An elegant yet simple gift to give or use to decorate your home this holiday season.
This would make a wonderful housewarming gift for any party hostess.
Township Candle Holder Template:
The template I’ve provided below can be used to either cut out a paper surround for your jar using last year’s instructions for a paper surround…
Or, you can use it to paint the township onto the outside of the jar using the instructions further down in this post.
To save the images, simply click on the template photo below to open at actual size in another window. Right click and save to your own computer.
To resize your template, open the template image in a Word document. Measure your jar to determine the perimeter circumference (outside jar for cut-out and inside jar for painted project) and enlarge the two parts to meet that requirement. Join part A and part B together to make one long template
Materials:
- Glass Jar
- Black Acrylic paint
- Small round paint brushes size 2 & 4
- 1/4″ flat brush
- Can of Santa snow
- Wire for handle (optional)
- Isoproply Alcohol Spray
- Clean cloth
Instructions:
1. Clean jar with soapy water and remove any labels.
2. Wipe outside of jar using Isopropyl alcohol spray to remove any residue and then avoid over handling jar.
3. Measure the inside of your jar using a scrap piece of paper. Make your template to fit this measurement and then insert inside of jar. I used a little piece of cello tape to hold it in place, so it wouldn’t move while I was painting it.
4. Rest your jar on a soft cloth – I used and old tea towel. Try not to handle the bottom of the jar too much as grease from your skin may affect how well your paint adheres to the jar. Using your small round brush and the black paint, start painting the design, using the template as a guide. You may decide to add other things or trees… I actually added a little fence beside the church on one of my jars.
5. The first coat of paint will be patchy… that’s okay. Leave it to dry and when you paint on the second coat it will be opaque. Set aside to dry.
6. If you are going to make a wire hanger for your jar, add that now.
7. Place your painted jar inside an old cardboard box and lightly spray the top third of the jar with the Santa Snow. Do not spray inside the jar. Leave to dry.
8. Last year I added Epsom Salts to the top of my jar for an added effect
9. Insert tea light candle/s. I used 3 candles inside my larger coffee jar.
FAQ & notes from Kerryanne:
What size and type of jar did you use?
I used Mocona coffee jars in different sizes, because that’s what I had on hand.
You could use any kind of recycled glass jar, vase or even a wine glass. The template can be adjusted to fit.
If you spray the Santa Snow on the outside, won’t it rub off?
Yes it will. I designed these illuminated candle holders to be a feature on a dinner table for one night, however, we have used them multiple times and they still sit in my cupboard waiting to be used again and the snow is still intact.
I designed this project for my own use. It wasn’t my intention to design a project for others to make, so they could post it as a gift or let their children play with it. This is one of those DIY projects that is meant to be looked at and admired.
Note: I’m adding a wire hanger to my township candle holders this year, so I can more easily move them around.
Couldn’t you spray the Santa Snow inside the jar?
Santa Snow may be flammable, so I wouldn’t spray it inside the jar where a naked flame will be used. It would be okay if you were using one of those flameless battery operated candles.
Also, please DO NOT put the paper template inside the jar!! I’ve had so many emails about this. My instructions do clearly say “wrap it around the outside of the jar”.
For more from Kerryanne, please visit her site.