How to Make a Halloween Paper Mache "Stained Glass" Candle Holder

Halloween is fast approaching and the time has come to start decorating for the season. Don't worry if you need to decorate and are on a budget. One easy to make and inexpensive item for one's Halloween theme is a Paper Mache "stained glass" candle holder. Not only does the candle holder make a great decoration for one's own home, but it can also make a great gift, and is a project that parents and children can work on together.

Required and optional items needed:

Small glass jar

Paintbrushes

Scissors

Orange and black (and other fall colors if desired) crepe or tissue paper (colored streamers will work and can be purchased at low cost)

Liquid starch (watered-down white school glue can be used in place of the liquid starch)

Aluminum foil (or a plastic tray will work as well)

Votive or other small candle to the match size of the jar used

Optional:

Wire garland or wire ribbon if giving for a gift

Glitter

Zipper seal sandwich bags (for applying the glitter)

Scary stickers/cut out Halloween shapes such as cats, witches, pumpkins, etc.

Making the Holder:

The first step is to tear the tissue or crepe paper into small pieces. One option is to tear or cut the pieces into Halloween shapes. Or they can be left in rectangular or oblong pieces simply for the color scheme. If you're on a budget, you can use tissue that you have saved from other art projects, or that you have received in gifts.

The second step in making your holder is to paint the liquid starch (or watered-down glue) onto the jar. Make sure the jar is clean and free of any labels or glue from its previous use. Stick the crepe or tissue paper to the wet adhesive, and then apply another coat of starch or glue over the top to adhere any loose ends. Make sure enough starch or glue has been used to cover the paper, but it should not be dripping off.

If you are using pieces of crepe paper and not shapes, make certain that you have overlapped the crepe or tissue paper enough over the sides of the jar so that you have covered the jar completely. Shapes and rectangular pieces can be combined to ensure that the jar is properly covered.

After the jar has been completely covered in paper and properly covered in liquid starch or watered-down white glue, you should place the jar on a non-stick, non-paper surface such as a plastic tray or aluminum foil for purposes of drying. If you wish to give the holder some sparkle, allow the starch or glue to dry slightly, put glitter into a closed sandwich or other plastic bag, and place the candle into the and seal or tie it closed. Roll the holder gently on the tabletop or floor to make the glitter stick to the starch or glue. Remove the candle gently from the bag (watch that your fingers don't stick to the glue or leave prints!) and place it on the tray or foil to dry.

After the candle holder has dried, and if you want to make your candle holder flashier or give it as a gift, garland or ribbon can be wrapped around the edge of the jar. Then drop in a candle and watch your Paper Mache "stained glass" candle holder light up! Try making different sizes for different areas of the house. A larger candle holder can make a great center piece for your table and provide plenty of colored light on that spooky night!