DIY Fabric Covered Candle

Can you tell I’ve been feeling a little crafty lately? Between all the running around we did all summer and then Maggie not wanting a birthday party, I think I was feeling a little pent up on the creative front. Whether it was change in season or that life has calmed down, or perhaps our spending freeze, the need to make pretty things suddenly just exploded out of me and I was powerless to resist. I think my husband is concerned that I might start decoupaging the children next. Luckily for him, I am down to my last bottle of Mod Podge. 😉

Last October The Nester wrote amazing series called 31 Days of Lovely Limitations, which was all about how much of the beauty in our homes can be found in the  struggle we have with our limited resources. (It is a must-read!)  I forget how much more creative I can be when I am forced to use what I have on hand or to stick to a limited budget. Too often I will head to the craft store in search of inspiration when all I really had to do was open a closet.

And, as luck would have it, in one of my closets I found a bunch of Glade candles that I had purchased for pennies apiece during some fantastic coupon shopping trip months ago. They smell super yummy but they are just a tad on the plain-jane side, so I thought I would get my craft on and jazz them up a bit. With Mod Podge, of course. Just because I can’t get enough of the stuff. Yes, I’m a freak.

They were so fun and easy to make that I ended up making several to give as gifts, and now you can too! Here is what to do:

1. Trace a plate on the back of a pretty piece of scrap fabric, then cut out the circle.

2. Place a dab of tacky glue in the center of the circle, then place the candle over the glue and press down.

3. Make sure the candle is as centered as possible, and that the fabric is equal all the way around. Brush the fabric with a generous covering of Mod Podge.

4. Flip the candle upside down, then bunch up the fabric so that it wraps around the candle. You could try pleating it in an even pattern; I kinda like the messy look. Brush over the top of the fabric with another generous coat of Mod Podge, making sure to get it in all the folds, then let it dry completely.

5. While the candle is drying, you can make the accent piece. Cut a small leaf (or other shape to coordinate with your fabric) out of felt, carefully stitch the accent in a contrasting color, then hand stitch a button to the felt for extra cuteness.

6. When it is completely dry, glue a piece of coordinating ribbon around the top rim, then glue your accent piece over the seam. Voila! SO easy!

 I also did a few that were a little more Anthropologie-inspired: