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Driftwood candle holder tutorial…

5:09 pm by kim 43 Comments

 
I know that summer is over and Christmas is fast approaching, but I keep my driftwood out all year long. I wanted to combine my love of candlelight with my love of driftwood and this is what I came up with.
Sooo pretty!

We live near the lake so we can walk a few blocks to the nearest sandy shore. My daughter and husband got these pieces for me on their walk.

Just find a piece that you find appealing. It should have some depth to it as your candle will have to sit in it. A flat piece would not be a good candidate for this project.

You will need a drill, a 1.5 inch spade bit or a 1.5 inch orbital bit? (Not exactly sure what that one is called and the knower of all names aka my husband is not around) Using the spade bit is much easier and far quicker as it reduces 1 step. when I first tried this project I didn’t have a spade bit so  I had to do it the hard way.  You should have a tape measure, pen, flat head screwdriver if using that orbital bit and Tealight candles.

First, lay down your piece of driftwood and see which side you prefer as well as where your piece sits level.
Take out your tape measure and mark where to place your holes. Or you can eyeball it like I did.

This is the 1.5 ( or1 1/2) size spade bit


Center your bit over your mark and apply pressure. It may be easier to do on the floor. The table works for my back! Start drinlling.

I have a level on the end of my drill. You want to keep it level so that your candle will sit level.

If you decide to use this bit, remember to place a mark on your bit at the depth you want your bit to go in the wood. I wanted my candles just at or above the wood line to decrease risk of setting the piece on fire.

This is what it will look like when you use the above bit.

You will have to tap out the wood  that is still left with this bit which wasn`t difficult but time consuming, however, both bits were 1.5 inch but this orbital bit left a bigger hole and was easier to place the tealight candles into than the spade bit.

This is the piece with all the holes done. You are ready to put your candles in!

 Please make sure that you use the tealight candles with the metal around them (most come this way from ikea and Walmart etc.) as this will decrease the chance of your piece catching fire! Also, make sure that your holes are flat and even so the candle doesn`t sit sideways, you will get wax everywhere.

You can place it anywhere!
Like all candles, DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED!

You can use all different shapes of driftwood to make it interesting.

I use them on my mantel as well.

Soo pretty!

Hope you enjoyed todays tutorial. Please once again, NEVER LEAVE UNATTENDED! This is old DRY WOOD and burns very easily
.

I will be partying with:
Its So Very Cheri
coastal blog posts 2010

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beach Bungalow says

    at 5:31 pm

    I have an almost identical piece in my garden. It looks fabulous in the evening!

    s
    xo

    Reply
  2. Its So Very Cheri says

    at 9:33 am

    That is sooo pretty. I haven't found a piece of driftwood that size before. They are either tiny or so big you can't drag them off the beach.

    I signed up to follow you.

    Come by for a visit and I would love to have you follow along both blogs.

    Cheri from ItsSoVeryCheri and TheDIYClub.com

    Reply
  3. cleverlyinspired says

    at 3:53 pm

    Going to share on my fb fan page! Love this! Your newest follower!

    Reply
  4. Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal says

    at 12:30 am

    Love this! I have a big fat log that someone did this to for me. But I love the long slenderness of the driftwood. I hope I can come across a piece that would work for this. Really pretty!

    Reply
  5. ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie says

    at 9:56 pm

    This is one of the best projects I've seen…ever! Natural and elegant!! Thanks for linking it up at WhisperWood Cottage. With your great tutorial, you should definitely link up to the DIY Living Weekly Showcase over a thediyclub.com. I know they will love it over there!

    Amy

    Reply
  6. Shaunna says

    at 9:35 am

    Amazing!! I LOVE driftwood, so this might be happening over here pretty soon. πŸ™‚ Thanks for linking up!! -shaunna πŸ™‚

    Reply
  7. Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage says

    at 11:13 am

    Your driftwood candle holder is really cool! I love it. I just discovered your blog and I think your home is lovely! I am following you now. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  8. Laurie at Turner Farm says

    at 12:56 pm

    Fabulous!

    Reply
  9. Cidinha says

    at 2:48 pm

    Beautiful idea!!!Congratulations!

    hugs
    Cidinha

    Reply
  10. Creative Ambitions says

    at 5:57 pm

    LOVE this… it's gorgeous!

    Reply
  11. Pam says

    at 8:50 pm

    That's very creative.

    Reply
  12. Kristin @ Daydream Designs says

    at 9:46 pm

    This is gorgeous! Now all I need to do is keep my eye out for driftwood in the midwest, lol. I'm so happy to be your newest follower!

    Reply
  13. Terri @ em-belle-ish.blogspot.com says

    at 1:58 am

    INGENIOUS! I sent my husband out to get one of those bits for his drill and I am heading out to gather driftwood right away… OK not right away but as soon as I sign up to be your follower… and it gets light outside. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  14. Funky Junk Interiors says

    at 2:25 am

    This is really lovely! Such an elegant touch of nature highlighted with the tiny flames… I'd bet it looks wonderful with the lights turned down low.

    Donna

    Reply
  15. Alyssa says

    at 2:38 pm

    What a lovely idea! Although I live on the coast, I don't see nearly as much driftwood as I'd like. I'll absolutely be keeping my eyes open for some to make this though.

    Reply
  16. Tanya says

    at 6:04 pm

    Very pretty idea. I love it =) I'm a new follower!

