I live in a small 525 square foot condo, so free space is always hard to find. But one thing I do have a lot of is wall space. So I decided to create a small wall mounted shelf with a set of colorful votives on top. And now I’m sharing the super easy tutorial with you! Click through for instructions. Â
Fun, right? Originally I had planned to dip the votives in paint, but when I thought more about it, I realized that painting the color onto the glass and leaving the brushstrokes visible would look more organic and natural.Â
They have a painterly feel to them, and when they’re lit the strokes are even more noticeable. It’s a nice contrast to the plain wood shelf.Â
So here’s what you’ll need for this project:
– 5 votives (I got mine here)
– Acrylic craft paint
– 2 pieces of wood: 3″x24″ and 1″x24″Â (I bought mine at A.C. Moore)
– Wood glue
– Nails and screws
– Hammer and screwdriver
– Paintbrushes
– Scotch tape
1. Begin by gluing the small board to the large one along the very edge.
2. While the glue dries, begin to paint your votives. Start about half way down, dragging your brush back and forth until you get the desired effect. The brushstrokes don’t have to be perfect, in fact it’s better if they’re not. Paint down around the bottom edge of the votive, but no need to paint the bottom.
3. Let them dry upside down.
4. While those are drying, nail the boards together where you glued them to make them extra strong.
5. Next, screw the shelf to the wall on both ends. Be sure to place it somewhere where there isn’t much foot traffic… You don’t want anybody bumping into it when the candles are lit. If the wood that you used is heavy or if you use more votives, be sure to screw one side into a stud. Use a piece of tape rolled up underneath the votives to keep them in place.
6. And that’s all, you’re finished! Easy, right? And as always, please use caution when lighting candles… we don’t want anyone getting hurt!
You can also make extra votives with other colors, and switch them up depending on the time of year or your mood. I made a magenta and a forest green one to swap out at some point.Â
These are great for dinner parties when you’re looking for that flattering candlelight but don’t have the space to spare on the table. That’s where I keep mine – right next to the table in the eat-in kitchen.
What colors would you guys use? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments section below!