Doily Lace Votives Craft: How-To Video

Paper doilies, colored tissue paper, straight-sided glass votive holders, food coloring, two bowls filled with water, kitchen tongs, scissors, paintbrush, glue, paper towels

1. Cut a rectangle of tissue paper that is 1" longer and ½" taller than the votive holder.
2. In one bowl, mix the water with some glue. Use a paintbrush and coat the entire votive holder with a thin layer of the watered-down glue.
3. Adhere tissue to the votive and use your fingers to smooth the bottom edge underneath; turn upside down to dry. When dry, trim the excess tissue paper so that it's flush with the top edge.
4. In another bowl, mix a dye bath using approximately 20 drops of food coloring (more for deeper colors) and 2 cups of water.
5. Slide a doily into the dye bath and push it down with the tongs so it's covered completely; let it sit for five seconds to two minutes, depending on the desired shade.
6. Remove doily with the tongs and place it flat on a stack of paper towels. Immediately blot it dry with another paper towel, then set it aside to dry on a clean paper towel. Cut pieces of doily.
7. Apply the watered-down glue mixture to the entire surface of the tissue-covered votive and adhere the doily pieces. Press down lightly with fingers and set it aside to dry.
8. Trim any excess doily pieces from the votives, then brush a thin coat of glue on top to seal it; let dry completely. Add a candle inside the votive.

Originally published in the December 2010 issue of Parents magazine.

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