Five Ways to Turn a Votive Holder into a Great Handmade Gift

Despite the fact that candles and candleholders are everywhere we look, they continue to be extremely popular. However, they also can be quite pricey. Simple glass candleholders that hold a votive candle are very affordable, but aren’t very exciting as is. Why not turn some of these inexpensive votive candle holders into unique handmade gifts? These small, budget friendly items are perfect for giving as a hostess gift or tucking into a Christmas stocking during the holiday season.

1. Glitter is Gorgeous

You can make your candle holder really shine with a bit of glitter glue and artificial gemstones or decorative marbles. Simply glue the gemstones or marbles to the candle holder with glitter glue. Make sure you use enough glitter glue so that a border of the glitter glue is visible around each gemstone or marble.

For a personalized touch, write a message on the votive holder with your glitter glue pen. I wrote “Christmas 2006” on mine.

2. Color-ific

Depending on the height of your votive holder, grab some new crayons or colored pencils and glue them around the outside of the holder with a hot glue gun. Tie a brightly colored ribbon around the finished piece for even more color.

3. Spice it Up

Your spice rack is another great place to find materials for decorating your candle holders. Cinnamon sticks smell great and look wonderful when they are glued around the outside of a votive holder. Tie a ribbon in a neutral color around the holder when you are done to add a finishing touch.

4. Natural Beauty

Mini pinecones are another way to dress up a votive holder. Cover the entire holder with them or create a striped design. Either way, these tiny pinecones are the perfect way to bring a bit of nature indoors.

5. Seaside Fun

Seashells and starfish are showing up everywhere. My favorite way to decorate a votive candle holder is to cover the entire outside of the holder with small shells. Then, I tie a small starfish to the holder with a piece of raffia.

Once you start decorating votive candle holders, you will probably come up with some other materials that would be perfect for this project. Buttons, pebbles and small beads strung on lightweight wire are just a few of the additional materials I’ve used to create a homemade votive candle holder.

~Katelyn Thomas

Katelyn Thomas is a freelance writer who has been making handmade gifts for friends and family for many years. She enjoys creating special gifts using materials she finds in the garden or around the house. S