DIY Tea Lights Holders

I've been talking about the baby shower that I am co-hosting for my daughter and all the decorations that I have been working on.  Well, the shower is next weekend, so I decided to show you one of the projects that I did.  I'll show all the other things later - but this is one easy project that I thought you might enjoy seeing.

Do It Yourself tea light holders made with dyed beans and baby food jars.

The dyed beans are Pinterest inspired.

Here is the link to the original idea for the dyed beans:

http://lookiewhatidid.blogspot.com/2012/03/spring-colored-beans.html

Now, let's see the way I used this idea for my Tea Light candle holders.

First step is to dye the beans.

You need a package of dried beans for each color you want to have 

(I used Great Northern, but the original idea used Navy Beans).

Food Coloring (I used gel)

Gallon Size Zip Lock Bags

Wax Paper

Place the beans in one of the zip lock bags.

Add the food coloring.  I used the whole tube.

Seal the bag.

Massage the beans until you are happy with the color.

Spread the beans onto the wax paper and allow them to dry.

It will take at least 24 hours for the beans to dry.  If it is humid it will take longer.  I left my beans to dry for 48 hours, but I live in South Florida where if the humidity is below 90 percent it's a miracle!

Okay, now that the beans are dry you are ready to start working on the candle holders

See my jar of ribbon?  This was a garage sale find about a month ago - the whole jar was $5.  There are 6 rolls of the ribbon that has the four colors on them (and then several that are all yellow and a couple that are all blue).   Yes, that is my hot glue gun - not a big baby, but she sure does work well.  This thing does not have a stand so I always use a paper plate to lay the glue gun down on- plus it helps to keep glue off my granite counter tops.  Yes, I work at the kitchen island - it's the most comfortable for me. 
(Can you tell I don't edit my photo's?  Yep, that is Mountain Man's book and my cell phone - keeping it real here folks, keeping it real.)

This is the price on each roll.  So I thought that $5 for the entire jar wasn't bad.

Now, you need baby food jars.

I don't have a baby (yet), but a friend of ours had these she was getting rid of about six months ago and asked if I wanted them.  I thought that I could use them in the craft room for storage, so of course, I took them.  Who knew that I would be making them into candle holders for a baby shower. (Sorta appropriate don't you think?)

Just make sure they are really clean and the labels have been removed.  Mountain Man used some "Goo Be Gone" to remove all the residue from the labels so the jars were sparkly clean.

Measure the opening of the jar and cut your ribbon.
 Mountain Man and I cut the ribbon in his work shop with a knife blade.  

Much faster.

Now, lets get gluing.

Grab your hot glue gun.

Put a small amount on one end of you ribbon.

Attach to the baby food jar where the top screws on.  We want to disguise this part of the jar.

(and no, all my nails are NOT this long!)

Wrap the ribbon around the top and then glue the end.

Fill jar with beans and insert a tea light.

Add additional beans to hide the side of the candle.

Light the candle.

And there you have it - a tea light holder made from a baby food jar.

There will be four of these on each table.

I can't wait to show you the rest of the decorations.

Have a great weekend and I'll "see" you Monday for the Monday Menu!

Hugs -

Carol

I'm linking up to:


 http://www.504main.com/2012/04/tickled-pink-no-93announcing-2x-fun.html

http://www.addicted2decorating.com/addicts-not-so-anonymous-link-party-13.html
http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/2012/04/feature-friday-free-for-all-15.html
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2012/04/sat-nite-special-link-party-129-spring.html
http://itssoverycheri.com/2012/04/08/its-party-time-4-8-2012/
http://www.hopestudios.blogspot.com/2012/04/tutorial-tuesday_09.html
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/2012/04/flaunt-it-friday-99.html
http://tatertotsandjello.com/2012/04/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-thistles-home-and-gift-giveaway.html
http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/2012/04/share-your-creations-party-33.html
http://www.simplyklassichome.com/2012/04/simply-klassic-sunday-story-of-true.html
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2012/04/beautiful-front-porch-renovation.html
http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-me-monday_15.html
http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/2012/04/party-time-33.html
http://www.thegunnysack.com/2012/04/whats-in-gunny-sack-link-party-33.html
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/20
http://www.threemangoseeds.blogspot.com/2012/04/features-do-it-ya-self-monday-link_16.html12/04/more-merrier-monday-58.html
http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com/2012/04/your-cozy-home-party-15.html
http://www.homesavvyatoz.com/blog-party-33/
http://etcetorize.blogspot.com/2012/04/make-it-great-monday_15.html
http://becolorful.typepad.com/becolorful/2012/04/motivated-monday-april-16th.html
http://littleinspiration.com/2012/04/create-inspire-features.html
http://herestohandyandy.blogspot.com/2012/04/pinteresting-link-party-week-35.html
http://alderberryhill.blogspot.com/2012/04/make-scene-monday-21.html
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/
http://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2012/04/one-crafty-contest-enter-here.html