I love the look of candles at Halloween, but, amazingly, I don't actually want to burn my house down.  (Though it would make for a very memorable Halloween party...) This, of course, means I must rely primarily on battery operated and electric ones.  The trouble is, most of them look, well, like battery operated candles.  Shiny gold and white plastic does not exactly strike fear into the heart of the onlooker.  

So to give my candles a little more seasonal flair, I'm making a few quick and easy candle sleeves.  The added bonus to using sleeves is that you can remove them post-Halloween and display your in-the-buff candles as manufactured for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Scandalous.


 


Battery Operated Candles (not gonna lie - don't love the ones I just bought. I may look for ones with flicker bulbs later on)
Scrapbook Paper or Vellum 
Glue Stick 
Hot Glue Gun -plus- Extra Hot Glue Sticks 
Paint (I went with black, but purple, orange, white, red or metallic would all look great as well)

1. Remove plastic base and bulb from the candle. 


2. Cut a section of vellum or scrapbook paper to the length and circumference of the candle, with a slight overlap when wrapped around.  Working around the candle itself, use a glue stick to secure the tube shape.  Make sure that the sleeve isn't so tight that it can't be slipped on and off.  Remove the candle and set aside.


3.  Working carefully, use a hot glue gun to create a rim around the top of the sleeve.  Allow the hot glue to drip down the sides in several spots.  I usually create a drip over the seam of the sleeve for added strength.  Burnt candles look imperfect, so don't stress over it.  Blobby is good. (How many times can you say that in life?)


4.  Once the glue is completely dry, you can begin painting over the drips and the sleeve itself.  (I don't recommend touching it until you're absolutely sure.  I, umm, just heard about some girl that might have perhaps given herself blisters from being slightly impatient.  What?! No of course it wasn't me...  Just... a friend of a friend... No you cannot look at my fingers.)

5.  Once the paint is dry, you're ready to reassemble!  Slip the sleeve over the candle and add the bulb back.  Find a tattered candle holder, or distress the plastic one included and light her up!  Easy Peasy!



Ultimately, I plan on using mine in a Spanish moss chandelier I'm working on (hence why real open flame might not be the best choice) but it's still a work in progress. 

Stay tuned for more Haunting Halloween Projects!