Today I have the tutorial for the Tealight Pillar Candles Lidded Box that I designed for the September 2020 InspireInk Blog Hop. This is another in-depth tutorial with lots of helpful tips.
I would like to say a big Thank You for all your lovely messages and comments, I’m so pleased so many of you liked my idea.
Important
Please read the whole tutorial before making the project. If you would like to see a larger version of the photo’s in today’s tutorial click on the image to enlarge it.
When making a project for the first time I always recommend making it with cardstock you wouldn’t normally use, I use colours I don’t like or retired cardstock. I say this for 2 reasons:-
- I have Dyscalculia (number dyslexia) and even though I triple-check all the measurements mistakes can still happen.
- I’ve found mistakes in a few projects by other crafters but only after cutting and scoring my Stampin’ Up! cardstock.
To make this project you will need:-
- 2 pieces of 12″ x 5-7/8″ cardstock for the lid and the base.
- 1 piece of 10 ¾” x 4-5/8″ cardstock for the lid insert.
- Plush Poinsettia Specialty Paper.
- 10 battery operated Tealights
- Scoring board, bone folder and scissors.
- Circle Dies.
- Die-cutting machine.
- Stamps & ink if you want to decorate the box.
- Strong double-sided adhesive like Tear & Tape, Stampin’ Seal+ or Fast Fuse (Tombow Xtreme).
- Strong liquid glue like Tombow or Collall is optional.
Making the Pillar Candles
The candles are really easy to make and you can make them any height. My candles are 3″, 3 ¾” and 4 ½” high but I forgot to take into account the ¾” depth of the Lid Insert that the candles sit in so I will add ¾” onto the height the next time I make this.
Cutting the Plush Poinsettia Specialty Paper (PPSP)
You will need to work out the height you want the candles and the circumference of the tealights you are using. To work out the circumference wrap a piece of cardstock, ribbon or twine around the outer edge of the tealight and add about ½”.
Height = Height you want your candle but remember to take into account the ¾” depth of the lid insert.
Width = Circumference of the tealight + ½”
After cutting the PPSP I laid it wrong side up on the worktop, added Fast Fuse to one end, placed a tealight top and bottom and rolled the PPSP around them. In order to switch the top tealight on and off without taking it out of the PPSP tube, I made the bottom of the tube slightly looser than the top.
To make the Lid
Shim for your Scoreboard
To make the lid slightly larger than the base of the box you will need to use a shim. If you are new to crafting a shim for the scoreboard is just a strip of the same cardstock that is the same length or slightly longer than the piece you are going to score. I used the other 12″ x 5 7/8″ piece of cardstock as the shim.
Adding Stamped Images
If you want to stamp the whole lid do the stamping first and then score and die-cut.
If you only want to stamp the sides it’s easier to score first and then do the stamping because you have to scorelines as a guide for where you need to stamp.
I tried White Craft ink, Frost White Shimmer paint and Cotton White Stazon ink and found the Stazon gave a whiter image
***
Place the cardstock shim against the left edge of your scoreboard then place the piece of 12″ x 5 7/8″ cardstock up against it and score at 1 ¼”. Keep the shim in place, rotate the cardstock 90° and repeat. Do this on all 4 sides.
Die-Cutting
You need a circle die that is slightly larger than the candles you have made. The die I used is from the Layering Circle dies.
I made a template using the circle die and SU grid paper. I found folding and burnishing the scorelines made it easier to get the correct placement of the template.
After die-cutting all the circles, cut and mitre the tabs and add Tear & Tape, as shown below. I didn’t assemble to lid until I had made the base and the lid insert.
To make the Base of the Box
Score the other pieces of 12″ x 5 7/8″ cardstock at 1 ¼” on all 4 sides, you don’t need the shim for this piece.
Adding Stamped Images
If you want to add stamped images on the sides nows the time to do it. After the ink is dry fold and burnish all the scorelines then cut and mitre the 4 tabs. Add strong adhesive to the tabs and adhere.
TIP: I used Tear & Tape and Tombow because I want Geoff’s mum to be able to use this for more than one Christmas. Double-sided tape tends to dry out and lose its stickiness over time.
To make the Lid Insert
Score the 10 ¾” x 4 5/8″ piece of cardstock at ¾” on all 4 sides. Fold and burnish all the scorelines with a bone folder then cut and mitre the tabs as shown below. Add Tear & Tape or another strong adhesive to the tabs and adhere.
The insert is a ‘tray’ for the candles to sit in and keep them upright. When you add the Tear & Tape to the sides of the insert the tape needs to go next to the scoreline – towards the bottom of the ‘tray’ as shown in the photo below.
Assembling the Insert and the Lid
Before assembling make sure that the insert fits. Centre the insert within the 4 scorelines of the lid, bring the sides up and tuck in the tabs, see below.
Assemble the lid and place it face down on your worktop. When you adhere the ‘tray’ the underside of it should be facing you and you will have a ¾” gap between the top of the lid and the insert. I added a bit of liquid glue onto the tape before adhering.
I have included the template I made, hopefully it’s helpful.
Now all you need to do is decorate it, I used the Poinsettia dies, Gold Foil sheets and some scraps of White and Garden Green cardstock on mine.
I hope this tutorial explains everything clearly, I wanted to make sure new crafters would be able to make this too.
Please use battery-operated tealights only not wax candles.
If you do make one (or more) of these please let me know, I would love to see them. You can
- Email me some photo’s (LadyDeeCrafts@outlook.com)
- Tag me #ladydeecrafts
- Add a photo on my Pinterest pin by clicking here
- Join my Facebook group Lady Dee’s Craft Forum
Do you have any questions?
If I can help in any way email me LadyDeeCrafts@outlook.com or leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
I hope you have a great week.
Dee x
Legal Stuff: This tutorial is the property of Diane Copus-Read and is for Personal Use only. No part of this tutorial may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests contact me at LadyDeeCrafts@outlook.com
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Lady Dee: This center piece is so beautiful!! I will have to do it coming year . . . I think it will be worth it . . . or just do it with plain vellum and decorate it with designs — probably an embossing folder. From the template I can see that your tea lights are quite large (large diameter). We only have the small ones . . . but I can use the same principle to do the candles. Thanks so much for this tutorial . . . you not only radiate light from the pillar but from yourself!!
Hi lovely, Thank you for your beautiful message. I’m not sure what size the standard white tealights are but the ones I used are 1 1/2″ wide (4 cms). I wanted to use the normal ones but couldn’t find any in my craftroom. Take care my lovely. Sending big hugs xx