DIY: Illustrated Candle Holder Covers

This post is written by contributing author Anabel Bouza.

Don't you love that moody flicker of candlelight? It expands the limits of a room, helps create a quiet atmosphere... Electric light can feel ruthless and impertinent by comparison.

Ever since a line-up of candles settled on my ledge for the season, I've been coming up with ways to dress them up temporarily. My tea lights live (and burn) inside generic glass containers, which I have cleaned and repurposed after their original candles ran their course.

In the spirit of season, I would like to share a DIY project for candle lovers. The graphic look of these covers will turn your generic glass holders into a fun wintry scene.

Just print the file on a regular A4 sheet (8.5 x 11), cut inside the yellow lines, and secure with transparent tape where the edges meet. 

I use single-side tape to keep the paper cover from sticking to the glass, that way is easier to remove in a pinch.

Have time and an X-acto knife? Then go ahead and modify "Behind the Fence" by cutting out the white triangles for the light to shine through.

Click to download.

These covers are not meant for exposed candles. They fit the standard Glade 4-ounce candle jars, and the small tumblers sold by Yankee Candle, respectively. 

Using tea lights (or some other small candle) inside the jar keeps the flame from burning too close to the edge. Something I like about tea lights: the fact that they don't burn for too long means you're not forced to live with the same fragrance (or any fragrance at all) every time you crave candlelight. 

Especially now that the nights have grown longer, the lighting of a cozy flame can help usher in a relaxing evening, after leaving the day behind. If it pains you to get rid of perfectly good glass containers —my case!— a tea light and a unique jar cover are the perfect way to create instant magic.

Anabel Bouza insists there's powerful magic in the action of creating something out of a vague vision, a chill of inspiration. She is an illustrator with a passion for nature, paper manipulation, and pointing her camera at things.

Her appreciation for simplicity dates back to a former life in Cuba - her strange homeland - where she refined the ability to see the alternative uses of common objects, and the enchanting side of things. She's often found blogging as Weird Amiga, hard at work in her sunny studio, or staring at things as if looking at them for the first time. Her tiny family is comprised of her husband & a turtle; they're new to the city of Chicago, and they love it. Connect to Anabel via facebook and twitter.