Floating Candles

$10 - $15 (based on 2016 prices)

Makes eleven candles

I have seen this project done with PVC pipes. In an effort to save both money and time, I created mine using paper towel rolls. It achieves the same effect without the hassle of cutting piping. Plus, the low cost offsets any disappointment if the props are damaged or stolen. As always, you can modify the color to fit your haunt’s needs.

• Seven paper towel rolls
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• One hot glue gun and glue sticks
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat white
• One spindle of white thread (at least eighty yards)
• One package of battery-operated LED tea lights (at least eleven)
  

1. Cut the rolls into eleven candles that vary in size. To give them more of a melted appearance, cut their tops to form dips.

2. Using hot glue, pipe drips of wax onto the tubes. You may want to play with the design on scraps of cardboard first, toying with the pattern before applying the final version. I found that pumping the glue along the tops of the rolls and allowing it to naturally run down their sides creates the best results.

3. Once the glue has cooled, arrange the rolls onto a sheet of cardboard and, using tacky glue, paste them down. This will create a base to hold the candles in place while you paint them.

4. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, spray white paint onto the pillars. I used three coats; however, you may want more or less depending on your desired coverage.

5. After the paint has dried, cut each candle from the base, trim the excess cardboard, and spray paint it white to match the pillars.

6. Poke holes in the tops of the candles and thread the string through. The length depends on how low you want the candles to hang. I cut mine into twenty-four-inch sections (the excess gave me room for error). Also, I elected to use white thread rather than fishing wire. After experimenting with the wire, I discovered that, when underlit, the light reflected more on the wire than the string.

7. Use clear tape or tacks to hang the candles from the ceiling. You want them high enough that visitors cannot see the strings, but not too high that they become lost with the other decorations. Use creepy cloth to help conceal the tape and/or tacks.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.