Upcycle glass jars into sparkling candle holders

Spring-cleaning season has officially begun, and I’m rediscovering one of my favorite ways to freshen up my space: scented candles. They can fill an entire room with a yummy aroma, even if that particular room is not completely scrubbed yet. Plus, what could be cuter than a tiny candle?

This week’s DIY guides you through making a set of three candle holders, using upcycled jars and some shiny gold paint. I love the way the candlelight flickers through the gold and glass—these almost look like tiny kaleidoscopes. Just make sure to practice candle safety, and never leave one burning unattended.

Materials:

  • Three clean, dry jars, such as mason jars or jelly jars
  • Metallic gold paint
  • Gold glass marbles
  • Foam paintbrush
  • Painter’s tape
  • Small candles
  • Measuring tape
  • Scratch paper to cover your work station

Craft away:

  • Cover your work station with the scratch paper.
  • Measure the height of your jars, and divide the measurement by three.
  • Use the painter’s tape to mark off the lower third of one of the jars.
  • Use the painter’s tape to mark off the middle third of one of the jars.
  • Use the painter’s tape to mark off the top third of the last jar.
  • Apply a thin layer of the gold paint to the sections you marked off on each jar. You should now have a jar with a gold base, one with a gold top, and one with a gold stripe in the middle. Let the paint dry.
  • Add as many layers of paint as you need to create opaque stripes on the glass. Let the paint dry completely between coats.
  • Once the paint is dry, carefully remove the painter’s tape.
  • Add a shallow layer of glass marbles to the bottom of each jar.
  • Nest a candle in each jar, on top of the marbles.
  • Light the candles with a long lighter, and enjoy your glowing centerpieces!