https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/jack-o-lantern-halloween-tealight-holder • Posted by Polly
I think these would be really cute in large quantities dotted around at a Halloween party, or used as party favours. The time given to make this project doesn't include drying time.
I think these would be really cute in large quantities dotted around at a Halloween party, or used as party favours. The time given to make this project doesn't include drying time.
Soften the polymer clay in your hands and roll it into a ball shape, making sure that it is smooth and pliable.
Using a rolling pin (preferably a glass or perspex one to avoid the clay sticking, but wood is fine) roll the polymer clay out into a long strip roughly the width of your tealight holder and about 5 mm thick.
Wrap the strip of polymer clay around the tealight holder.
Smooth the edges of the strip where they meet using your fingers so that you can't see the join.
Cut any excess clay around the edges off and smooth with your fingers.
Add some extra clay to the bottom of the tealight holder to cover it. Again smooth with your fingers to erase the joins.
Using a pointed tool, press vertical lines into the surface of the clay covered tealight holder. Do this at regular intervals all around the tealight holder. These will be the sections of the "pumpkin" jack o lantern.
Once you have drawn on the lines, outline the face you want your lantern to have. Press lightly so that if you go wrong you can smudge it out with your fingers.
Cut out the face carefully. Then place the tealight holder on a baking tray and cook in the oven at 130C for 10-15 minutes. Remove with oven gloves and wait for it to cool before touching it, as the glass will retain heat for quite a long time.
Once the tealight holder has cooled, use acrylic paints in pale browns or dark oranges to emphasise the lines on the pumpkin. Once all the lines have been coloured, let the paint dry for a couple of hours.
Varnish the tealight holder with waterbased gloss varnish. Leave it to dry overnight. Then put in a tealight, light it and enjoy your tealight holder! Please note: never leave a burning candle unattended or within the reach of children.