DIY Landscape Votive Holders

I spend a stupid amount of time on pinterest looking at craft projects to get ideas. I recently found this adorable votive holder while browsing and really liked the way it looked, but I wasn't able to find similar source images very easily. 

So I dumbed it down a bit and made some quick and dirty LED votive holders that look really great with minimal effort. :D You can use landscapes or skylines - whichever you like! They're a nice way to get a bit of light without having to leave clunky looking LED tealights out and about.

Step 1: What You'll Need:

• images with high contrast from a book or printed on regular printer paper
• an exacto knife
• glue - I chose a glue stick
• LED tealights

I found that black and white images looked best - but feel free to try other things! I think I'm going to make some hand drawn ones next.

Also, when looking at LED tealights, I really recommend the yellow ones - they can make your votive holders look like the sun is setting, which is really pretty. :D

Step 2: Resizing, Editing and Printing

I did a little googling and found a few images I liked:

• San Francisco skyline image, found here.
• Louisville skyline image, found here.
• Tree image, found here.

I found that the best size for them was 1000px wide and 600-800px tall. (or, 8 inches wide by 4+ inches tall)

I cropped them a bit and edited a bit if needed. 

Step 3: Trimming

Trim off the bottom of the page. If you have a big white border at the top, trim that down to about 1/8 inch. Leave a 1/4-1/2 inch white border on each edge of the photo. 

Step 4: Folding

Fold over the top edge to the back of the paper so you can't see any of the white from the front. Then fold over one of the side edges the same way.

Step 5: Gluing

Run a line of glue down the edge of the side you didn't fold over. Press the folded edge onto the glue and hold it until it sets up. It should be nice and round now!

Step 6: Ta-da!

Now you've got a super quick and cute holder for LED tealights. :D

Comments

[AndelDOA]

I love this idea, made one with the NYC skyline from http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanl85/4067296893/

[VenialVenom]

That would be a GREAT one to poke a few holes through along the bridge! (as MrWareWolf suggested above)

[Madrigorne]

GREAT idea

[oliviaJay]

Love it can't say any more :)

[imperio]

very cute!
The next step is to do it .... rotate!

Imperio

[cbandy]

I love it!!!! I recognize the Louisville (KY) skyline which I love a lot (hometown girl). So beautiful. Great Job!!!

[agis68]

decoupage technique....simple, effective, beautyful

[dkhl]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[sarawelder]

very nice and simple.
looks perfect for Christmas gifts.

[midsummermuse]

These seem like they will be PRIME candidates for DIY gifts this holiday season. Thanks for the explanation -- I might buy a cheap straight glass from the $ store to glue it around as well.

[binchen5177]

Cool and Easy

[MrWareWolf]

you can also pierce the photo with a very very fine needle, to allow a single point of light through, as if ti indicate a light on top of a building, or streetlight, etc. adds depth, but is easy to overdo it too..

[electronixTech]

Looks great and anyone could make this and get good results.

[parisusa]

Now I think my LED candles look naked! Love your directions...very clear - and results...very lovely!

[hunter999]

Nice!

[winneyandrose]

These are lovely im going to have a go at doing some for christmas x

[searchub]

That's amazing! I think I'm gonna make some of these. really inspiring!

[andrea biffi]

Beautiful, I made something similar years ago with a cylindrical glass, some dry leaves, and a rare "grass" paper sheet. When you put a candle inside it the effect was very romantic ;-)

[sabu.dawdy]

OMG this is so unique style..

[nerfrocketeer]

Wow! They look great!