Ceramic Candle Lantern Update

Breathe new life into a discarded candle lantern by changing the finish and giving the handle a brand-new macrame look! For this project, I'm using Krylon's Stone Coarse Texture spray paint in a charcoal sand color and something called  S'getti String in silver sparkle. It's a round, hollow tube made from PVC plastic. This cord is used to make crafts such as key fobs, lanyards, jewelry, and other accessories and is perfect to macrame on a handle.
      

I rescued this candle lantern among other things from my neighbor's moving pile of trash! You can clearly see the fibers on the handle are dry rotted and the ceramic finish looks cracked in places. Other than that the candle lantern is in pretty good shape -especially after a really good cleaning!

I remove the handle before cleaning and once the lantern was completely dry, stuffed the interior with a plastic bag stuffed with newspaper to prevent the textured paint from getting on the finish inside which was in good condition.

Then placed the lantern in a cardboard box outside to spray paint.

The directions on the can said to wait 15 minutes between coats and dries in 30 minutes  and can be handled in 5-6 hours.  No way was that true for me. I left the spray painted lantern outside in 90 degree weather for 3-4 hours before it was dry and then it was still quite tacky. And I put it inside overnight before handling the next day, too.

Drying upside down.

To macrame the handle, I had to pull off the woven rotted fibers from the wire which was in very good shape to reuse.

And then painted the wire handle a very light metallic gray to match the color of the cord. (not shown)

The next step is to determine how much cording is needed to macrame the wire handle. Since I had already macrame a wire pumpkin, I went with the measurements I use there. That is: find the length of the handle and  to multiply 4-6 times the length of the handle, and then double that amount. So from end to end of the handle, the lenght was rounded off to 20 inches. Multiply that by "5" = 100 and double that - 200 inches. Since the cord was rather thin, I used two, 200" length of cords.

For this handle, we will be making a square knot using the two folded cords as one cord. Begin by folding the two cords in half and placing the middle of the folded cord at the curve of one of the end hooks. Then tie the cords in a simple knot around the wire and push it at the curve near the end.

Next, pick up the left cord and make an "L" shape across the wire and under the right cord.

Then take the right cord under the wire and over the left cord (L shape) and out.  

Pull the right and left cords tight with the wire in the center to complete the first half knot.

Then mirror the process working with the opposite side cords, creating a backward "L" shape across the wire and under the left cord. Then take the left cord under the wire and over the right cord and out pulling cords tight.

Continue tying the square knot along the wire handle until reaching the end.

Once you reach the end, tie cords in a double knot, cutting off excess cords. and securing ends with a quick  drying  multipurpose glue.  Then push the cords together to expose the hooks and attach to lantern.

                                                                     

The stone finish and macrame handle gives the perfect finishing touch to a worn out look. 

Perfect for anywhere outside - patio, porch or backyard! Anywhere that needs an extra outdoor glow.. 

Light your patio or outdoor space and create a charming unique piece of decorative lighting. Simple add an LED remote control light inside this lantern and watch it illuminate throughout the openings all around.

I hope you enjoyed how I updated a discarded candle lantern that was destined for the trash into a beautifully stone finish with a macrame handle! Created especially for this month's Old to New Challenge Blog Hop! I've joined a group of creative bloggers to bring you a themed monthly challenge blog hop on the 2nd Monday of each month, hosted by Beverly @Across the Blvd.

                           

Meet this month's Co-Hosts: and their awesome projects:

Beverly | Across the Blvd

Gail | Purple Hues and Me

Niki | Life as an LEO Wife

Julie | Sum of Their Stories

Be sure to click below to see the Creative Ideas from the co-hosts!

New Life for an Outdoor Side Table

Ceramic Candle Lantern Update

What will it be? A Cabinet Door Upcycle

Upcycle a Pretty Paper Bag into Greeting Cards

Upcycled Tin Can with Decorative Top

Welcome to our Sustainable Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop hosted by Julie  @Sum of Their Stories. The purpose of this Pinterest Challenge is to motivate all of us to create a project that a) is inspired by a pin on one of our Pinterest boards and b) have some sort of a sustainable element to it. This could be an upcycling or recycling element, or something that reduces waste, uses leftovers, etc. This month the theme is "Upcycled" which includes transforming usually discarded or unused items into something different, new or useful. And I'd like to say in the crafting world, it's called "Creative Reuse!"

I love upcycle projects! For this theme, I get to shop my stash to upcycle something from it and not have to go out and buy anything - so it's a win win for me! Let me tell you I have lots and lots of discarded cans and bottles! I am very thankful that I have a good natured hubby who never complains about all the trash - I mean, items I keep, lol! He is a very neat and organized person, while I am not!  Our garage is looking quite messy right now with bags and bags of discarded containers - all being held for projects like this one.

For this theme, I knew I wanted to decoupage a tin can and I also knew I wanted to make a top for the can, too. Having a top makes it extra special and for a good storage item. And is definitely one way to help reduce household waste! 

I was perusing through Pinterest when I came across this pin which showed a can with a lid. That looked ok but I wanted to make a top that would stand out and be decorative - something I just couldn't find on any projects on Pinterest. Oh, I've made a top before - for a vase out of a styrofoam ball - which I thought was very cool. But this time I'll be making a top from a plastic juice bottle. Does that make you want to read more?

