Learn how to make decorative mosaic candles using toilet paper rolls and paper.
By Andrea Mulder-Slater
These colorful “candles” are such fun to make and a joy to look at. We did this craft with Grade 2 students but it can easily be adapted for other grades. (Even adults will enjoy it!) The class time required was 1 hour, but if students plan out mosaic designs (instead of random ones, as shown above), you will need more time.
What You Need:
- Toilet paper (tp) rolls
- Glue
- Foam heart shapes (or tissue paper) in red (or pink), yellow and orange
- Small paper squares (or construction paper)
- Scissors (optional)
- Small holiday garland (we bought a fake one and cut it apart)
- Cotton balls
What You Do:
Prior to the Class:
- If you don’t have ready-made paper squares, you will need to cut colored construction paper into squares about 1/4″ x 1/4″. Similarly, if you don’t have foam hearts, you will need to cut tissue paper into heart or flame shapes. Note: if you have a package of craft foam pieces, you can use ovals instead of hearts.
Lesson:
- Each child receives a toilet paper roll, a handful of paper mosaic squares, a red, orange and yellow foam heart, a cotton ball and some white glue.
- Children glue the mosaic squares onto the toilet paper roll. They can be applied to create a pattern or design, or they can be applied randomly.
- Once toilet paper roll is covered with squares, children take the cotton ball, pull it apart a little bit and glue it to the top of the “candle”.
- The red, yellow and orange hearts are glued together, one slightly lower than the next (see photo).
- The hearts are then pushed into the cotton and glued in place to create the “flame” of the “candle”.
- As a final touch, a small piece of garland can be glued around the bottom of the candle. This also give the candle some stability.
