Valentine Votive

Isn't this a cute Valentine candle?

I made it the other day and it was fast and easy!  This isn't my idea, I found it on Pinterest from here but, I'll be happy to show you how I did it.  Here's what you need:

Supplies:  Liquid Starch
               Glass Jar or Glass Container of some sort
               Paint Brush
               Small Dish to hold liquid starch
               Tissue Paper in at least 2 complimentary colors
               Heart Template (made mine out of an index card)

What You Do:
First, decide which tissue you want for your background, then tear lengthwise strips just a little taller than your container.  Trace and cut hearts out of  contrasting tissue.  Set aside. (Looks kind of like bacon doesn't it? Maybe I'm just hungry!)

Shake up that liquid starch and pour it in a container that you can paint out of.  Working in sections (I did about 1/4 of my jar at a time) paint liquid starch on jar and apply strips starting just under the bottom of your container and overlapping each strip just a little. Brush a little over the topside of each strip as well.  Don't worry, the starch will dry clear and the white color comes back when it dries. (It's magic.)

After you have done this all the way around your jar/container, put the tissue hearts on and brush a little starch over them as well.  Now, put it over a bottle (I found a beer leftover from New Year's in my fridge and it worked just fine) and let it dry.  I did mine overnight, but I think it was actually dry after about 4 hours.

Finish by covering the jar rim in whatever you like.  I used some raffia twist, but ribbon or glitter or garden twine would work too.  Just be mindful that you are putting a candle inside.  And there ya go!

My favorite part about this whole project is that because it's liquid starch, the cleanup is easy (hot water) and the bonus is that you can use a container that you love and when you are tired of the votive (in this case, when Valentines Day is over), you can soak it in warm water and rub the tissue paper right off.  Wash it with warm soapy water and it's all clean and ready for another purpose or another votive.