It's that time again - the fourth Thursday of the month, where a group of creative bloggers come together to share their lovely transformations of a thrift store item. Who doesn't love thrift store upcycle projects - whether it's actually creating one or admiring how an item from a thrift store was transformed!
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The Rules:
- Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
- There's no monthly theme.
- There's no budget to stick to.
Here's a fun way to illuminate an area with your favorite colors while dressing up a plain thrift store candleholder! We've all seen those decorative sheets of aluminum used in crafts - I've had one in my stash that I got on clearance a few years ago that I finally get to use for this! Yay!
And then there's the actual metal candleholder that I found at Goodwill for two bucks that I cleaned up using liquid BarKeeper! I think the trim is real brass and I didn't want to paint over it since everything was matchy, matchy, already! And I think there was more to the candleholder originally since the label said "beaded cup" - perhaps there was a beaded decorative cup for the candle to sit in . . .
and with a nail in the center (I cut it off) - which I guess was to secure the candle. Anyway, I think it was a great find! I didn't exactly transform it but actually enhanced how it looked.
Altogether, materials used:
Metal candleholder
Decorative aluminum sheet
Cylinder shape can/marker/ruler
4" round LED multi-color base light w/remote control
Tin snips
18 gauge wire
Needle-nose/wire cutter pliers
Let's begin by shaping the aluminum sheet by rolling it around something cylinder shape, like a spray can and quickly releasing it. Don't roll too tight or the metal might bend.
Stand the rolled sheet on top of the candleholder to measure around base as a guide to fit. Mark bottom at the point where it overlaps to fit base. Use a ruler to draw a straight line from bottom point to top and cut off excess aluminum using tin snips. Re-roll the aluminum sheet over the base light to make sure it fits, too.
I really wanted a smooth connection at the sides and tried gluing the overlapping aluminum edge for the sleeve. First, with E6000 glue and then, Loctite Super Glue Gel (separately) and even taped the sheet around to hold in place using masking tape and duct tape while the glue dried overnight. But the glue didn't hold and the aluminum sheet sleeve opened. I then had to scrape all of the glue off and start again.
After gluing failed, I folded 6" strips of 18 gauge wire into "U" shapes and . . .
inserted them into the holes where the sheet overlapped and twisting the wire inside by hand. Then twisted the wire tighter using needle-nose pliers . . .
along the entire length of sleeve. The excess twisted wires were cut off for a smooth fit.
Next, the 4inch LED remote control multi-color base light was placed on the base of the candle holder (it just happen to fit perfectly) . . .
and the aluminum sheet candle holder sleeve was placed over it.
And then, by pushing the remote control button to ON, the candle sleeve and holder was illuminated! That was so cool to see in purple!
Pretty colorful - especially at night!
This is just perfect for setting different lighting moods . . .
and comes in handy for different occasions, too!
The decorative aluminum sheet sleeve and base light on top of a candleholder is a great way to enhance the look of any décor including outside!
And now for more thrifty goodness!
Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!
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