Palm Tree
Tealight CandleHolder
with
Seashells & Sand

The project started with deciding what to use for the design on the glass. I finally settled on small seashells. The sea shells were placed carefully around the glass to create small designs. Once I was done placing the sea shells , I finished the design by adding a layer of beach sand in between the shells, covering up the clear glass.

With the glass votive designed, I turned to setting up the wood base. I placed the glass at the right edge of the top surface so that it left a bit of surface to the left of it for the rest of the design.

To the left side of the tealight holder I laid out a coral piece. I also glued the porcelain dual Palm Tree in place. Then I added the small glass red crab huddled near the coral on the left in front of the Palm Trees. The addition of a few more seashells completed the design. The rest of the bare wood is covered in beach sand to give the scene an authentic underwater feel.

To set up and design your own Palm Tree Candleholder similar to the one pictured above follow these instructions.

Materials

1. a 3"x5" oval wood base.

2. a glass votive candle holder.

3. a small palm tree figure - glass, porcelain, resin

4. a bottle of Elmer's Glue-All or equivalent

5. a can of polyurethane - gloss or semi-gloss

6. sand paper - medium and fine grit

7. set of hobby brushes

8. sea shells

9. sand - preferably beach sand

Optional:

1. Accessories such as small rocks, marbles, pearls, etc.

2. Wood stain or varnish.

Preparing the Base

Examine the wood base. Remove any stickers. Take a look on the bottom side,the manufacturers or the store usually place one of more stickers there. You may need to clean glue off, I use a paper towel and paint thinner.

Use the medium grit sandpaper to smooth down any rough areas as best you can. Sometimes during the manufacture of the base they leave behind some really rough areas. Hopefully, the sanding will make the area look better.

Use fine grit sandpaper to lightly sand all over the base. This will remove any patina on the wood and help it absorb any stain, varnish, or the polyurethane better and more evenly.

Clean the base by dusting with a rag.

For a natural wood look, apply a coat or two of polyurethane over the wood. Optionally you can apply a stain or a varnish to the base. While it's drying you can move to step 2.

Preparing the Glass Candleholder

Make sure the glass candleholder is clean and dry. Use soap and water, rinse it well. If you have a dishwasher you can run it through a cycle. I wash by hand if it's only 1 or 2 candle holders and use the dishwasher when I want to clean 3 or more. Let the glass of the candleholders dry completely.

Examine the glass and decide on the design you want to place on it. Try some of the shells on the glass without glue to see how they can fit. See the photo above for an idea of how to place the seashells.

With your idea in mind, apply glue to the first shell and set it on the glass. You may have to prop up the glass with other items so that you can place the shell and not have it move on you. Leave it alone until the glue dries. If the candle holder moves, the shell will slip out of the position you want it in.

Apply the next one. Let the glue dry. Continue repeating these steps until you have placed all the shells that you want on the glass. Don't worry about minor glue ooze, it will generally dry clear and it will be covered up soon anyway. You can use Q-tips or the hobby brushes to remove any large amounts of glue that may have got on the glass.

After all the shells are on, and the piece is totally dry, it is time to apply the sand. It is best to apply the sand in sections, so the glue is still wet when the sand goes on.

Put some glue on the glass between the shells and use a hobby brush to spread it around. Try not to get to much glue on the shells. Pour sand on the glue. Lightly shake off the excess. Continue around the glass candleholder until all the glass is covered by the sand. Let dry. I place a sheet of newspaper on the table to catch extra sand. It also makes it easier to gather up the excess for reuse.

Gather up the spilled sand and return it to your container.

After it the sand is dry, apply a coat of polyurethane to the shells and the sand. This will protect both.

Putting Everything Together and Finishing

Now you are ready to make the main design.

With the base in front of you, place the glass candleholder, and your Palm Tree on the base to get an idea of how they will fit. On this size base it's best to put the candle holder on one side, and the Palm Tree on the other.

Apply glue to the bottom of the glass, around the edge, and place it on the spot you picked before. Push down lightly on the glass to set it in place. You can move it around slightly to get it in exactly the position you want for it.

Apply glue to the bottom of the Palm Tree and put it in place. Push down on it lightly to set it on the base. Like the glass candleholder, you can move the Palm Tree around slightly to position it just right.

Place any larger shells on the piece and glue them in place. Let everything dry.

Now that the major items are in place we will move on to adding the sand. Apply glue to the bare wood that is showing and along the bottom of the glass holder. Use a brush to spread it out evenly, trying not to get too much glue on the Palm Tree or the shells you have already placed. Pour sand over the glue to cover it completely. Turn the piece upside down and lightly shake to remove loose sand. I use a newspaper under the base when I work with the sand so it's easier to gather it up.

Gather up the loose sand and return it to your container. Let the project dry completely.

Pick up and shake to remove any loose sand. Apply polyurethane to the sand and any shells you may have used. I also apply it to the resin figures I use, but not to any porcelain or glass objects.

Apply glue to any accessories that you have decided on and place them on your project. This can be more shells, pearls, marbles, small polished rocks, figures, etc. Let the glue dry. Apply polyurethane to any shells you placed. Allow to completely dry (24 hours)

Using your Tealight CandleHolder

Now that you have finished the candleholder project, give it try. Place a tealight (the kind that come inside a metal or plastic base) inside the glass. Light the candle. Enjoy!

CAUTION! TO PREVENT FIRE!

Please be careful when using. Keep away from anything that can catch fire. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Never burn unattended.

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