Candle Plates

Candle Plates are big selling items these days, but they're pretty easy to make on your own. You can make them as plain or as creative as you like with pebbles, glass beads, broken dishes, or whatever suits your fancy. For this project we'll be using leaves, twigs and acorns, but you could just as easily use glass beads in a pentacle design.

Items needed:

• plaster of paris
• disposable plastic bowl
• bottom of a milk carton or cardboard container the shape you want, at least 1 inch deep for the mold
• newspaper
• wooden spoon
• items to decorate
• ceramic paint and acrylic (optional)

Directions:

1. Line the table with many layers of newspaper. This is a messy project, and oh so fun!
2. Gather all the items you wish to put on your candle plate and play with the design, figuring out what you want to go where. Plaster sets up pretty fast, and you'll have to move quickly. For this project, we'll be lining the edges of the plate with the twigs, laying the leaves in the center, and placing the acorns randomly in the corners and edges. You want the center to remain level because this is where you'll place the candle.
3. Mix the plaster according to the directions on the box, and pour into the mold, at least a 1/2 deep.
4. Place the items into the plaster, being sure to leave the center free for the candle.
5. Once the plaster dries, peel the carton away and brush off any loose particles. Paint and seal with acrylic if desired.