DIY: Shiny Gold Accents to Make Your Hanukkah Table Glow
Wrap glass vessels with metallic yarn and fill them with oil and wicks for a festive and bright holiday look
With metallic yarn and a collection of glassware that you may already own, you can whip up a gorgeous menorah and create additional lights. Simply add tea lights to wineglasses and fill wide-mouthed vases with oil and floating wicks. Group them on your tabletop for a casually elegant look for your holiday gatherings.
This quick decorating idea makes it easy to turn simple objects into elegant standouts. Metallic yarn-wrapped glass vessels are wonderful for any occasion but are especially lovely for a Hanukkah party. And since the holiday is celebrated for eight nights, a little extra effort to make something beautiful for the holiday is well worth it.
Materials
- Lightweight gold metallic yarn or gold cord
- Small glass vases, wineglasses, drinking glasses
- 10 shot glasses for menorah
- Four thick ceramic tiles for menorah base
- Metallic gold contact paper or tape
- Tea lights
- Floating wicks
- Olive oil
- Wooden dreidels and chocolate coins
How to Wrap
1. Determine how much of the glass vessel you want to wrap. Grab the yarn or cord an inch or more from the end, and run it from the bottom of this area to the top so it lies vertically against the vessel. Anchor the yarn at the top with your finger, and then, moving downward, wrap the vessel, covering the line of yarn lying against the glass.
2. Wrap the yarn tightly over the glass so it will hold. When you finish your last turn, cut off the end of the yarn and tie it to the tail that hangs below. Cut off any extra yarn to create a clean edge.
Tip: If you want the look to last, brush a light coat of decoupage medium over the yarn-wrapped sections.
1. Determine how much of the glass vessel you want to wrap. Grab the yarn or cord an inch or more from the end, and run it from the bottom of this area to the top so it lies vertically against the vessel. Anchor the yarn at the top with your finger, and then, moving downward, wrap the vessel, covering the line of yarn lying against the glass.
2. Wrap the yarn tightly over the glass so it will hold. When you finish your last turn, cut off the end of the yarn and tie it to the tail that hangs below. Cut off any extra yarn to create a clean edge.
Tip: If you want the look to last, brush a light coat of decoupage medium over the yarn-wrapped sections.
How to Make a Shot Glass Menorah
1. Lay out the four tiles in a row to make a base. Here I used maroon, orange and yellow tiles, but this works with traditional blue and white as well.
2. Wrap the 10 shot glasses in three or four rounds of gold cord or metallic yarn, as described previously.
3. Using two of the glasses, make the holder for the shamash, the candle in the middle of the menorah that’s higher than the rest. Turn one shot glass upside down and place a second one on top. Secure the two shot glasses with silicone or a strong adhesive. For a nonpermanent bond, use a dab of honey.
4. Line up the glasses on the tile base, four on each side of the shamash.
1. Lay out the four tiles in a row to make a base. Here I used maroon, orange and yellow tiles, but this works with traditional blue and white as well.
2. Wrap the 10 shot glasses in three or four rounds of gold cord or metallic yarn, as described previously.
3. Using two of the glasses, make the holder for the shamash, the candle in the middle of the menorah that’s higher than the rest. Turn one shot glass upside down and place a second one on top. Secure the two shot glasses with silicone or a strong adhesive. For a nonpermanent bond, use a dab of honey.
4. Line up the glasses on the tile base, four on each side of the shamash.
Add the Floating Wicks
1. Fill the shot glasses with roughly two-thirds water and one-third olive oil. Never fill your vessel with only oil; always add water first. Be sure the vegetable oil is deep enough so the wick won’t extend into the water.
2. Place floating wicks in the oil with the silver side up.
3. You can use up to three wicks in a vessel with a wide mouth, but more than that is not recommended, as the wicks can pool together and create a large and dangerous hot flame.
