Put a Little Twinkle in your Life

Here's a super easy little project I put together over the Christmas holidays using my ever growing stash of "used" candle jars.

This little display of twinkling tea light lanterns positively lit up our festive season and provided the perfect backdrop for long leisurely family dinners out on the verandah.

Now I make no excuse for the fact that I am an absolute candleholic!  Along with fresh flowers - scented candles are the one thing I cannot live without.

Glasshouse Candles are my absolute favourite.

At the moment beautiful "Miami" with its unmistakable pomelo and grapefruit fragrance is wafting its way through the house.  Ah, bliss.....

A vase of flowers and a scented candle -  all is well in my world!

Equally as beautiful (and a good bit cheaper!) are the range of Glade scented candles which are available in most supermarkets. 

I usually have a couple of these on the go as well.  

"Vanilla" - "Wild Raspberry" - positively scrumptious!

Problem is - what to do with the jars once the candles have finished burning?

So this is where my little tea light lantern project was hatched.

I have put together this  tutorial as a perfect New Year recycling project.  

Step 1 :  So for this project you will need an empty candle jar (or 2 or 3);  wire; jute (string); pair of pliers/wire cutters; scissors, tealight candle.  (Gosh - my father's old pliers look positively antique!)

Step 2 :  Cut a piece of wire long enough to wrap around the base of your jar and cross over at the side.  

Step 3 :  Grab your pliers and twist the wire until the wire is firmly secured around the base of the jar.  

Tip :  Because the jar is slightly tapered, i.e. smaller circumference at the bottom than the top - if you secure it firmly at the base it won't slip up over the top of the jar.

Step 4 :  Snip off an excess wire with a pair of wire cutters and then twist your little wire knot slightly towards the top.

Step 5 :   Cut 3 lengths of jute/string depending on how long you want your lanterns to hang.   I staggered mine so that some lanterns were slightly shorter than others.   Hmm... not sure about the colour? of this string but it was all I could find at the time and it does look slightly festive looking - don't you think?

Step 6:  Remove the wire cradle from the jar and tie lengths of string equi-distant around the circumference of the cradle.

Step 7 :  Place your jar back in its wire cradle.

Step 8 :   Now gather your lengths of string together and hold at the top.  Lift off your surface to make sure it is hanging straight.  Adjust your string lengths if needed.  (Last thing you want is a crooked candle!)

Step 9:   Once you are happy that your lantern is hanging straight - tie a knot with the three lengths of string around 5-10 cm from the end.

Step 10 :    Then tie another knot right at the end. 

Step 11 :   Snip off the excess string

Step 12 :  Grab your tea light.  (I picked up a box of 100 tea lights from Target for $7)

Step 13 :    Place tea light in the base of the jar.

Step 14 :  Secure (between the two end knots) to a nail or hook.   Yes, that is a jungle out there!

And then once dusk comes.......

Light up and enjoy!

(I love my little lanterns so much that they are staying up ALL year).

I hope you manage to get a little twinkle in your life in 2012!

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