Farmhouse Candle Holders

I have been on the hunt for some Farmhouse Candle Holders for a long time.  I’ve checked all the local craft and home decor stores but nothing that I like seems to be in my budget.  Visions of tiered thick candle sticks with a rustic painted finish were floating through my mind.  But, if that’s what I wanted, I figured it was going to be a DIY job.  I said a little prayer and headed to my local thrift store to see what I could find.  Drum roll please…

Here is what I came home with:

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SUPPLIES

• Gorilla Glue
• Caulk Gun
• Caulk
• Rustoleum Self Etching Primer
• Rustoleum Chalked (in place of graphite)
• White Paint (Behr paint samples are good for crafts)
• Sand Paper (fine grit)

BUNNIES TO CANDLE PILLARS

OK.  I think that is the funniest heading I have ever written.  If those bunnies were going on my mantle the first things that had to go were the ears, buttons and bows.  I’m so very sorry if you were the creator of these little Easter companions!  Do you see those yellow and olive ramekins?  Those went up on the bunnies heads to hold the candles.  Now before you think I am completely crazy, here is the after picture.

I know right?  They turned out better than I imagined.  First, I sanded the top to make it a little flat and then I attached the ramekins with gorilla glue.  Be sure to wipe off any extra glue.

Then I caulked the seam.  This is a picture of the underside of the top.  My first paint attempt did not turn out how I imagined.

PAINT/WASH

I covered the whole candle holder with primer.  This stuff works great.

Then I painted it several times with the wrong colors, but finally I landed on Annie Sloan, Graphite.  If you are going to use Chalk Paint, no need to prime.  Since it wasn’t my original plan, I primed the candle holders.  Next, I mixed a 1/2 & 1/2 wash of paint and water and applied it like this. 

Then I wiped it off with paper towels and sanded the overlap areas lightly with a fine grit sand paper.  This is the first time I have ever tried a paint wash.  I love how it turned out and I will be experimenting with it some more in the future.  Here is another picture of my mantle.

Those are painted dollar store pumpkins.  The candle holders on the left were painted with Annie Sloan, Graphite and left alone.  The wreath and truck are from Hobby Lobby.  I also painted that cute little purple tray white to hold my laundry room soap pumps.

One last look…

I hope this helps inspire you to try your own DIY Trash to Treasure project.  Well, that’s all folks!

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