Keeping it Simple

creating simple crafts, DIY, recipes and more

Tutorial Tuesday: Finally a decoration for my mantle

by 42 Comments


I have lived in my house for two years and have not put a single decoration on my mantle. I have put a lot of other things one it (flat surfaces sometimes collect junk in my house), just not decorations. Well when I finally got to the Dollar Tree, the closest one is an hour away so I don’t get there super often, I remember that I saw several of these candle stick and vase combos ( I don’t know what to call them, it there is a special name, please let me know) so I thought that I would give it a try.

I’m sure that you have seen these in several places, so here’s my take on them:
This is how I made them:
1) I got 2 vases and 2 candle sticks

2) I have a ton of rub-ons (back from when I was a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator) so I thought that they would look cute on the glass. I cut out the rub-ons I wanted to use

3) Then using a Popsicle stick, I transferred the rub-ons onto the glass

4) I wanted more color, so I spray painted the candle sticks brown and the beans that I used to fill them brown

5) Using an epoxy glue, I glued the two together. I let them dry with the books on them over night.

6) I decided to fill them with beans. I got the idea here. I’m obsessed with matching decorations with the colors in the room, so I spray painted all the beans. I used black beans for the brown and red beans for the red. It happened to be pretty cold so it took forever. I love the colors of the beans, but I’m not going to do it again.
7) Once I was finally finished spray painting the beans, I filled the vases. I just held the vase at an angle and filled it, switching from red to brown.
This was a super cheap and easy craft and I love the outcome. I’m so excited to finally have decorations on my mantle!! I have loved them so much, I have already made 3 sets of them and plan on making many more!

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Comments

  1. Those are very cute. Very clever the way you made them. I love using beans (split peas,lentils, whatever!) to decorate…but I do not have the patience to layer them like that.

  7. Those turned out great!! I have been wanting to paint some candlesticks but wasn't sure how they would turn out. Yours turned out great. Thanks for showing pictures.

    I would love for you to join up to my Spring has Sprung party and share this Friday! There is a giveaway too. 🙂

  17. I love this idea. We're moving in May and my husband has decided he wants our living room to be red, black and white (he's an Atl Falcons fan) and the red and black beans would be perfect for our decor. I'll be filing this idea away for later use. I found you from Talented Tuesday at My Frugal Family, btw.

  19. Are you kidding me?? This is so beautiful/classy/elegant! Rub-On's (could it be any simpler?) beans and candle sticks. Dollar Store Vases. This is definitely going on my to do list.

    Thank you for linking up to A Little Craft Therapy with Life in the Pitts.

  20. This is probably the most creative way I have seen these done! And painting the beans…sounds like something I would do just so it would all "match"! :o) The brown stands turned out awesome! How did you ever get the paint to stick on the glass? My first attempt at painting glass was a disaster!! 🙁

  21. Sharon:
    Thanks!! I just used spray paint and I didn't have any problems at all with it sticking. I did have to do two coats just because you could still see through it with just one coat.

  26. You are too clever for me. Love the beans and paint the candle sticks wonderful.

    Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thurs. Please join me next week for another great party.

    Lori

  30. Great job! I wouldn't have ever considered painting the glass candlesticks. Very clever! The painted beans are so cute! Thanks for freezing your buns off! They look beautiful and I'm sure you've made your mantle very happy.

  42. Thanks for sharing this tutorial. I am eager to try it. At first I thought you used M&Ms and I knew that they would never last at my house long enough to make it into the vases.
    Beans are an excellent idea!

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