Handmade Holidays Day 1 - A Wooden Spool Menorah

Welcome to Day 1 of Handmade Holidays!  Every day this week, you'll find unique art and craft ideas.    Remember that every post has a giveaway, and all the comments for all the days count!  I'll be picking all the winners after 11AM EST on Saturday, so make sure to check out all the Handmade Holidays posts!

Today, I want to share a handmade menorah. While I created this for our Hanukkah celebration, you can use this tutorial to make your own unique candelabra.  

Supplies:

Wooden spools (You'll need eight of one size, and one that's larger for the Shamas)

Balsa Wood Block 

Black Gesso

White tissue paper 

gold acrylic paint

Matte Medium

E6000 Adhesive

Stencil or Stamp- I used my Borders Stencil from Stencil Girl

3/8" hex nuts for the candle cups

Assorted bits and pieces from your stash.

1.  Paint the spools and the wood with the black gesso.  

2.  Stencil patterns on the gold tissue paper.  Then, using a wet paint brush, paint lines to "cut" the tissue paper.  Here's a video tutorial where I did just that.

3,  Use Matte medium to adhere your tissue paper to the wood, making sure to coat under and over the tissue paper.  When it dries, the un-stenciled parts of the tissue paper will become nearly translucent!  In the photo above, it was about 50% dry.

4. Add a bit of gold to your hex nuts and glue them on the tops of your spools using the E6000 or other strong glue.

5.  Glue the spools to the Balsa wood base with the E6000.

6.  Dig out items from your stash.  I added beads, some old keys, and pieces of charms I received at Art is You Mixed Media Retreats.

Hanukkah began on Sunday night.  May the lights we kindle shine peace, love and freedom into the world.

I hope this post gave you some fun ideas.  I am giving away one of my Art is You Trades to a lucky commenter.  

Remember, for extra chances to win, make sure to comment on all the Handmade Holiday posts!  I will pick all of the winners on Saturday morning, 11AM EST. 

Please leave your email address in your comment (like this: jessicasporndesigns at gmail dot com) to be considered for the giveaway!

And the winners are:

Corrine Gilman’s Brooch:  Lou Lou in Texas!  

Art is you Trade:  Suzie Q 23!  

Clay Ornament:  Karen!  

Hamsa Stamp:  Lisa Meyers! 

Three Trees Stencil:  Lu 

Make sure to check back for more projects and giveaways every day this week!

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

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