Ceramic Candle Shade And Plate Makeover

I found a ceramic candle shade and plate in the thrift store and gave them a makeover that turned them into an adorable lantern for battery operated votive candles.

And one that matched my decor.

Check out this simple craft and breathe new life into your old Yankee Candle shades.


A few weeks ago, I shared this adorable find from my January thrifting trip.

I don't know why it caught my eye.

It doesn't match anything in my predominantly red and green house.

Plus, I don't burn real candles, so I had absolutely no need for a Yankee Candle ceramic shade and plate.

However. Its tiny size and equally tiny price tag were too much for me to ignore, so the set came home with me.

Honestly, I had no idea how I was going to redecorate it to match my decor, but I knew I could figure out a way to use that shade and plate with my battery operated votives. 

Exactly how was all sort of vague, until my friend Susan from Homeroad, gave me a bit of white mineral paint to makeover a table.

Fusion Mineral Paint In Casement

It was lovely paint, and once I saw how well it worked on the table, I was sure it'd cover the shade and plate pattern completely. 

From there, the ideas just came rolling in. 

I sorted through my glass votive holders, found one, another thrift store find, to support the shade and house the candle and I headed off the races with one more decoupage DIY.


You may remember the sheep paper I used to transform an old tray at Christmas. Well, these two patterned papers were included in that shipment.

That makeover turned out beautifully, but I think this one gives it a run for its money.

I'll let you decide.

How To Repurpose A Candle Shade and Plate

I basically turned this candle shade and plate into a battery operated lantern and of course, now, I will be on the hunt for more of these sets whenever I'm in a second hand shop.

Please keep in mind this DIY is only for use with a battery operated candle.

Also, if you happen to have the larger shades and plates, you could use a mason jar or small vase to support them and hold a larger faux candle.

With the right paper or napkins you could make a few for every season or holiday, too. Lots of possibilities!

Here are the steps to make the lantern:

I started by removing the price tag. Then I washed the plate and shade with soap and water. I wanted to remove all dust and soot from the surface so the paint would stick.


Then I dried the shade well so it would be ready for paint. I used a bristle brush and gave it one coat.


Next, I moved on and painted the plate.

Again, one coat did the trick and provided a neutral base for the decoupage paper. It was kind of a shame to cover the garden pattern, but like I said, it just didn't match my decor.


When the ceramic shade and plate were dry to the touch, I grabbed the decoupage paper.
I decided to use two different patterns for some interest.

See The Dark Green Paper here

The plate was up first. I traced an oversized circle on the back of the darker green paper, to make sure I had enough to cover the entire surface and cut it out with very sharp scissors.


Then I opened up my satin sealer, which is my favorite decoupage medium, and brushed it onto the top side of the plate.

Mod Podge works well, too.


I gently laid the paper on top of it and used my fingers to smooth it down.

Just a tip - I never touch the paper with my bare hands anymore.

I find that they just get sticky and pull at the tacky paper or napkin. Instead, I slide my hand into a plastic baggie or use a vinyl glove. Then I can work out the bubbles with no tearing or damage.

I'll also say that working with rice paper is so much more forgiving than decoupaging napkins. It's much sturdier.

Even so, this dish was a little tricky, since it had a deep notch in the center, where the candle usually sits. I had to be extra careful not to tear the paper while I was smoothing it down.

When I was happy with its placement, I gave it another coat of sealer to lock it in place.


I will say that I much prefer using the iron on method for decoupage. It's a lot easier and a lot less messy, but neither the plate nor the shade were the proper shape for that technique.

So I muddled through, adding more sealer to the outside of the shade, wrapping the paper around it and repeating the process of smoothing and sealing like I did to the plate.

Since I will never be using the shade with a real candle, only battery operated ones, I did fold the paper into the top of the shade for a more finished look.


Finally, when both pieces were dry, I used a bit of sandpaper to wear away any of the paper that hung over the edges. With a few swipes, the excess paper just fell away.

And I was able to pop one of those battery operated votives into the white holder and place the ceramic shade on top. It fit perfectly and the shape made it look like a mini lamp.

Darling.


On its own or on top of the plate. I just can't get over how sweet this project turned out.
It matches my newly decorated family room. It also matches my bedroom decor. So I have lots of options with this little lantern DIY.

What makes me even happier is that I was able use two of my thrifted finds together to create one fabulous new decor accessory for my cottage style home.

That's an upcycling bonus!!

😉

And lucky me, it's just in time for our first Do It Over Designers hop of 2024! 

We're kicking this new year off with a ton of great ideas, just click on the links below to see them all.

Don't forget to say hello and tell them I sent you over.

Happy Hopping Friends!!