Notes
1. Fill the shot glasses with roughly two-thirds water and one-third olive oil. Never fill your vessel with only oil; always add water first. Be sure the vegetable oil is deep enough so the wick won’t extend into the water.
2. Place floating wicks in the oil with the silver side up.
3. You can use up to three wicks in a vessel with a wide mouth, but more than that is not recommended, as the wicks can pool together and create a large and dangerous hot flame.
Notes
- Never leave open flames unattended.
- A shot glass filled with oil will burn for at least six or seven hours, so take that into consideration when deciding how much oil to use. Even a half inch of olive oil will burn for hours.
- Floating wicks can migrate to the sides of vessels, which can crack if they are thin. Choose vessels made of thick glass to avoid breakage.
- For sparkling-clean vessels after use, submerge them in a large bowl with a solution of hot water, dish soap and a little bleach. Use a nylon scrubber or steel wool to remove any blackened areas. Let soak, then rinse and dry.
How to Make a Yarn-Wrapped Vase
When wrapped with stripes of yarn, a simple vase becomes a special decorative addition to the table. A small cylindrical vase with a 4-inch diameter is ideal for this project.
1. Wrap the vase with yarn, either covering parts of it to create a striped effect or covering the vase completely.
2. Set aside vases that will hold flowers (see step below). To use a vase as a tall candle, fill most of it with water and add a half-inch top layer of olive oil. Then add a floating wick as described above.
When wrapped with stripes of yarn, a simple vase becomes a special decorative addition to the table. A small cylindrical vase with a 4-inch diameter is ideal for this project.
1. Wrap the vase with yarn, either covering parts of it to create a striped effect or covering the vase completely.
2. Set aside vases that will hold flowers (see step below). To use a vase as a tall candle, fill most of it with water and add a half-inch top layer of olive oil. Then add a floating wick as described above.
How to Make Yarn-Wrapped Wineglasses
Wineglasses make great tea light holders that are ideal for any holiday tabletop.
1. Wrap the stem of the wineglass and, if you won’t be using it for drinking, the middle portion of the glass as well.
2. Cover the base of a tea light with a strip of gold contact paper.
Wineglasses make great tea light holders that are ideal for any holiday tabletop.
1. Wrap the stem of the wineglass and, if you won’t be using it for drinking, the middle portion of the glass as well.
2. Cover the base of a tea light with a strip of gold contact paper.
Pulling the Look Together
Follow these simple tips to create a table that looks amazing and is budget-friendly.
1. Start with a crisp white tablecloth, either plain or with a subtle jacquard pattern like the one used here. In a pinch, use a flat white sheet.
2. Fill your yarn-wrapped vases with white flowers that look as though they’ve been picked from the garden. Small clusters of flowers in short vases look beautiful and informal, and the flowers complement the look without stealing the show.
3. Arrange the rest of your yarn-wrapped vessels.
4. Set the table with all white dishes if possible. Opaque white or clear glass dishes are inexpensive and coordinate well with this look.
5. Scatter gold coins and wooden dreidels around the table. The look is casually elegant, so don’t worry about symmetry.
Follow these simple tips to create a table that looks amazing and is budget-friendly.
1. Start with a crisp white tablecloth, either plain or with a subtle jacquard pattern like the one used here. In a pinch, use a flat white sheet.
2. Fill your yarn-wrapped vases with white flowers that look as though they’ve been picked from the garden. Small clusters of flowers in short vases look beautiful and informal, and the flowers complement the look without stealing the show.
3. Arrange the rest of your yarn-wrapped vessels.
4. Set the table with all white dishes if possible. Opaque white or clear glass dishes are inexpensive and coordinate well with this look.
5. Scatter gold coins and wooden dreidels around the table. The look is casually elegant, so don’t worry about symmetry.
Once you’ve added all your elements, enjoy the beautiful light of the Hanukkah menorah.
More: Browse decorating and DIY ideas in the Houzz Hanukkah section
More: Browse decorating and DIY ideas in the Houzz Hanukkah section