Holiday Gift Idea #2

Did you think I forgot about you?  I didn't.  I had a day of packing orders since a shipment of rubber came in.  Then I couldn't find the main component of today's post.  I have a bag of them packed away with the Christmas decorations and we haven't pulled everything out yet.  Then I had a day of dark and dreary weather that doesn't make for a good photograph.  The sunlight is never great inside the house but I try.  So, after a few days of delays I now have today's gift idea to share with you!

This next gift is inspired by some elegant looking candles I spotted in a recent Pottery Barn catalog.  As soon as I saw them I knew what a great easy project this would be.  I went to the Pottery Barn website to grab a photo to show you.  The candles are already sold out!  Here are their candles:

 

Now here is my version of these sheet music candles.  I have more to make once I find the bag of pillar candles I purchased last year.  They are taller than the one below and I want to have a few staggered heights. 

  

stamps used:  Early 1900's Music Background

Now the best part is how easy these are to make and the price!  The Pottery Barn candles were $16.00 for a 5" and $29.00 for a 8" tall candle.  I ran out to the dollar store since I couldn't find the dozen candles I knew I had in the house.  So, my Purple Onion Designs candle cost $1.00!

These candles would be fabulous for holiday home decor, a hostess gift when visiting friends and family during the holidays or what about a gift for music teacher!

Now, I suppose you want to know how to make them.  Many of you might very well know the simple technique.  If not, this is all you need to do.

You can make these either white or "aged" to look like vintage sheet music.  The dollar store only had white candles and I only had white tissue paper.  I wanted an aged look so I opted to add some Distress Ink in Tea Dye to my tissue paper.  You can also start with a cream colored base if that is more your preference.

Supplies:

Early 1900's Music Background Stamp

Tissue paper - white or cream

Pillar candle - white or cream

Waterproof black ink pad

Distress Ink - tea dye (or similar ink to "age" the paper)

Wax paper

Heat gun

Directions:

1.  Cut a piece of tissue paper that will be the height of your candle and will fully wrap around the candle.

2.  Ink up the Music Background Stamp with black ink and stamp on the tissue paper.  You will want to continuously stamp to cover the entire piece of tissue paper.

3.  I took my heat gun and set the ink so there wouldn't be any smudging when I added the ink to "age" the tissue paper.  Eventhough, I used a waterproof ink I didn't want to take any chances and I wanted to make sure the ink was fully dry.

4.  If you want to "age" the paper then carefully sponge on the tea dye ink.  I used Ranger's Inkssentials Blending Tool.  Since the tissue paper is very fragile you will want to do this carefully.  I "aged" the opposite side that I stamped the music background on.  Once again, I wanted to prevent any smudging.  

5.  Wrap the stamped tissue paper tightly (without ripping) around the candle and then wrap a piece of wax paper over that.  The wax paper does not need to be the exact size of the tissue paper.  I can be slightly larger.  Hold this in place.

6.  Turn on your heat gun and let it heat up for a few seconds.  Then start heating the candle till the wax starts to melt.  You will see your stamped image start to get darker as the tissue paper melts into the candle. Keep moving the heat gun till the entire candle looks this way.  It should just take a few seconds but each heat gun and candle will melt differently.  You don't want to melt the candle too much in any one spot.  You want a nice even melting with no drips or dips into the candle.

7.  Now remove the outer piece of wax paper.  You can use it to smooth out any possible drips while the candle is still warm.

That's it!  Cheap, easy and elegant!  Now isn't that a winning combination?  This tissue paper technique can make some really great gifts.  You can use all kinds of stamped images and color them.  Another great technique is to print photographs onto the tissue paper.  These make great gifts for the grandparents!

**I am editing this to add one other project.  A new mini $50 & under Pottery Barn catalog came today.  It had one other item to go along with the candle that I had to re-create as well.  Now why didn't I think of this?!

I only had tiny or huge match boxes in the house.  I now need to go find some that are slightly larger to make more of a statement.  Now onto the other project I had originally posted...

I have one other Pottery Barn inspiration project while you have the Early 1900's Music Background stamp out.  These music paper stars will look lovely filling jars, vases and bowls around the house.

I had no idea that Pottery Barn was actually selling these stars.  I thought they were simply a prop filling the different vessels.  The set was 45 small stars (1.5") and 20 large (2") for $12.00.  Once again, sold out.  Here are my stars:

The ones I made were 1.5".  I used 8.5" x 11" cream colored paper (cardstock will be too thick) and stamped the music background repeatedly to fill the sheet. I then cut strips that were 1.5" x 11".  I taped two strips together with tape to make a longer strip.  I then folded the paper to make the stars.  While the star was still flat I "aged" the edges again with Tea Dye Distress Ink.  I then "pouffed" the stars.  You can find tutorials online for folding these stars.  Here are a couple:

DLTK's Origami Stars

Origami Fun Lucky Stars

I hope you enjoyed today's projects!   

 

Comments

[Kelly]

I've made these stars before, Michele, but I so love them with the music background. I'm going to a party at a pianist house, and I think the candle, some stars, and some wine will be the perfect hostess gift. Thanks for the tutorial.

[julie]

these are great michele love them

[Christina Franco]

Brilliant!! My SIL is a musician and would love either of these...thanks so much!!

[LeAnne]

OH. MY. GOODNESS. These are incredible...so simple and SO elegant....both projects make me want to run to my desk instead of sitting here on the computer looking at things! Brilliant!

[Joy Taylor]

WOW! you are so clever and creative Michele, love this, thanks so much for the inspiration, cannot wait to give this a go. Hugs!

[Deirdre]

What an amazing idea... wow.... you are so creative. thansk for sharing.

[Cassie]

Michele-these projects are so fabulous!!!
Would you link up to our party at Paper Issues? I would love to feature them tomorrow!
Thanks!!
=)
http://paperissues.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday-hook-up.html

[Joyce Stewart]

Wonderful indeed....thank you for sharing this....great stuff.

[Deirdre]

Michele, just wanted to let you know that I have made some of these and they are so much fun. A fun holiday gift. Thanks so much.

[donna mikasa]

Such wonderful gifts--and how versatile is that music background stamp? Thanks for sharing!

[Heather]

These are awesome! I will be trying these out...thanks for sharing...I saw these on Paper issues blog.

[Beatrice from France]

Great projects. The candles really look great with the music notes stamps

[Jocelyn]

Oh How Fabulous...I actually purchased both of these from Pottery Barn...but now I want to make them for gifts!!!!!!!

[Diane Payne]

I was admiring those stars in the store a couple weeks ago. I will definitely be trying to make them now!

[Donna Jannuzzi]

All of these ideas are gorgeous. I don't have time this year to make these, but I'm definitely bookmarking this for next year. Beautiful!

[Amber Zimmerman]

A absolutely love this post. What wonderful tutes and ideas! THanks for sharing. :-)

[lindasy]

you are one clever lady! Love the candle and aper stars-too cool!

[Nicole]

thanks for sharing!! :)
I bought all the supplies and made some candles today and I think the kids would have fun making stars with me.

[Ronda P]

this is so amazing! I love it!

[Design Dazzle]

so pretty. thank you for sharing!
Toni