Are you looking for an easy project to get in the holiday mood this year? These DIY clay pot candle holders are the craft for you!
As a bonus, the gardeners in your life will love these Christmas candle holders. The main part of the design is made by recycling old terra-cotta pots.
Candles have become a part of the Christmas holiday decor so it’s always fun to do another DIY project involving them. See my easy DIY peppermint candle project here.
Note: Hot glue guns, and heated glue can burn. Please use extreme caution when using a hot glue gun. Learn to use your tool properly before you start any project.
Make Your Own Terracotta Pot Candle Holders
I love to recycle common household items into craft projects. Clay pots are a really fun item to upcycle. See my clay pot love bug candy dish for another cute idea.
To make these cute candle holders you will need the following supplies:
- 6 clay pots (4 x 2″ and 2 x 3″)
- 3 clay saucers (2 x 2″ and 1 x 3″)
- Unfinished wood cut outs purchased from any large craft store. The ones shown here are a reindeer, candy canes and a Christmas tree, but any design that is the right size will do. I think a poinsettia design would look great too!
- small piece of sand paper
- a star stencil and stencil brush
- Acrylic paints and paint brush
- 2 small pillar candles to fit the holders
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Clear silicone glue.
Wash out your old pots and allow them to dry. Once dry, paint the outside of each 2 inch pot green. Paint the 3″ ones in a red color.
The 3″ saucer will also be painted red both outside and inside, but the smaller saucer will be painted green on the bottom and sides but red on the top inside area. Let dry and add another coat if the coverage is not even.
Meanwhile, sand the edges of your cut outs. Paint as desired and allow to dry.
Turn one large and two small pots upside down. Glue the remaining pots on top with clear silicone glue. Add a small amount of the silicone glue inside the top opening being careful not to get it on the outside, since it cannot be painted.
When completely dry, use your star stencil and stencil brush with gold paint to add stars at random around the outside and rims of the pots.
Attach your wood cut outs to the front of your planters with a hot glue gun, and place the small pillar candles inside the top saucer. Light and enjoy.
The wood cut outs pictured here are a Christmas tree, candy canes, and a reindeer. You could also do a Santa wood cutout.
If you have little kids who need to send Santa their Christmas wishlist check out our posts with Santa’s address and the official Santa phone number.
This idea is shared from an old issue of Crafting Traditions, which is no longer in print.