Placing votive or tea
light candles in paper bags weighed down by sand is
the traditional way of making decorative lighting for
the holiday season. These lighted candle paper bag
decorations are placed along driveways and rooftops.
These lights are easy to make and you can enlist the
help of children to make these candle decorations.
Here are a few tips on how to make these candle
decorations.
Buy lunch-size paper bags in holiday colors
or use preprinted theme bags made for goodies.
Pour in two inches of sand into the paper
bags.
Place tea light or votive candles in these
paper bags and light them.
You can stamp or stencil different designs
onto these paper bags according to the holiday season. For
example you can stencil stars for the Fourth of July or stamp
shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day or stencil stars for
Christmas.
Make a computer print out of clip art in
black ink on a plain paper. Cut the paper to fit the brown
paper bag and then glue it inside the bag. When you light the
candle, the black lines of the design will show up outside the
bag. Use designs that are completely black, as they will show
up better once the candle is lit.
You can perforate the outline of a design on
the paper bag and the light will shine through these
pinpricks. Place the paper bag with its bottom flap unfolded
on a few newspapers and use a thumbtack and make equidistant
pinpricks on the design. Ensure that you prick both sides of
the paper bag.
You can use a craft knife and cut out designs
on the paper bags and the light will shine through these
designs. Cut out small designs on the paper bag and the wind
will get into the paper bag through these holes and may put
out the candle.
You can use a cookie cutter for larger
patterns. Use two paper bags of different colors, one serving
as the liner. This will give a layered effect that will look
beautiful.
While burning candles follow the
manufacturer's instructions on safe and proper use.