DIY Boho Placemat Wall Decor

Boho wall designs are very trendy and popular especially on sites like Pottery Barn and Anthropologie. Most are handmade by talented weavers from Africa and Vietnam. I was looking at a few and noticed that some of the woven bases looked like placemats I have but no longer use. They had become a bit discolored and tattered in places. But not too bad to use for this month's Do It Over Designers upcycle project. DIY Boho Placemat Wall Decor

Purple and White Checkered Ornaments

Christmas in July is one of my favorite times of the year - it's when I get to

create adorable Christmas ornaments free of any stress and hassles! You know I love purple, so most of the ornaments I create have some type of purple color
going on, lol! For this project, I pulled out my checkerboard stencil, wood rounds, silicone molds, and purple and white paints to create a simple but beautiful ornament to hang on my tree. And the best part - you can make some too using any paint color you like to go with your holiday decor, just like I have!

Tattoo Clear Ornaments DIY

 

It's Christmas in July and time to get an early start on making Christmas crafts! Have I got a fun way to decorate clear glass ornaments using temporary tattoos! And the best part, you won't believe how easy it is to make your very own tattoos in any design and color. All you need is a inkjet or laser printer and plain tattoo paper - and of course, clear glass ornaments! Does that sound cool to you? It does to me!

Tin Can Flowers Wreath Copycat

One of my favorite past-time is looking at upscale online stores to get inspiration and ideas on how to re-create an item for far less than what they're asking!

Who doesn't love saving money by making a good knock-off or copycat craft? Take a look at this group of iron roses wreaths I found on Anthropologie and its' sister off-shoot, Terrain:

Disclosure I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, this post may contain links. I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you! The affiliate money I earn helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!

Right now, they're on sale for $28.50-$43.50, but were originally $38-$58.00. Sale or no sale, sorry, I would never buy a door wreath - especially one that cost this much! They're too easy to make! And having made lots of flowers from soda and beer cans like here, here, here, here, here, and here, re-creating one similar  is right on time for this month's theme of High End Dupes or Look for Less for our DIY Challenge hosted by Terrie @Decorate and More with Tip! 

In case you don't know about this DIY Challenge, on the 1st Wednesday of each month, a group of talented bloggers create something based on a theme or material that's selected by Terri!

Check out how I made my look for less:

Materials:

• Clean Aluminum Soda Cans 
• Utility knife/craft knife
• Craft Scissors
• Flower Petal 3" punch
• Flower paper template
• Ball stylus
• Foam (thick)
• White Chalk, lavender, yellow, orchid acrylic craft paint/brush
• Quick Hold - all purpose quick dry adhesive
• Wire floral hoops - 14" and 10"

 How to:

Begin by washing out the soda cans to remove any sticky residue and let dry. Using a craft or x-acto knife, make a slice near the edge of the can big enough for a scissor blade. *CAUTION:  Be very careful handling the sharp edges of cut cans.

Using craft or old scissors, cut around top or bottom to remove.

Then cut through the length of can to .  .  .

remove the remaining end. Finish sides by cutting off any slivers or jagged edges.

Next, insert the aluminum can piece into the flower puncher to punch-out one large flower with five petals!  

I was able to punch out four flower petals per can.

I think I used 15 empty soda cans (which I got from my son) for this project. But I lost count.

Since the base of the flowers were larger and had more petals, I had to make a paper template to manually cutout .  .  . 

enough larger flowers to fit around the wire wreaths.

Next, paint flower petals with white multi-surface acrylic paint first to cover lettering that's on the back and to help with adhesion of the acrylic paint colors. Let dry. The petals will take on a different feel and texture, almost leather-like, by painting them! 

Then, paint the flowers three different colors and let dry. The colors of the wreaths at Anthropologie were quite muted with what looked like blemishes throughout. But I wanted to have more vibrant shades for mine - so I used lavender, orchid and yellow!

Once dry, roll the top flower petals on thick foam  with a ball stylus to mimic the dimensional look of the top petals. You can also use the end of a cooking utensil or round handle if you don't have a ball stylus.

To assemble, start with the larger petal and then one of the smaller petals, gluing on top, straggling it in between petals.  Then glue on the curved shaped petal using Quick Hold contact adhesive from the makers of E6000.

I glued on this one on the wire floral hoop to see how it would work.

And then placed flowers around the hoop. But I didn't glued them down like this, but.  .  .

glued down each flower separately, petal tip to petal tip, alternating colors.

The wreaths at Anthropologie were pictured individually - a larger one, by itself and .  .  .

 then with a smaller wreath inside the larger one.

I love creating something for less money, and making these wreaths costs me the price of the floral hoops @$3.99 and $2.99 each. The empty soda cans were throw-a-ways from my son which were free!  Everything else, I considered free since I already had them on hand. Not bad - if I say so myself!

Be sure to check out all of the wonderful High End Dupes projects from the participants in this month DIY Challenge:

Decorate and More with Tip - Terrie

Through a Vintage Door - Teresa

Sweet Southern Grace - Shae

Patina and Paint - Tammy

Purple Hues and Me - Gail

LeCultivateur - Emily