Lisa Comfort upcycles…

Nothing can be prettier on winter evenings than a twinkling candle

Create a tinted glass candle jar

TINTED GLASS CANDLE JARS YOU WILL NEED

✽ Small-lipped jug ✽ Clean glass jars ✽ Food colouring ✽ Craft or PVA glue that will dry clear ✽ Paintbrushes ✽ Baking tray

✽ Two pieces of baking parchment

STEP-BY-STEP

❶ Start by pouring a small amount of water from the jug into the base of a jar, followed by a splash of your chosen food colouring.

❷ Next add a generous amount of the craft or PVA glue, the more you add, the stronger the colour will be on the finished jar. Then mix thoroughly so there are no lumps remaining in the glue.

❸ Angle and twist the jar around to distribute the colour on to the inside of the glass. Use a paintbrush to tidy up any edges and to get the colour right up to the rim.

❹ When finished, pour any excess liquid down the sink. You may need to go back with a paintbrush and neaten the edges/rim of the jar once more.

❺ Put the jar face down on to a baking tray lined with baking parchment, then repeat steps one to four with the other jars.

❻ To set the glue, put the baking tray in to the oven at around 150°C (130°C fan) mark 2, and leave for 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and replace the baking parchment with a clean sheet of paper, turn the jars so they are facing up and bake for a further 20 minutes.

❼ Remove from the oven, let the jars cool and then add tealights!

STYLING TIP

I’ve tied a length of twine around the rim of my jars to give them that extra crafty look! WARNING: Always take care with candles and keep away from children.

Practise on a spare jar first to get the desired opaqueness of colour.