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Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY and Home Decor Blog. Fly Your Freak Flag.

You are here: Home >> DIY Projects >> DIY Animal Candleholders

January 15, 2014 By Jenna 54 Comments

DIY Animal Candleholders

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Have you ever seen something, told yourself you could totally make that and then you found out, ummmm, no, I can’t do this.

Happens to me all the time. Truth.

I have had many crafting and DIY fails. And that’s ok.

Sometimes, I can salvage them. Sometimes, I don’t know whether to call it a fail or a win.

Here’s how I took my latest potential fail and still came out with something pretty.

DIY Animal Candleholders via RainonaTinRoof.comThis whole project started months ago when I saw this candle holder on Anthropologie. That link goes to Pinterest because the candle holder is no longer available.

But its current availability status was not why I decided to make my own.

That candle holder was….wait for it…..around $600.

For a candle holder!

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have $600 to spend on a candleholder that will inevitably be thrown to the ground by the strong willed kid (as the doctor called her just last week).

Then, one day while perusing the Target dollar spot, I found plastic animals for $3 a pop.

I bought four of them, brought them home and spray painted them white.

And then, I couldn’t figure out how I could get them to stand on top of one another.

I tried various methods. Once a week or so I would walk by them in my craft room, contort them in various positions trying to make it work, but alas it was not meant to be.

So, finally last week, while attempting to finish multiple DIY projects, I just drilled holes in a couple of them, stuck a candle in and called it done.

DIY Animal Candleholders via RainonaTinRoof.comDIY Animal Candleholders via RainonaTinRoof.com

I used the largest drill bit we had, in fact it was one that came from Grunt Labor’s grandpa who I never had the pleasure of knowing. I feel we would have gotten along fabulously though. Apparently, he liked junk as well. I’ve heard there was one occurrence where a dumpster was rented to toss out much of his junk while he wasn’t looking. I’m still recovering from the fact that I wasn’t around at that time to save some of said junk.

And that was the ADD kicking in.

Back to the drill bit. It wasn’t as big as the candle so, I just rolled it around the hole I was drilling to make it bigger as I was drilling. I still didn’t make it as big as the candle – I wanted them to fit in there securely, so I left the hole slightly smaller and used a lighter to soften the bottom of the candle wax before I stuck it in.

DIY Animal Candleholders via RainonaTinRoof.com

And that’s it.

DIY Animal Candleholders via RainonaTinRoof.com

A salvaged DIY fail.

Thoughts?

You should also check out…

Easy DIY Dollar Tree Skull Candleholder for Halloween – this is such a spooky and fun project!

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Filed Under: Crafts, DIY Projects Tagged With: animal, candleholder, candles

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. carmel says

    January 15, 2014 at 10:25 am

    These are super cute! Anthro had some horse candle holders that I knocked off a few months ago.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 15, 2014 at 8:23 pm

      I LOVED your horse candleholders, Carmel!! You totally kicked Anthro’s butt with those! Thanks, girl!

      Reply
  2. Trina @ Let's Just Build a House says

    January 15, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    if i had 600 bucks laying around i would book myself a cruise! yipes.

    they are beauuuutiful now! thank you Target for the dollar spot animals!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 15, 2014 at 8:22 pm

      Girl, you and me both!!

      Reply
  3. Selene Galindo says

    January 15, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    Go-geous!! I admire how you can salvage almost fails! I may have to do something similar, too pretty not to!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 15, 2014 at 8:21 pm

      Awww, thanks, Selene! I didn’t want to just toss them out- I’m too cheap for that!

      Reply
  4. Megan @ Two Live Colorfully says

    January 15, 2014 at 10:27 pm

    HOW AWESOME ARE THESE?! I love it! Especially the gold and white combo. 😀

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 16, 2014 at 7:07 am

      Megan, you are making me feel great about failing on my original DIY!! Thanks, girl!

