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Candles
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Decorators' Top Favorite Instant Fabric Tricks for Unlit Fireplace Candelabra
Author: Susan Penney
Who doesn't appreciate flickering flames in a fireplace? For those who don't have the inclination or time for burning firewood in their fireplace, fireplace candelabra are the obvious answer. They provide that special glow without the hassle or, in warm weather, the heat. But how do you keep those fireplace candelabra worthy of the visual focal point of your home even for those times when you haven't lit the candles?

Even without burning candles, decorators have their tricks for using fireplace candelabra as foundations for eye-appealing displays in the fireplace. Here are three of their super quick and inexpensive techniques using fabric that you can try:

1. Heavy Fabric
Use a full-bodied fabric, such as tapestry, brocade, or velvet, which coordinates with the colors and style of your room. Casually interweave the fabric among the "arms" of your fireplace candelabra, leaving dramatic folds of fabric spilling onto the inner hearth and over parts of the candelabra. Tuck in the ends, out of sight. Now, replace those candles, but don't, of course, light them as long as the fabric is in your hearth.

2. Lace or Sheer Fabric
For a different, but equally appealing look, use a sheer fabric, such as chiffon or lace. Give it the same treatment as above, with visually interesting draping and folds of the material. This lighter, airier treatment is more appropriate for some rooms.

3. Tassel Magic
At your local fabric store, find three to five inch long tassels in a color, or a mixture of colors, to highlight your room and the metal of your fireplace candelabra. Buy a tassel and a few inches of coordinating cording for each candle on your fireplace candelabra.

Cut the cord into lengths a bit longer than the circumference of each candle. Either by sewing or by using your glue gun, make a circle of each piece of cording and attach a tassel where you join the ends of the cording. Each circle of cording should be big enough to easily slide onto a candle, down to its base.

Slip each cording-with-tassel circle over a different candle on your fireplace candelabra. Adjust the tassels so they are hanging over the edge of the candle cups, facing into the room.

These tassels so beautifully accessorize the candles of your fireplace candelabra, you may be tempted to leave them when you light the candles, but please don't. Remove them before lighting your candles and save them to put back on when you blow the candles out at the end of the evening.

A bit of fabric dramatically posed or some tassels elegantly dangling from your fireplace candelabra can be so charming, your fireplace candelabra can rightfully maintain the place of honor in your room's natural focal point, the fireplace, even when its candles aren't aglow.

About the Author

Susan Penney appreciates simple ways to make our homes renewing spaces for our families. She invites you to visit http://www.FireplaceMall.com for fireplace accessories to serve your fire-less or your fire-filled fireplace.

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Candle
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Gold-Washed Etched Glass Votive Candle Holders
Author: Eileen Bergen


Gold-Washed Etched Glass Votive Candle Holders
By: Eileen Bergen
The Artful Crafter
http://www.theartfulcrafter.com

Supplies

Clear Glass Container(s) (I used votive candle holders, but
any size or type of clear glass container can be used in this
project.)
Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel Surface Conditioner
Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel White Frost Glass Etching Paint
Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel Clear Gloss Glaze
Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel Diluent
Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel Satin Finish 14K Gold Paint for Tile,
Glass & Ceramic
Newspaper
Paint brush
Small make-up type sponge
Cup or film canister for paint mixing
Bottom half of empty egg carton.

I decided to finish off my project by heat embossing some stars
around the rim of the candle holders. This step and the following
supplies are optional.

Detail Gold Embossing Powder
InkADinkADo Celestial Rubber Stamp Collection

Embossing Heat Tool
Clean sheet of paper to retrieve unused embossing powder.

Directions

1.Wash candle holder(s) in hot soapy water. Drip dry.

2.Place candle holder(s) upside down on newspaper. Brush
exterior with surface conditioner and let air dry. Once
conditioned, do not touch the surface to be etched.
The oils from your fingers will prevent the etching cream from
working.


3.Using a clean (make-up type) sponge, wipe etching cream
over the surface of the glass. Smooth carefully to be sure there
are no bumps. Let dry. I used three coats to get the level of etched
look I wanted.

4.In a small paper or plastic cup or film canister, mix equal
parts of 14K Gold Paint with Clear Gloss Glaze. Dilute this mix with
diluent (1 part paint to 3 parts diluent) to obtain a free-flowing
paint for the wash.

5.Turn the candle holder(s) upright. Pour the wash in and
carefully rotate the container to cover the interior with the gold
paint. When you are satisfied with the depth and evenness of coverage,
pour any excess paint into the next glass container to be painted or
into the film canister if there is enough to save. Invert the glass
candle holder(s) and gently set on the inverted egg carton bottom.
After a few minutes, tilt to a different angle so that the paint drains
without leaving drip marks.

If you decide to add embossing, proceed with the following steps.

1.Choose your stamp and press firmly into the clear ink pad
included in the Celestial stamp kit.

2.Carefully position the stamp above the glass. Since I embossed
the upper rim. I used my little finger to help position the stampings
equidistant from the top edge. Because you're stamping on a curved
surface, you need to stamp with a slight rolling movement, taking care
not to smudge the design. If you make a mistake, simply wipe the area
with surface conditioner. Move to another area to work while the
boo-boo dries.

