 | When decorating your home for the holidays, don’t forget to add a decorative flair to your candles as well. Below are ideas for doing just that!
Silver or gold tapers set in a glass vase and held upright with rock salt that creates the illusion of snow can be elegant. Try grouping several together surrounded at the base with greenery and baubles.
A group of different height pillar candles, each with a ring of pine cones and mistletoe at the base make a complimentary centerpiece for the dinning room or buffet table during holiday festivities.
Try the following for eye-catching candle holders for tapers. Push a 2 to 3-inch nail through the small end of a cork that will fit into a conventional candlestick for tapers. Insert the nail with the cork into the bottom of a Styrofoam ball. Into the top of the Styrofoam ball (at the opposite end of the cork), insert a plastic candleholder. Cover the Styrofoam ball with a sheet of moss using glue or floral pins to hold it in place. Glue or pin ribbons around the ball, and plastic fruit and foliage (winterberries, cranberries, mistletoe, holly, bay leaves, etc.) around the top of the ball for embellishment. Make several of these holders, and a taller one for the middle, for a simply lovely display on the sill of a large window. When using the candles, make sure that curtains or other flammable materials are kept well away from the flames.
Create an elegant base for pillar candles with strung beads or tree garland made from small baubles wound around the base. A beaded chain, the type found at hardware stores, can also be used. Secure beads to the candle with dots of hot glue at the beginning and end of the chain. Other materials that can be used include fabric cording with ribbons for adornment (held on either with hot glue or pins), or corrugated foil tied with a ribbon can also be used. Several grouped together on a mantel or sideboard surrounded by garland can be quite attractive.
Floating candles add to the festivities of a Christmas Eve buffet or other holiday social gathering. Float the candles, ivory, green, or red, in small punch bowls filled with water and colorful metallic confetti. Arrange tree baubles at the base with more confetti, if desired. Or float ivory candles in water with green or red food coloring in it.
Unique candleholders made with spray painted leaves in metallic hues are especially lovely and give a homey, nostalgic air to the décor. Once the spray painted leaves are dry, hot glue them vertically around small terra-cotta pots (votive and small pillar size) stem end tucked under the base of the pot. Adorn with narrow velvety ribbon tied around the middle, to help hold the leaves in place and to add color.
A quick and easy way to dress up taper candles for the holidays is to rub stick glue around the bottom 1/3rd of the candle, and to roll it over metallic glitter. Be sure and leave the bottom 1-inch of the candle bare for the candlestick holder. Once candle has been placed in the candlestick, pierce the base just above the holder with a sprig of holly.
Do dress up your home using decorative candles with a festive flare, but remember. Keep all lit candles away from flammable materials, and never leave candles unattended. Keep candles out of reach of small children, or pets that could inadvertently knock one over. And last but not least have a happy, and safe, Christmas holiday!
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