DIY under $10: plaster tea light holder

As the awards season is upon us, I am planning for my annual Oscar party. For $8.68 you can make one or 10 of these great tea light holders.

I am always looking for a classy and unique way to decorate my tables for entertaining, and these tea light holders add a different element to my tablescape.

In addition, you can mix up each one you make, to add variety to your table. For example, although I am sticking with the same color scheme, I am able to change up the design on each holder to make them one-of-a-kind.

Supplies needed

Items I purchased:

• Plaster of Paris — $6.99 at Michael’s Arts and Crafts

• Gold acrylic paint — 69 cents at Michael’s Arts and Crafts

• Sand Paper — $1 at Dollar Tree

Items I already had:

• Plastic Tupperware dish

• Toilet paper roll

• Tea light

• Foil

• Water

• Plastic spoon

• Paintbrush

• Painter’s tape

Directions

1. Take and empty toilet paper roll and wrap one end in aluminum foil. Fill with so rocks or something heavy to weigh it down.

2. For your Plaster of Paris, you will want to mix equal parts of water and the plaster together in a bowl. I add ½ cup of water first and then slowly add in ¼ cup of plaster. Mix thoroughly and then add the second ¼ cup of plaster. Once this is dissolved, repeat this step so that you have used 1 cup of water and 1 cup of plaster.

3. Fill your plastic container with the plaster mixture. Place your toilet paper roll into the mixture, but make it slightly off center.

4. Let sit overnight and remove the toilet paper roll and foil from the plaster.

5. Remove the plaster from your plastic cup. Typically, where your toilet paper roll was placed may crumble or make a hole all of the way through the mold. Just simply make sure you have cleaned off all of the foil and cardboard from the hole and place the dried plaster back into the plastic dish.

6. Mix up a small batch of plaster and water, about 1/8 cup of each.

7. Fill the hole up just so your hole is deep enough to place a tea light into.

8. Let this dry and then remove the plaster from the plastic container again.

9. Use a piece of fine grain sandpaper and carefully smooth and bumpy or irregular areas.

10. For a dipped look, tape off half of your piece with your painter’s tape.

11. Brushing away from the tape, paint on your gold paint all the way around one side of your piece.

12. Let dry completely, fill with a tea light and enjoy this unique piece.

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