3.With the clean paper underneath, tap a small amount of embossing
powder onto the stamped area. Tap off excess powder. If the design is
satisfactory, move the glass away from the paper so you don't blow powder
you are trying to save all over the place. I used detail powder because my
stamp has very small details which wouldn't be clear with regular embossing
powder.

4.Hold the embossing heat gun about 3 inches above the glass, turn it
on and move it over the embossed area until the embossing beads gleam. This
means they have melted and fused together and onto your glass. If you are
doing multiple stampings, the glass will build up significant heat. If it
gets "too hot to handle", set it down for a few minutes.

Whether you are making these gold-washed etched votive candle holders
for gifts or to sell, include a candle with each one. It doesn't cost you
much, but nicely completes your work.

To see a picture of the completed project, please visit
http://www.theartfulcrafter.com/candle_holders.html.

By: Eileen Bergen
The Artful Crafter
http://www.theartfulcrafter.com

About the Author

MS Bergen has had a varied career, first as a special education teacher and the, after getting an MBA degree, as a vice president for a major insurance company. For the past eight years, she has been making and selling her crafts.

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Candles
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Add Some Light To Your Life With Candles
Author: Wendy Yeager
Candles first served as the main source of light for early civilization. They have made many changes through the years. The candles of today are not the same candles from hundreds of years ago.

Before the introduction of wicks, early Egyptians lit their reed torches by soaking them in molten tallow, which is fat from sheep or cattle. Romans later developed wick candles which they dipped into the tallow.

By the Middle Ages, beeswax was being used in the making of some candles. The candles burned cleaner than tallow and had a more pleasant odor than the tallow candles. However, they were more costly and only the wealthy could afford them.

In Colonial times, the settlers found they could boil berries from the bayberry bush to make a sweet smelling and clean burning wax for their candles. Unfortunately, it was tedious work and it took many berries to make just one candle.

By the 18th century, candles were being made from spermaceti, a wax which was crystallized sperm whale oil. These candles had an even better odor and would not bend and soften in warm weather.

In 1834, a machine was invented which mass produced molded candles. By 1850, we were using paraffin wax made from oil and coal shale. It was processed by distilling residues of crude petroleum refinement. Soon after, stearic acid was added to the paraffin wax and these are still the basic ingredients of today's candles.

Today, we have many kinds of candles to choose from. We have candles in all different shapes, sizes, and scents. Not only do candles add soft light to our home décor, they also add tantalizing aromas which can affect our moods. We have many aromatherapy candles to help us feel better. And how about those candles which bring back childhood memories—There's nothing like a deliciously scented chocolate chip cookie or apple cinnamon candle to warm up your kitchen on a cold winter day!

About the Author

About The Author

Wendy Yeager
Publisher
http://www.wenmarcorp.com/candles-go2
mjy222@hotmail.com

Publish in Whole

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Candles
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Renew thyself daily, with candles! - A candle review
Author: Jennifer Hall
One of my favorite quotes is a quote of a quote in Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau's Walden, a writing he found on the bathtub of King Tchingthang, which Thoreau describes, " 'Renew thyself completely each day; do it again, and again, and forever again.' I can understand that. Morning brings back the heroic ages." I agree, to wake up early, enjoy the dawn, and have a productive morning is some of my finest time. And there are little things that bring the beauty and productivity into fruition, little things that I don't take lightly - like the encompassing power os something as simple as a candle.

Having the perfect scent can completely vitalize my day, and studies have proven this. It is now known that certain scents physiologically help create moods, citrus scents rejuvenate and create energy, lavender scents are calming, and so forth. And then there's the primordial magic of the flickering flame, and poetry in certain scent combinations. So what do I renew myself with? Thai Market.

The Thai Market candle from Illuminations completely invigorates my morning, probably due to the citrus element: lemongrass. The candle also contains the scents of sweet litchee, basil, aromatic cardamom, and creamy coconut milk. This combination is like a master recipe - a work of art. The soothing coconut balances with the crisp lemongrass and the other scents add a touch of enchantment. They conjure up Asian secrets and always leave me inspired. Citrus is also known to leave a clean feeling, partly because some citrus fruits like lemon are used as cleaning items. Not only does it smell clean, but also this candle inspires cleaning! The energy, the crisp cleanliness, perfect for tidying up in the morning.

When the work is done, it leaves me inspired, I'm more likely to play music or write or do something I really enjoy with this little touch. It's these little things that can really enhance a day and shouldn't be taken for granted. Your environment is important to your life, and a clean, aesthetically pleasing one will surely give you the happiness and energy to accomplish more than you normally would. So find a scent that really appeals to you, and if the scents of the Thai Market candle appeal to you, I'd highly recommend trying it out.

About the Author

Jennifer Hall is a writer who provides information on shopping online for http://www.candles-4-u.com/scented_candles.htm http://www.candles-4-u.com/aromatherapy.htm and http://www.candles-4-u.com/unity_candles.htm When she's not online, Jennifer's spending time with her family, gardening, or playing the piano or accordion.

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