Polyhedric Marbled Candleholder

With this Instructable I will show you step by step how to create

Polyhedric cement marbled candleholders with grey cardboard

and tape.

I have used 1,5mm cardboard because my candleholders

weren`t too big so bare in mind if you want to create a bigger mold

use plexiglas or other stronger material because the cardboard

will bulge under the cement mix.

Supplies

For the mold :

- Grey cardboard 1,5mm thick.

- Brown cardboard 4,5mm thick.

- Tape.

- Glue.

For modling:

- 5 kg of Cement (grey or white).

- 1 Old tablecloth, preferably plastic.

- 1 Mixing bucket.

- 1 Pair of plastic gloves.

- 1 Old cup.

- Water

- 1 Wood stick.

For marbling :

- 1 Old tablecloth, preferably plastic.
- 1 Mixing bucket.

- 1 Pair of gloves.

- Marbling colors, (like marabu easy marble).

- Water

Step 1: STEP 1 : Prepare Your Template

For the geometric candleholder you have to cut out the template on

your grey cardboard and also lightly cut where you are going to fold

the sides.

Personally I have used a lasercutter for this step but you can also do it by hand.

- Remove parts of your polyhedra as shown in the picture (black stripes)

and then prep both sides with tape to make it waterproof.

- Remove the top part of your mold and retape the edges.

Step 2: STEP 2 : Prep the "STUMP"

I wanted to use 40 mm wide candles so I had to create a

cylinder to make the cavity for the candle.

- You will want to make your cylinder about 42mm wide and

also 5mm taller than the candle.

- Use brown 4,5 mm thick cardboard In order to be able to remove

the stump from the cement.

- Tape all the sides.

Step 3: STEP 3 : Put the Pieces Together

Because the candleholder is going to me molded "upside down"

you have to cut out a piece of grey cardboard the size of the opening

of your mold.

Again you will have to tape both sides to make if waterproof.

- Place the cylinder in the middle of the cut out pentagon and glue or

tape it down.

This will prevent the cylinder to bob to the surface and makes the finishes

easier.

YOU ARE NOW READY TO MIX THE CEMENT !!!

Step 4: STEP 4 : Prep Prep Prep....

You will really want to protect everything you can from your

cement mix, you are going to need :

- 5 kg of Cement (grey or white).
- 1 Old tablecloth, preferably plastic.

- 1 Mixing bucket.

- 1 Pair of plastic gloves.

- 1 Old cup.

- Water

- 1 Wood stick.

- Measure 1 unit of cement and mix in 1 unit of water at the

beginning slowly to avoid clumps and to get to a thick pancake

consistency. If you have to adjust by adding water or cement.

- Mix all well with the stick and if needed with a gloved hand to remove

eventual lumps. Gently tap tap your mold to remove airbubbles and

let it rest.

Step 5: STEP 5 : UN-mold and Sanding

Your candleholders will have to rest for about 24 hours to fully

set.

-Personally I unmolded them 12-14 hours after I poured the

cement to be able to remove some exess cement with a cutter.

- After 24 hours you can sand your candleholders, use

first rough and then finesanding paper.

I sanded the bare minimum because I wanted to keep the

textures created by the tape from the mold.

Step 6: STEP 6 : the Marbling

For the marbling you will need :

- 1 Old tablecloth, preferably plastic.
- 1 Mixing bucket.

- 1 Pair of gloves.

- Marbling colors, (like marabu easy marble).

- Water.

- Wooden sticks

- Fill up the bucket with water and drop the marbling color onto

the waters surface and make swirls with a wooden stick.

-When you are satisfied with your design take your candleholders

and dip them into the water. The color will stick to the cement.

-The outcome of your design will depend on how you place the

candleholder onto the color aka . dip, let it fall, dip and swril etc.

Step 7: STEP 7 : Sit Back and Enjoy

You are done and can finally rejoice in your hard work !!!

As you can see the shape of the candleholders can wary

which will make them unique and a perfect present for

family and friends.

How about making a flower pot now?