Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Kid’s Craft Contributor, Gillian from the blog “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.

While the evenings are warm enough to be outside but not filled with swarms of biting bugs, we have been eating as many meals as possible out at our backyard picnic table. It’s hard not to love eating under the stars. No need for fancy table settings, the dog eats anything we drop on the ground, anyone who gets bored can go take a few turns on the swings to shake out any wiggles. The only fly in the ointment is that it still gets dark early and we have no outside lighting.

Someday our table will be under a sturdy pergola draped with strands and strands of twinkle lights. But until then we’ll have to make do with candles. Although now that I’ve made these, I’m in much less of a hurry to bring in the electrical lighting. These pretty little pots make even hot dogs on plastic plates seem like a romantic evening. And bonus, it’s practically free.

Here’s what you

Old glass jars and cups – look around the house, you probably have some, if not, check out the local charity shop – the cut glass church goblet variety turn out very pretty and are generally less than 50 cents at most Goodwills.
Paint - two colors, one bright, one white (you can have different colors too but varying shades of one color make an especially elegant look)
Tea candles
Old spoon for stirring
Extra cup

Start by filling up the extra cup with the colored paint (I used yellow exterior latex house paint, acrylic would work too) pour two or three tablespoons into the bottom of one or two of your jars. Add a little white to the cup and mix to get a lighter shade. Now add some of the lighter paint to a few more jars. Continue lightening the paint, adding some to your jars as you go, until you run out of jars or paint.

Next, swirl the paint up the sides until the inside is completely coated, stopping just as you get to the rim. This can be time consuming but isn’t difficult. In fact, it’s a great, sit in the sun and watch the kids play kind of activity.

Once you have all the jars coated, pour off any excess, wipe any drips and allow the paint to dry before popping in your candles and switching out the lights.