I like to pretend that I am crafty, like Martha Stewart crafty. In my daydreams, all these wonderful projects that I envision come magically into existence, and everyone pins them, turning me into a DIY Goddess. In the real world, my crafts skills are on pare with most 5 year-olds. 🙂 But I keep trying and looking for simple, no-fail projects, like this one. This easy 5 minute love candle holder is a great gift for your sweetheart, whether it’s for Valentine’s Day, your anniversary or just because.
This is actually so easy that it’s a bit embarrassing, but it is truly no-fail. Those are my favorite craft projects because they are kind to my non-crafty, wannabe ego. Plus, this particular project is also very economical, which is another win. A lot of people think DIY is a money saver, but it’s not always true for me. I only have a few craft supplies and ummmmmm … sometimes need a couple of tries before it turns out, so DIY isn’t always kinder on my pocketbook. It is, however, always satisfying to say you made it yourself. 🙂 Unless it falls apart, then I bought the darn thing, and I’m sorry it broke!
Don’t Blame Me, Please
First, I’m going to address the elephant in the room: I ripped out pages from a book to make the 5 minute love candle holder. Some people are highly sensitive to the destruction of books and don’t believe it should be done, at all. Now I am 100% against banning or burning books because you don’t agree with them, but I’m a realist. Books get trashed or recycled every day. If tearing a page out of a book goes against your beliefs, no worries (and please don’t yell at me). I share some alternative suggestions within the directions.
An Inexpensive but Deeply Personal and Sentimental Gift
I don’t believe gifts have to cost a fortune. Nor is it wrong to mindfully choose to purchase an expensive gift for a loved one. Just recognize that price doesn’t inherently make them more valuable. There was a period of time when I believed price tag equaled value and/or love but now realize that the intent behind the gift matters so much more.
The 5 minute love candle holder is a super inexpensive gift or decoration that can have deep meaning behind it. While mine uses a random page from a book that was falling apart and no longer readable, I recommend using a book passage that means something to the recipient when intended to be used as a gift.
5 Minute, No Fail Love Candle Holder
Got 5 minutes? Then WOW your sweetheart with this homemade candle holder.
Items You’ll Need:
- Book Page(s)*
- 1 mason jar
- Ribbon or twine
- 1 flameless tealight
Directions:
- Cut heart shape into book page(s). It’s best if you make the heart small. Insert page into mason jar. Depending on the size of book page, you may need to trim the page or use two pages.
- Tie ribbon or twine around mason jar mouth
- Place LED tea light in jar and turn on.
Possible substitutions for book pages:
- A map that shows the city where you took your favorite vacation or went on your honeymoon.
- Sheet music, perhaps the song from your first dance at your wedding reception or a song played at your wedding.
- Your wedding vows, favorite love poem or book passage typed on some fancy paper, in lieu of tearing apart a book.
- A child’s drawing on construction paper or brown paper bag — a great choice for grandparents.
Success Tips
Mason jars sizes can vary significantly. Before you start tearing pages, I would take a plain piece of paper to see what size your book page should be. If the candle holder is to be placed on shelf or where the back is not exposed, you can easily use two book pages to wrap the candle since it won’t be noticeable (which is what I did). However, if it meant to be seen from all sides, like for a table decoration at a wedding reception, I would use only one page. You can place the seam (glued or discreetly taped together) on the side, and cut two small hearts in the front and back.
Also, don’t ruin a brand new book to tear out a page. Go to your $1 bookstores or Goodwill instead. If there isn’t one nearby or they don’t have the book you want, then consider typing out the passage on paper.
The 5 minute love candle holder would also make great decorations for a wedding reception or shower too.
WARNING: DO NOT USE A REAL CANDLE. You must use a flameless, battery-operated tea light. Safety first!
5 Minute Love Candle Holder — To Make Or Not?
I say make it! It couldn’t be easier and looks good! Plus, it only cost me $1.50 per candle holder. I bought both the LED tea lights (2 in a package) and mason jar at the $1 store. The ribbon I already had. Easy peasy and super cheap! Win-Win!
Are you crafty? What kind of crafts do you make?
Tanya
P.S. Want some more ideas? I put together a list of 15 low-cost but high impact homemade gift ideas that will make your sweetheart swoon.
P.S.S. I’m sharing a yummy Valentine’s Day (okay, any time of the year) treat over at Eat Laugh Purr. And yes, it includes chocolate.
Cute project although I admit, a piece of me died when you said you ripped a page out of a book 😉 No worries, I get it and it is totally a super cute craft. Happy Valentine’s Day 🙂
I couldn’t rip a page from a book in good condition because even if I no longer wanted it, I’d want to find it a good home, sort of like a pet. 🙂 But the book I used was literally falling apart, so it kind of did all the work for me. 🙂 Otherwise, if I really wanted to use a book passage, I’d just type it up on some fun paper from Michaels.
I had a mini heart attack when you said you ripped a page out of a book. But then I saw the substitutions and all was right again.
This is a cute idea. Happy Valentine’s Day!
I knew that it would definitely bother some people and understandably so. Honestly, it would really bother me to tear apart a perfectly good book, so I wanted to include as many substitutions as possible because the concept is so cute and easy. My book was falling to pieces and would have been tossed even if I tried to donate it, so I figured this was still a better home that the garbage! But I won’t lie – when I started cutting hearts into the pages, it freaked me out and I had to hug my other books! Happy Valentine’s Day!