      Reply
  5. Donna Wilkes says

    January 16, 2014 at 9:56 am

    Clever and creative. I bought myself sheep candleholders for Christmas, but the three only set me back $40. I’ll be searching the thrifts for large plastic animals now. HMMM, I wonder if dinosaur candleholders fit with my eccentric decor?

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:39 pm

      Donna, I think dinosaur candleholders would be fab!!! I saw dinos at Target too!

      Reply
  6. Cathy says

    January 16, 2014 at 11:43 am

    “And that was the ADD kicking in.”

    No wonder I love your blog Jenna, we truly must be ‘Sistas from another Mista’! I’m reading along, also lamenting your lost chance of getting some good Grampa’s junk…it took me a minute to sort out what you meant by that comment – then the light went on, “oh ya, she was talking about drilling holes….” I was right along for the ride…drives my husband nuts.

    These look fantastic! I never would have thought of doing that. We don’t have an Anthro store around here. But if we did, I’d like to think I wouldn’t entertain the thought of spending $600 on candlesticks of any kind. I’d also like to think that I just have $600 just sitting around not on its way to someone elses hands… 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:39 pm

      Yay, you were still with me, Cathy!! Definitely sistas from another mista! Thanks, gal! And $600 for candlesticks – negative!

      Reply
  7. chris aka monkey says

    January 16, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    that doesn’t look like a fail, a fail is when you toss them in the trash and say crap they cost me 3 bucks a piece lol…… they be way cute and look like $ 600 xx

    4

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:35 pm

      Thanks so much, Chris!

      Reply
  8. Ellen Knox says

    January 16, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    I like yours better than the Anthropologie ones.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:34 pm

      Ellen, you are totally boosting my ego way more than I deserve! Thanks!

      Reply
  9. Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

    January 16, 2014 at 7:03 pm

    Cute! I like yours better than the Anthro version anyway. We have some of those dollar spot animals from Target.. hmm.. now I’m brainstorming how I can steal them from my kids without them noticing. 😉

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      Oh, Erin, you are totally boosting my ego! hahaha! Thanks, gal! Oh, and I steal my kid’s toys all the time! But, she is just a year and a half so doesn’t really notice!

      Reply
  10. Pat says

    January 16, 2014 at 7:59 pm

    Love them! I also love Anthro but not those prices. Great job!

    xo
    Pat

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Thanks, Pat! I am a huge Anthro fan and have a few of their things, but some things are just too pricey for me!

      Reply
  11. Kari - the Sweetest Memory says

    January 17, 2014 at 9:31 pm

    These are way cuter than the original! I bought the lion and giraffe from Target for my daughter’s Safari party and made centerpieces. I took them off the centerpieces (and repurposed the other materials), but I haven’t been able to figure out what to do with the animals. I totally have to try this. Beautiful!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:49 pm

      Thanks, Kari!! I just knew I couldn’t leave Target without a few of those animals! They are perfect for crafting!

      Reply
  12. Jen @ Migonis Home says

    January 18, 2014 at 9:06 pm

    LOVE THEM! Fabulous for less. And seriously, who would want to spend $600 on candlesticks when you could buy a couch for that price? Jeepers. And I didn’t even know you could just drill into plastic easily like that!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:46 pm

      Thanks, Jen!!! I know, right – $600??? Ummm, no!

      Reply
  13. Emily @ Two Purple Couches says

    January 18, 2014 at 10:23 pm

    Fab 🙂 I think this was an awesome way to salvage your project! And $600 for a candleholder!? That thing better have been made out of diamonds for a price tag like that! You could have so much fun making a menagerie of candle holders… and how cute for parties!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:45 pm

      Amen, Emily! Diamonds and more diamonds – maybe some sapphires too! hahaha! Thanks, gal!

      Reply
  14. Desiree @The36thAvenue says

    January 19, 2014 at 9:31 pm

    Too cool! I am featuring you this week!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:41 pm

      Awesome! Thanks so much, Desiree!

