Beaded Glass Votive Candle Holder

Old glass bottles are transformed into one-of-a-kind Beaded Glass Votive Candle Holders with this clever recycling project.  A striking and inexpensive way of perking up any room.

Find this wine bottle project plus many more in our free eBook, 25 Cool Things to Do with Wine Bottles.

Materials:

• 3 – 7oz bottles
• Studio Pro ¼” Copper Foil
• Silver plated wire
• 6 silver head pins
• Assorted beads
• Craft Stick or Fid
• Flux brush
• Flux
• 60/40 Solder
• Generation Green (g2) Bottle Cutter
• Soldering Iron
• Soldering Iron Stand (optional)
• Needle-nose Pliers
• Ruler
• Sharpie or marker
• Newspapers or craft paper.
• Vinegar/water solution
• Soft cloth
   

Instructions:

1. Cover the work area with craft or newspaper.
    
2. Measure 3” up from the bottom of the bottle and mark using a Sharpie™.
   
   
    
3. Using the bottle cutter, score and break where indicated.
    
4. Smooth the rough edges as instructed in the bottle cutter manual.
    
5. Clean the cut edges of the bottle thoroughly with a vinegar/water solution and clean cloth. Foil will not stick properly if your glass is dirty or oily.
    
6. Start with ¼” (1.5ml thick) copper foil; peel back 3”- 4” of backing from the foil. Place the foil 1/8” from the edge of the rim. Wrap the entire perimeter with foil and overlap the ends ¼”. Snip the foil at the curves to allow the foil to lie flat against the glass.
   
   
    
7. Use a fid (if you don’t have a fid, a pencil or craft stick can be substituted) and burnish (rub) the surface of the foil to the edge of the glass. Press firmly, but not hard as too much pressure may cause the foil to tear.
   
   
    
8. Once burnished into place. Peel back another 3”- 4” of backing from the foil. Place it along the perimeter of the glass, at the edge of the rim. Wrap the entire perimeter of the glass with foil and overlap the ends ¼”. Continue this process for all three glass votives.
   
   
    
9. “Tin” the copper foil with solder. To do so, apply flux using a flux brush to the copper foil. Turn on your soldering iron and allow to heat. When soldering an object that is round, place it on its side on an old hand towel so that the towel is away from the area being soldered but will keep the object from rolling.
    
10. Melt a small amount of solder – just enough to lightly cover the surface area of the foil. Remember, you are only applying a thin layer of solder to the foil.
     
11. Continue this process on all votives. Set aside to cool
     
12. While cooling, string beads onto the head pins.
    
    
     
13. Use needle-nose pliers to create an eye loop at the top. Nip off any extra wire.
    
    
     
14. To make the silver decoration, hold pliers at the end of the wire and bend into a spiral. Do the same on the opposite end of the wire, bending the spiral in the opposite direction. Slip a beaded head pin onto each end.
    
    
     
15. Place the silver spiral on the glass and melt a tiny drop of solder onto the side or end of the coil where it touches the soldering edges of the glass. You may need just a dab of flux. Repeat with the remaining two spirals evenly spacing them around the edge of the glass. Clean thoroughly with soapy sponge and water.
     
16. Next, insert a scented votive in each and enjoy the sweet glow.