I can’t tell you how happy I am to have Debbie here to show up how to make these map-wrapped candles. I just love these. Okay, here she is!!
Hi everyone! I am Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict and I am excited that Anita has asked me to share one of my favorite projects with you, her wonderful readers! I have some fun and easy ideas for you involving the City of Lights…Paris! It is raining here and I am dreaming of a trip to my favorite city and remembering a week in Paris with my ten-year-old grandson several years ago…
…but for now it is only a dream. So my co-host Baby Kitty has a suggestion. How about a little virtual trip by playing with some vintage Parisian paper crafts?
It all started when I found this wonderful vintage cut-out of the Eiffel Tower. It reminded me of our first day there…when we climbed to the top…and our last night there…when we sat in amazement in the park and watched the nightly light show!
And then I found this fabulous vintage map of Paris from 1900 which includes all of the monuments! Amazing! You can actually download it in higher resolution here where you will also find some more wonderful vintage maps of Paris.
I cropped out and enlarged the heart of Paris…the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral…aaah! And then my little brain went to work on some quick and easy Paris projects with the maps! First I created the candle wraps.
Here’s what you will do:
- Print the map that you plan to use. I used the full map on a pillar candle and the enlarged map on a smaller candle.
- Cut the map to fit your candle with some overlap at the back. My candle was 5 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches, so I cut the map at 5 1/2 x 10 inches.
- Cover both the candle and the back of the map with Mod Podge. Put the map in place.
- Let the map dry overnight and then add a coat of Mod Podge on the outside of the candle. Let it dry overnight and voilà…your candle is ready!
The map can also be downloaded to be framed or used as a book cover!
And there you have it…my little virtual trip to Paris on a rainy day. The paper crafts were really fun and easy and brought back some wonderful memories for me. It will be seven more years before my youngest grandsons will be old enough for the trip. Now the question is…will I be ready to take two very energetic ten and eleven year old boys to Paris then? Hmmm…we’ll see!
And just in case you are looking for more ways to dress up your candles, here are my frenchy aged paper candle wraps…
…and they are not just for Christmas…my sheet music candles, plus a how-to for a sheet music wreath and ornaments.
Thank you, Anita, for allowing me to visit with your readers! I hope you all will head over to my blog at Confessions of a Plate Addict and follow along as I decorate my French Country home on a budget. You’ll find lots of ideas for repuposing thrifitng finds and creating that French Country look without spending a fortune. You can have a peek at them by visiting my Project Gallery where you will find over 100 fun and easy ideas for you to try. See you there!
This is a great idea, thank you!
Wonderful projects with paper….French inspiration.
I too have posted candles and French iron works.
See you soon Anita!
Xx
Bisous
Dore
I just love Debbie’s decorative wrapped candles!…Will have to place this on my “Christmas project” list!…
Debbie, you are so very talented and creative…love seeing your projects…thanks Anita and have a great weekend!
Fabulous! Thank you so much for the link to the maps, as well… 🙂 This reminds me of my first trip to Paris in 1985. Hubby and I had just bought our first house and thought that trip was going to be our last hurrah before spending the next however many years paying for a new house. I planned the trip for 6 months, the entire time with a map of Paris taped to our living room wall which I studied daily. Unfortunately it was not quite as beautiful as these vintage maps you have here, but by the time I got to Paris, I knew my way around every neighborhood!! All these years later and so many trips since, it makes me laugh!
This might be a stupid question.. but is it still safe to burn the candle after you wrap it like this or is this just for decoration?
Lisa, it might be. I am not sure. If you do light it, of course, don’t leave it unattended.
Hermosisimo y gracias por responderme saludos cariñosos.
Great post Anita and Debbie. I shared it on facebook at Artzzle.com
Have a wonderful weekend, all.
They are really cute and would make great gifts.
Lee 🙂
Love the post Debbie and Anita…
Can’t wait to try making them, my only question is when the candle burns down will the paper burn and smoke?
Love all your posts and ideas!
Charmaine
Not sure on that. As with any open flame, I certainly wouldn’t leave it unattended.
Anita and Debbie, y’all are really making me want to hop a plane for Paris! It’s been ages since I was there. What an experience it was. It truly is a gorgeous city! Thanks, Debbie for the neat ideas!
Helen