I don't know about you, but one of my all-time favorite scenes from the Harry Potter series, is the one in the Grand Hall with the floating candles. It's so simple, and yet so breath-taking! I wanted to re-create that look for a party I held, so let me show you how a mere muggle made something magical ;)

Step 1: You Will Need

This project is a bit time consuming, BUT

very inexpensive, and super worth it! Here's what you'll need:

White battery tea lights (sometimes dollar stores will carry them, but you can also get them cheap around Halloween) I spent 25 cents or less on each one.
White poster board/white card stock as many as you wish, cut to 8X10 inches. (I made 50)
Clear fishing line
White ceiling eye hooks
Hot glue gun/hot glue sticks
White craft paint/paint brush
Scissors

Step 2: Make Your Candle Bodies

You can use toilet paper and paper towel rolls as well, but it can take a long time to collect them, and places like Etsy sell them for WAY TOO MUCH! So, just make them, added bonus you don't have to paint them :)

I used poster board cut to 8X10 pieces, but card stock would work as well.
Cut your pieces
Roll cut pieces length wise and hot glue shut

Step 3: Tops and Bottoms!

Cut small circles and rectangles
Glue the circles to the bottom of your candles
Fit the rectangles into the top of the the candles and secure with hot glue (this will serve as a holder for the tea lights)

Step 4: Drip Drip Drop!

Now the fun part! Create wax drips on your candles with hot glue! You can add just a few little drops, or make it a melty mess! So fun!

Then when the drips have cooled paint them with white craft paint, and let dry.

Step 5: Create Ceiling Structure

You could hang each candle from the ceiling individually, BUT an easier way to hang them is to create a structure with fishing line on the ceiling, and then hang the candles from that.

pick points on the ceiling that are opposite from each other (whatever distance you choose)
Place eye hooks on these points
String fishing line from one hook to the other
Now you can hang candles from the line, instead of individual hooks

Step 6: String Them Up!

Add fishing line to your candles.
If you want them to hand upright, tie them on opposite sides, then on one strand in the middle of those 2 strands
Hang candles from structure

Step 7: Light - Em Up!

Turn Tea lights on, and place them in each candle.

* Tea light batteries can last anywhere from 4 to 24 hours. Be aware of how long they last, so you know when to turn them on for your event.

Step 8: Enjoy Your Magical Creation!

Muggles have some magic up our sleeves ( we just need time... and fishing line)

If you liked this Instructable please vote for it for the Wizarding Challenge!

Thank you for reading!

Introduction: Floating Candles! CHEAP Yet Magical!