      Reply
  15. Emily says

    January 20, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    What a cool knock-off! I love these little animals– my kids collect them! Pinned for later reference! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 23, 2014 at 7:24 am

      Thanks, Emily! They were super simple to make – after I got past the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to replicate Anthro’s version!

      Reply
  16. Maria says

    January 20, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    I love these! They look so chic! What an awesome idea, you did a great job with them! Love the gold candles, too!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 23, 2014 at 7:25 am

      Thanks, Maria! I love that you call them chic – that makes my day!

      Reply
  17. Katie @ Upcycled Treasures says

    January 21, 2014 at 8:17 am

    These are so neat, and I agree that they are way better than the ones at Anthro! I’d love it if you would link up at The Makers Link Party!

    ~Katie @ Upcycled Treasures

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 23, 2014 at 7:26 am

      Thanks, Katie! I’m headed over to link up – hope I’m not too late!

      Reply
  18. Meg says

    January 26, 2014 at 11:32 pm

    Oh my goodness those are wonderful, thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 27, 2014 at 7:39 am

      Thanks, Meg!

      Reply
  19. Christine says

    January 27, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    Oh so cute Jenna!!!! I just love them!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 27, 2014 at 8:25 pm

      Thanks, Christine!

      Reply
  20. Anne says

    February 18, 2014 at 2:36 pm

    aaaaaand…I love these too. I actually bought some animals when they were a dollar at Michaels, intending to do SOMETHING with them!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      February 19, 2014 at 9:14 pm

      Thanks, girl! You are totally making my day with all your sweet comments!

      Reply
  21. tennille says

    March 12, 2014 at 12:52 am

    Ooooh can you imagine these painted hot pink….I can! White is cute but I am a bright colour kinda girl!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 13, 2014 at 8:47 am

      Oh. My. Goodness. Tennille, that is a genius idea!! Love me some pops of pink!

      Reply
  22. Michelle says

    May 4, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    You’ve gone and done it again! Speechless………..

    Reply
  23. A Dash of Sarah says

    June 13, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    I LOVE this! Especially the elephant one. I’m about to plan a trip to Target to look for a plastic elephant myself to complete this for my new room! Nice work.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      June 15, 2014 at 9:50 am

      Thanks! I’m partial to the elephant one myself. If you can’t find them at Target, check Hobby Lobby!

      Reply
  24. Sigridur Ingunn says

    July 28, 2014 at 10:01 am

    I think your candle holders are nicer.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      July 28, 2014 at 5:15 pm

      haha! Now, that is a compliment! Thanks!

      Reply
  25. Kathleen says

    November 17, 2014 at 1:05 am

    FINALLY!!! Cannot tell you how many times I’ve wanted to know where all the “animals” are being found by DIYers! Of course, it’s now almost a year later, but maybe next January, Target will stock more?! (Just had to thank you for giving your source!) I’ve just recently found you & I’m hooked! Love your style & finding we both love Anthro ~ even if only to copy things that are “not quite” in the budget ~ haha! I have a few purchases ~ but mainly browse there for ideas!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 17, 2014 at 9:32 am

      Kathleen, I was just at Target last week and they had more of these animals in the dollar spot!!!

      I’m so glad you found me! Happy to have along on the train to crazy!

      Reply
  26. ali says

    October 11, 2017 at 2:12 am

    All of them so cute! 2nd had some horse candle holders that I knocked off a some months ago.

    Reply
  27. Vivek Jazz says

    March 15, 2018 at 5:46 am

    Thank you.

    Reply
  28. Karen Valencia says

    August 6, 2018 at 6:22 pm

    what size of candle did you use?

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      August 15, 2018 at 2:32 pm

      Regular taper candles.

      Reply
  29. lisa says

    March 5, 2019 at 9:52 am

    HelloHey there. I haven’t signed up for Stitch Fix yet, simply because I have SO many awesome stores all around San Francisco that I can’t have any extra clothing options coming at me via the mail. However, I must say, it looks like fun to receive a box of things to try.

    Reply

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