Fancy making this sweet DIY tealight holder? I drew the image by hand, digitised it, then created this love heart cut file and etched it into the glass. It was really simple to make and looks so pretty!
But I bet you’ll never guess what it started life as?
Reuse and Recycle
The little glass pot was originally a Nutella jar!
Nutella is a firm family favourite in our house; I’ve written before about our love of Nutella on homemade pancakes!
But whilst we all love the tasty chocolate spread, I also love the little jars it comes in.
I’ve used them for all sorts of things over the years; plant pots, snow globes, storage pots — even drinking tumblers.
But since I’ve had my Cricut — and can embellish glass with vinyl and (even better) a frosted design, using glass etch cream — these little glass pots have really come into their own.
It’s a great way to reuse something that would ordinarily just go in the recycling.
They’re the perfect base for a DIY tealight holder!
The Free Love Heart Cut File
To make the free love heart cut file, I drew this original artwork by hand, then took it into Illustrator on my Mac and made it into a digital file.
It’s a little bit rough around the edges, but I think that adds to the charm; you can see that it has been hand-drawn, and not digitally created.
How To Make a DIY Tealight Holder
It’s so simple to make a DIY tealight holder with the free love heart cut file and your Cricut!
Here’s what you need to do.
Download my free love heart cut file by clicking the link above, then upload the png file into the Cricut Design space.
The background is already transparent — so no need to cut it out.
Choose the ‘Simple’ image setting, then choose ‘Cut Image’ — unless you’re planning on making something else, they you may like to use the JPG file — and ‘Print Then Cut’ option.
Choose the vinyl setting and let the Cricut do it’s magic!
Once it’s cut, carefully weed the image.
Next, I then placed transfer tape over my vinyl heart, gave the glass a wipe with isopropyl alcohol, then stuck the vinyl where I wanted it to go, and removed the transfer tape.
This is a little bit tricky — the tiny scalloped edges moved around a little. Just put them back into place with a scalpel or tweezers.
Next, use the etching cream to cover the design.
Use eye coverings and gloves — and make sure you’re REALLY careful! This stuff is nasty!
Use a paintbrush and keep working the cream into the design. You only need a very small amount.
I did this for about 3 minutes, them took it over to the sink to wash it off.
Again, you might need a scalpel — or tweezers — to get all the tiny bits of vinyl off the glass.
Make sure the etching cream is totally washed off — thoroughly clean and dry the glass.
Et Voila
That’s it! One DIY tealight holder! Really pretty and the perfect use of my love heart cut file!
I’m so happy with my DIY tealight holder. It’s a great way to re-use something that would have been thrown out.
But as well as a tea light holder, the love heart cut file could be used for so many other things:
Decorate a mug or a sweatshirt, create a wall print. Or even a cushion, like the one I made a couple of weeks ago.
Please do let me know what you use the love heart cut file for — I’d love to see what you make!
Print or Save This Craft Project For Later
Make a DIY Tealight Holder with My Free Love Heart Cut File
Use my free love heart cut file to turn an old Nutella jar into a fab DIY tealight holder!
Materials
- Old Nutella Jar
- Removeable Vinyl
- Transfer Sheet
- Glass Etch Cream
Tools
- My Free Love Heart Cut File
- Small Paint Brush
- Gloves/Protective Eyewear
- Cricut Maker
- Weeding Tool (I use a scalpel)
Instructions
- Download the free love heart cut file
- Import the file into Cricut Design Space.
- Reduce/increase the file size to suit your project.
- Cut the file.
- Carefully weed the excess vinyl.
- Cover the design with a transfer sheet and make sure it's really well stuck down
- Clean the surface of the glass with alcohol.
- Lay the transfer sheet on to the glass, and transfer the design.
- Once you're happy that the image is securely on the jar, you can put on your glass etch cream.
- Apply a small amount with a paint-brush; keep moving the cream around, making sure the whole of the design is covered.
- Leave on the glass as per the manufacturers instructions (as they all differ) — I left mine for around 3 minutes.
- Wash off thoroughly, then pat dry.
- Pop in a tea-light and admire your handy work!
Notes
Make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions for your glass etch cream. They all differ and the timings to leave the etch cream on to the glass vary so much!
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