Winter is a great time for candles - especially when their golden glow is enhanced with rich color. These candle sleeves are really quick to make, and the nice thing is that they are easily switched for a change of mood or a change of season.

We love the fact that our Petroglyph Deer are so willing to become holiday decor. It only takes the addition of a wire star (see next article) and a temporary name change to “Reindeer”! After the holidays, just remove the star, call them “Deer” again and you have a year round petroglyph candle.

These sleeves are free standing and can “stand” around any enclosed candle holder. We prefer the snug fit we get when we use a Double Old Fashioned glass as our candle holder. They are a certain size glass available where glassware is sold. They stand 4" tall and are about 3.5" in diameter. If you cannot find them, a smaller glass can be used - just make sure it is taller than the combined height of candle and flame. Do not use an un-contained candle.

We have used silk dye type colors. Watercolors, acrylic inks, or water soluble dye inks can be used but the resulting looks will vary.
Materials Needed:
Sheer Heaven (letter size sheets)
Stamp of your choice
Embossing pad and clear Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Styrofoam Meat Tray (new or carefully cleaned!)
Silk Colors (Jacquard) Yellow, Chocolate Brown Double Stick Tape
Scissors or Paper Cutter
Water and a big, smooshy brush
How To Do It:
The first and last part of this project are so easy, we don’t even need pictures.

These are the dimensions that work best to make a sleeve for a Double Old Fashion size glass. You may adjust them to suit other choices of glassware.

Cut your letter size sheet of Sheer Heaven vertically right down the middle. This gives you two pieces 4.25" x 11". Working with one of the pieces, stamp and heat emboss (clear) the “Reindeer” or whatever your image might be in the horizontal center of the Sheer Heaven (make sure you use the “suede” side). Remember that although Sheer Heaven likes to be embossed, you should hold the tool further away from the surface (4"-6") than you would with regular card stock. It will take a little longer to emboss, but it’s worth it because it won’t buckle.

Now comes the fun part. The middle steps of this project are really messy but really fun. However, protect your work surface, and, unless you want to sport a really strange manicure for a week, wear vinyl gloves.
Step 1. Using an eye dropper, drop Yellow and Chocolate Brown Silk Colors randomly on your meat tray. Smoosh the colors around with the brush, but don't let them totally mix. Cover an area bigger than your candle sleeve.We wish we had a smooth surfaced tray for this demo - the results are actually better. So, if you have a choice, use the smooth type. If you have neither, try some other water repellent surface - like a clean teflon pan or a container lined with freezer paper.
Step 2. Lay the Sheer Heaven face down onto the tray. Run your fingers over the back and press into the depressions if necessary to make sure the dyes come into contact with all of the paper surface.

Your stamped image will be visible because it is resisting the dye. It will end up as a clear “window” for the candlelight to shine through.
Step 3. Flip the sheet of Sheer Heaven onto its back on a paper towel. Fool with the color coverage if you like by filling in any white areas with color. Don’t mix it around too much because you want variations in your color.

This is when we really love Sheer Heaven! All that moisture and not a buckle, wrinkle, or tear. There’s just nothing else you could do this with.
Step 4. Using the eye dropper again, drop Yellow randomly on the soaking wet piece. It will create interesting, brighter color runs as shown by the purple arrows.

Let the piece sit this way for 2-3 minutes. Then, transport it to the sink and rinse under running water. Most of the color will remain on the paper, but puddles which could dry into unattractive dark areas will be rinsed away.
Step 5. Lay the rinsed piece on paper towel to dry.

If desired, you could sprinkle a little table salt on at this point - which will result in snowflake-like patterns when dry. However, your sleeve will dry into beautiful color variations if just left alone also.
Finishing Off:
When your candle sleeve is dry (10-30 minutes depending on your humidity), overlap the ends by about 1/2" and attach with double stick tape. This will easily slide over a Double Old Fashioned Glass or stand by itself around a smaller votive holder. Use only votiveor tealight candles. Larger candles could generate enough heat to bother (warp) the Sheer Heaven. We’ve never had that happen, but there are no absolutes.
Turn the page for another example of our interchangeable Candle Sleeves.
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