Home Decor Crafts: Giraffe Print Pillar Candles

The giraffe print trend has become quite posh in home decorating. Add a touch of it to your home with this simple and fairly inexpensive giraffe print pillar candle project. Or, for use as a party centerpiece, arrange three to five of these together in different heights.

For this project, you will need (per pillar candle piece):

- One cream colored pillar candle in any size
- One unfinished wooden pillar candleholder (available at craft supply stores)
- Medium or fine grit sandpaper
- Tack cloth or other similar style soft cloth
- Krylon Indoor Outdoor Primer in All-Purpose White
- Krylon Indoor Outdoor Paint in Satin Brown Boots
- Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Finishing Spray
- Giraffe print scrapbook paper (found online or at craft supply stores)
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Craft knife
- Self healing mat
- Elmer's glue stick
- Newsprint and/or a large sized drop cloth

To begin this pillar candle project, cover the space in which you will be crafting with several sheets of old newsprint and/or a large sized drop cloth. Very gently sand the outside of the unfinished wooden pillar candleholder with a few sheets of medium or fine grit sandpaper. Wipe any dust created by sanding off the candleholder with a tack cloth or other similar style soft cloth.

Prime the entire candleholder using Krylon Indoor Outdoor Primer in All-Purpose White. Two to three good coats should be more than enough. Let the primed wood dry for a couple hours before continuing on. Paint the candleholder with four to five coats of Krylon Indoor Outdoor Paint in Satin Brown Boots. Once the brown paint is fully dried, spray the entire wooden candleholder with Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Finishing Spray. Let the candleholder dry overnight.

Place the sheet of giraffe print scrapbook paper face down on the self healing mat. Subtract one inch from the height of your pillar candle. Use a pencil and a ruler to mark a rectangle this height on the back of the giraffe print scrapbook paper. (This marking will end up being the "wrapper" than goes around the pillar candle, so make sure it is long enough to wrap completely around the candle and meet at the backside.) Carefully cut out the giraffe print paper piece using a craft knife.

Apply a thick coat of Elmer's glue stick to the back of the giraffe print paper piece. Wrap the paper around the pillar candle, leaving a half inch of exposed wax at the top and bottom of the pillar candle. Once dry, set upon the painted pillar candleholder and enjoy your new creation.

NOTE: Always remove the printed scrapbook paper before burning the pillar candle to prevent a fire hazard.

TIP: For a unique party decoration, paint the candleholder a bright pink, green, or purple shade. This is a great decoration idea for baby showers, a female birthday party, a bridal shower, and more!