Attractive DIY Tea Light Lamps

Light is the one that creates a great ambiance in every space that we live. A room without a source of light will be an empty space without life in it.

Measure Glass Design and Print Tracing Paper Shee

Here it is a great project that will help you create some attractive DIY Tea Light Lamps that will make your rooms look splendid and everybody admire your creativity and work.

Materials: tracing paper, or inkjet transparency sheets, narrow and tall glasses (thick enough to contain a tea light), as straight as possible, tea lights, steel wire (1.2mm thick), or brass or copper wire (2.5mm thick), clear adhesive tape.

Measure Glass Design and Print Tracing Paper Shee

Tools: cutting mat, utility knife, pencil, scissors, ruler, pliers, laser printer (for tracing paper) or inkjet printer (for inkjet transparencies), and computer.

Measure Glass Design and Print Tracing Paper Shee

Bend the wire as shown to hold the candle safely. Optionally, add a bead at the top end, and stick it carefully with epoxy, reliability counts here!

With a paper band, mark and measure the upper and lower diameters, and the height of the glass. Add 5mm to each length. In your favorite drawing software (e.g. Open Office Draw), create a trapeze of measured sizes to mark the borders, and import a picture of your choice. Size it to fit into the trapeze. You may choose some black/white Japanese patterns:

  • tracing paper prints best with a laser printer (with inkjet, it will form a roll when still wet).
  • the contrast is maximum, with lots of black areas (which will give a more intimate atmosphere);
  • tracing paper is a great diffuser on white areas.

With inkjet overhead transparencies, you can use any colors you like. Instead of white areas, use light colors to serve as diffuser.

Cut the bottom side, and one vertical side. Stick tape on the inner side as shown (see image notes) .Wrap the glass and stick the paper to the tape. The paper is sticked to itself, not to the glass. Align the paper to the bottom end of the glass .Cut off excess paper on the top end of the glass .Remove the glass, cut off excess paper, and put back the glass into the paper. When becoming warm, the tape might come off by itself. Apply one or two small drops of glue to fix it.