if you need to
7. Paint the entire candle with chalky finish in Carbon
8. When the chalky finish is dry, dry brush the Matte Metallics over the edges and molded pieces
On a recent vacation, I saw a version of this candle in a fancy little shop in France. It was too heavy to carry around all day (and it was a small fortune) so I passed it up and have been kicking myself ever since! Last month when Iron Orchid Designs sent me their silicone moulds, that candle popped into my head once again! I decided to make a version of it in clay, and you know what?! I love it even MORE than the one I remember seeing! It's amazing what sticks in your mind and how they morph into other ideas later on when you least expect it. Remember to buy it when you see it (so you don't kick yourself later) and always Make Your Mark!
