DIY floral hurricanes/votives using vintage handkerchiefs will provide you with an Anthropologie vibe, but at a fraction of the cost. The see-through cloth, eclectic florals, and thrifty price make vintage handkerchiefs the perfect material for this simple candle craft. Most antique/consignment stores have at least one dealer with a collection of handkerchiefs for sale. Ranging from $1 to $5, they are very affordable. My sister collects them to hand out at weddings to catch those tears, but I had my sights set on them for other reasons. Some might cringe at the idea of cutting something vintage; however, is it better that they lie in a box in an antique store or in your grandma’s closet? I think not. Therefore, why not give them new life as beautiful floral candle holders?
When picking your handkerchiefs, look for ones with an all-over floral design. You’ll also want to pick ones with different color backgrounds. Don’t be afraid of darker background colors, the contrast actually works out really well on the candles. Depending on your votive/hurricane size and your handkerchief size, you should be able to get 1- 2 candles out of each handkerchief. I got about 2 candles (one large and one small) out of each of my handkerchiefs.
You may want to use other fabrics. If so, just make sure the fabric is lightweight and see-through. Most cotton fabrics will be too thick and not let any light through. Keep in mind that the handkerchiefs’ lightweight quality and double-sided nature is what helps make this craft work.
For the candle holders, use small clear glass votives, hurricanes, vases, or drink glasses. I used a variety of drink glasses from Target as well as a clear glass vase that was a little larger (6″ x 4″). Here are links to the glasses I used from Target:
- 14 oz. Short Glass Tumbler ($1)
- 12 oz. Glass Short Rioja Tumbler – Made by Design ($2)
- 16 oz. Glass Tall Rioja Tumber – Made by Design ($2)
- Glass Vase – Threshold (6″ x 4″) ($7)
- As well as a few smaller votive holders from the dollar spot, no link available
Materials
- Vintage handkerchief
- Clear glasses (use a variety of shapes and sizes; use votives, hurricanes, vases, or even drink glasses; see the links above for the ones I used from Target)
- Dishwasher-safe Mod Podge (Any Mod Podge will work, but Dishwasher-safe Mod Podge will make it safer to use your finished votive holder as a vase as well)
- Bristle paintbrush
- Medium sandpaper (like 100 grit)
- Rubbing alcohol
- Scissors, rotary cutter, or Xacto knife
- Paper, tape, and pencil (optional, if using curved glasses)
- Ruler
Instructions
If you’d like to watch a video of the process, visit me on Instagram (@tonalitydesigns) and check out my 30-second Instagram Reel.
If using a straight glass: measure your glass. Cut a handkerchief to the correct size. (Note: leave a little extra overlap because you will cut the fabric to match up once on your glass.)
If using a curved glass: you’ll need to create a paper template. To see how to create a paper template, follow this YouTube tutorial. Use the paper template to cut your handkerchief, leaving a little extra on the ends for overlap.
Decoupage your candle: Clean your glass with rubbing alcohol. Once dry, apply Mod Podge to the entire glass. Wrap your fabric around the glass, making sure to smooth out any wrinkles. Where the fabric overlaps, use your scissors (or Xacto knife) to cut fabric to match up. To help eliminate seeing a seam, try not to cut through any flowers. Instead, cut around the flowers so everything matches up as clean as possible. As you start to match up the fabric seam, apply Mod Podge on top of the fabric. Continue to cover the entire glass with a layer of Mod Podge. Be sure to smooth out any wrinkles as you go. Once dry, apply another layer of Mod Podge. The final candle holder should have 3-4 coats of Mod Podge. Once dry, sand the edges of your candle to remove any excess fabric and rough spots. In addition, lightly sand the entire candle (especially where the seam is) to make the candle smooth. Repeat the process to make other candles. Once done, add a votive candle, light the candle and enjoy!
Aren’t the final results so cool? I think the DIY floral candles make for a perfect addition to any spring or summer table. I’ve made about 10 so far from 5 handkerchiefs. We’re currently using them on my parent’s screened in porch. What’s great is they look great during the day, but even better at night when you can really see them glow. Will you try it? If so, I’d love to see your creations. Be sure to follow me on Instagram (@tonalitydesigns) and DM me with your pictures.
