Holiday tea lights are easily made using a minimal amount of supplies that are conveniently available to you. I used a couple of old canning jars from my kitchen. The greenery is from my yard and the tea lights I purchased from the Dollar Tree. Make these lovely, fragrance-free, and very adaptable tea lights for any holiday or event quickly and easily. Bring festivity wherever you decide to place them. Holiday tea lights will bring warmth to the dinner table, the mantle, or even the kitchen windowsill.
For Thanksgiving or Autumn Themes
These grasses and newly budded Magnolia leaves were gathered in my yard. Whatever you can find from nature outside will match any seasonal event. Tea lights do not last forever so choose items that will likewise hold their shape and color for that length of time as well. I liked these colors best. The brown, olive-green, and orange reflect autumn colors. Nature items like small pine cones, pine straw, colorful leaves, seedpods, and the like can be collected right in your own yard. Look around! You will be inspired by what you have to work with!
For Christmas Themes
I clipped the tops of Red Tips and some Yaupon Holly sprigs with berries to make the tea light candles above. A word of caution in collecting any type of berries if you have small children or pets: Be sure to keep them up out of reach and clean any dropped pieces from the floor quickly. This is purely for decorative uses though toddlers and pets routinely put any newly found item in their mouths. Be diligent to ensure that does not occur on your watch. That being said, I encourage you to look around your home, yard, or neighborhood to find something in nature to bring inside to make this beautiful tea light candle.
Create It!
Any glass jar will do nicely for the occasion. I used old canning jars that I had on hand. You can easily recycle a spaghetti sauce or pickle jar that has the label removed and has been washed thoroughly. Choose the jar size based on the location where you plan to place the tea light. A glass bowl with two or three tea light candles can replace a jar. Bowl tea lights make beautiful centerpieces for tables.
Once you have glass jars or bowls, colorful objects to place in those containers, and tea light candles you can begin creating. First, make sure to cut all your gathered objects to the appropriate size of your jar or glass container. Do a dry run first by placing the objects to see how well they fit. Trim anything now if necessary. If it fits, and you like its presentation, then fill the jar with water leaving about 1/2 to 3/4 inch headspace. Float a tea light candle in the center of the water in the jar or bowl. Place the tea light candle where you would like it before lighting it. One final reminder: Never leave a burning candle unattended! And that is it! So beautiful! So simple and easy to do!
Other Creative Ideas
For future events consider changing up the ingredients. Add flowers, colored pebbles, seashells, food coloring, glitter, even plastic beads, faux pearls, etc. Use whatever color or item that will fit the theme you are going for. Change out your glass container with pyrex bowls, jars, and wine glasses. Use a combination of glass container sizes for an interesting effect. Accent with pieces of colorful ribbon. Holiday tea light candles are not just for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Make and enjoy the warmth of tea light candles year-round for any type of holiday!