    Reply
  17. Brandi says

    at 3:41 pm

    beautiful idea!

    Reply
  18. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    at 7:42 pm

    That is gorgeous. Thanks for linking it up!

    Reply
  19. Pat says

    at 7:45 pm

    I love this idea! We'll definitely be looking for driftwood at the lake.

    Reply
  20. Nita {ModVintageLife} says

    at 8:40 pm

    Oh…I love how this turned out!

    Reply
  21. Sue says

    at 10:48 pm

    What a great idea ~ for my husband! I will look for some driftwood at the lake, the candle holder would be great on our patio at the lake!
    Happy New Year
    Sue

    Reply
  22. Kathy says

    at 4:25 am

    I really like your drift wood candleholder, I am guessing you could use other types of wood and drill a spot for a tea candle? I love the look of natural elements brought into a home plus it is reusing repurposing something which is very chic .

    Reply
  23. Shelia says

    at 10:24 am

    What a wonderful idea!! I love this and it looks so pretty on your table.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia πŸ˜‰

    Reply
  24. Mike and Katrina @HA says

    at 1:13 pm

    Awesome!!! I have a log (not driftwood, still sheds bark from time to time) that I had hung on a wall at an apartment during Christmas to hang ornaments from. In our new house we haven't found a place for it yet but this may just be the inspiration I was looking for!

    Thanks,
    Katrina

    Reply
  25. classic β€’ casual β€’ home says

    at 2:00 pm

    Really pretty. We find drift wood like that all the time in Mammoth Lakes…that we use for walking sticks…now I just need to look for a slightly wider one. Thanks.
    Mary Ann

    Reply
  26. Love of the Sea says

    at 5:53 pm

    This is really a great idea. I love it!!!

    Reply
  27. Julie (Legacy Crafter) says

    at 3:46 am

    very pretty marriage between the glow of the candle and the smooth roughness of the driftwood. Nice!

    Reply
  28. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    at 3:23 pm

    LOVE this look…it's just been added to my 2011 list…love your blog!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  29. Lila Grace Accessories says

    at 6:30 pm

    I love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing πŸ™‚

    Reply
  30. Vanilla Bean says

    at 6:58 pm

    Love it! I was in need of some mantle inspiration. Now that the holidays are over, I have to redo it!

    Reply
  31. CHH says

    at 12:19 pm

    How romantic! You are so talented.

    Reply
  32. Sally Lee by the Sea says

    at 2:50 pm

    Fabulous tutorial!!!

    We've added this post to our Coastal Crafts page at http://www.sallyleebythesea.com/p/coastal-crafts.html

    Reply
  33. Erin @ 3 Meadow Lake Cottage says

    at 4:36 pm

    I LOVE this project and just featured it on my "Inspiring Finds of the Week" post at 3 Meadow Lake Cottage. Feel free to come check it out…

    http://www.3meadowlakecottage.com/2011/06/inspiring-finds-of-week-3.html

    ~Erin

    Reply
  34. Erykah says

    at 8:06 pm

    This is so pretty! I want to put one above my bed, but I live in Florida in the mangroves and driftwood is not available to me. You should think about selling them on Etsy or something!

    Reply
  35. Anonymous says

    at 7:53 am

    Been making these for craft shows for years-you need a forstner bit and a drill or drill press. Also I have found tea lights are very dangerous and have burnt many of mine when attended…use the led candles and also if you insist on votives or tea lights use glass votive holders in the holes…can buy a forstner bit for any size.

    Reply
  36. DownTheLaneWithDaisy says

    at 7:36 pm

    I love your idea and live on the lake so driftwood is easy to find. Buy little led tealights that have timers on them. Great ideas!!

    Reply
  37. Heidi Lisa says

    at 11:33 am

    Aloha!

    Thanks for the inspiration! I know I'm a little late to the party here, but I have a question for you. I collected a box full of drift wood, some smaller, some larger pieces and wanted to make something like this with some of my larger pieces and am finding it difficult to get the holes even.

    I can't just hold the wood because it jerks around and when I clamp it I'm no longer level, so when I unclamp it, it twists a bit to the side. Or on ones with more than one candle, for the same reason, they aren't necessarily facing the same direction.

    Did you sand the bottom to ensure it was flat?

    Thanks for your time!

    Reply
  38. Anonymous says

    at 7:37 pm

    i am itching to make this! πŸ™‚ i think i will use those battery operated tea lights i see around here tho so i dont have to worry about fire…thanks!

    Reply
  39. Anonymous says

    at 12:37 pm

    Thank you for this! We brought home some driftwood pieces from the coast about the same size and shape as yours above. I was just going to put them on the mantle, but saw your tutorial! I just did this – it was so easy and they (I made 2) look so nice! Thank you! πŸ™‚

    Reply
  40. Helen B. @ Blue Eyed Beauty Blog says

    at 5:31 pm

    This is so beautiful! I love it!

    I'm stopping over via Pinterest!

    Helen
    Blue Eyed Beauty Blog

    Reply
  41. Lynda says

    at 1:07 pm

    I love this. I have a piece of driftwood on a bathroom shelf . It’s about two feet long. The plastic battery operated tealights would be great for this.

    Reply
    • kim says

      at 2:23 pm

      It would look great with the tea lights, Go for it!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Diy Candle Holders from Nature says:
    at 2:18 pm

    […] Driftwood candle holder. Tutorial… […]

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