Are you in need of a table setting that will not only illuminate your dinner table, but also tie your design together with the finesse of a professional horror host? Or perhaps you seek that spooktacular touch that will elevate your table setting to new heights and have your guests screaming with delight? Well, look no further, because I’ve got just the thing for you!
This candelabra is not only easy on the budget but also quite easy to make and only takes a few items that can be obtained at nearly any store.
Note: Many of the items we used were from around our house or local markets. The links provided are products we found to be similar in looks, size or materials and have not all been tested by us.
What’s In This Post?
Here’s what you need:
- Three long stem glasses (various sizes)
- Two or Three small ramekins (ours measured 3.5 inches in diameter across the top). – We’ve linked some similar ramekins here
- A package of small skulls that will fit inside of the glasses – We got our metallic colored ones at Joann Fabric but you can get similar more realistic looking ones here.
- Hot glue or glue of your choice
- Black Plastic Bottle Caps – We got ours off of pepsi zero 2-liter bottles
- Three Battery Powered Candle Sticks – We’ve linked the candle sticks we used here (They’re a bit pricy but we use them to decorate for multiple holidays.)
- Oven bake polymer clay – We’ve linked similar clay here
- Acrylic Paint (optional)
- Small Battery Powered Lights (optional) – We’ve linked an option here.
- Drill (optional)
Getting a “Head” Start
For this project, we began with 3 tall stem glasses of varying sizes. We wanted to create a candelabra with different heights, but if you prefer them all to be the same height, that’s okay too. It’s all about personal preference.
We also used 2 small ramekins, each measuring about 3.5 in diameter along the top. We only purchased 2 ramekins because we wanted the third candle to sit lower and didn’t use the ramekin for the third candle holder.
The ramekins we used are ceramic. We chose ceramic over plastic because they provide a sturdy and substantial base. Plastic might work as well, but we haven’t tried it. Like all ceramic items, a ring was left unpainted around the bottom of the ramekin.
Step 1
Since the un-painted bottom of the ramekins would be very visible in the way we wanted to use them, we decided to paint over the unpainted rings with black acrylic paint.
Before you go any further, just a friendly reminder about the following 2 steps. If working with tools isn’t your forte or if you’d rather play it safe, feel free to skip these steps altogether. Also please proceed with the next two steps with caution and be sure to use appropriate safety gear and measures before doing anything that could be dangerous.
Step 2 (Optional)
We’re not particularly handy ourselves, but luckily, we know someone who is quite skilled with tools. He helped us out by drilling a hole in the middle of the ramekins. This will come in handy if you want to light up the candle holders from the inside. Again, if you do decide to tackle this step, please exercise extreme caution and make sure to use appropriate safety gear and take all necessary safety measures.
Step 3 (Optional)
Keep in mind that this step is completely optional and can be somewhat dangerous, so if you choose to proceed, be sure to use safety equipment and take all necessary precautions. It’s also important to carry this out in a well-ventilated area.
For this part, we aimed to give the glasses a dirty look. To achieve this, we used a long lighter to burn the inside of the glass in various places.
Step 4
The final steps are the easiest, as they only involve assembly! Simply place the skulls inside the glasses, arranging them however you prefer. Apply hot glue (or your adhesive of choice) along the bottom edge of the ramekin. Then, working swiftly but carefully, and before the glue sets, position the lip of the glass onto the bottom of the ramekin.
Step 5
Before proceeding, ensure that the candle sticks you purchase can fit inside the bottle caps. Once the glue has dried, put a dot of glue in the middle of the stem of the glass and place the bottle cap on the glue. The bottle cap will hold your candle stick.
If your candle sticks do not fit perfectly, you can press a bit of oven-bake clay into the cap to help hold the candle more securely. I recommend using the oven-bake clay as it stays tacky and won’t dry out. Remember to remove the clay from the candle stick after your party is over, as the chemicals in the oven-bake clay can eat into the plastic over time.
Step 6 (Optional)
At this stage, you can add lighting to the inside of your candelabra. Remember the holes we drilled into the ramekins earlier? These holes give you two options: you can push a short string of battery-powered fairy lights into the hole (rechargeable fairy lights have smaller power packs that will more easily fit under the ramekin), or you can place some battery-powered lights under the ramekin and let the light shine through the holes. We used battery-powered tea lights in the picture. They weren’t as bright as we liked, so we might give the fairy light a try next time.
Finished!
And ta-da! You’ve got yourself a fully functional candelabra. Have fun arranging it however you want. No matter how you arrange it, you’re guaranteed to dazzle your guests and make them feel like they’re in a fancy, spooky castle.
What Do You Think?
Has this post gotten your creative juices flowing? Are you going to make this a part of your spooky decor this year? Let me know in the comments below! I’d love to hear and see how you’re making this idea your own!
If you were inspired by this idea and want some more ideas, check out our Halloween tea party post here! or other Halloween posts below!
Let us know what you think