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Candles and Candlabras

What's a great way to get low and spooky lighting which will also give a great effect to your scenes??? You guessed it! By using Candles and Candlabras!


The safest way to go is by using "light up" ones. This way you reduce the chance of starting a fire or someone getting burned. You can use a flicker bulb and it will still give you a flame look and effect. Or even better yet use a "flicker generator" ( a flicker generator is a controler you plug a lamp(S) ,that uses incandescent light bulbs, into. Then plug the controler in and it will make the light bulbs "flicker" like a real candle). These usually cost inbetween $25-$50 depending on where you get them. I purchased mine from www.shipwreckproductions.com and www.hauntmasterproducts.com.
Now you can also purchase fake candles with flickering leds. You either plug them in or most just take batteries.

I would strongly recommend NOT using real candles, the chance of having a fire is just NOT WORTH IT!

You can either scroll down the page or click on the item you would like to view to go directly to that section of the page.
Candlabras - to learn how to build a candlelabra!
Candles- to learn how to build fake candles!
Haunted Lamp- to learn how to make a haunted table lamp!

What are the best places or scenes for candles? Hummmm.... the possiblities are endless! But here are a few suggestions just in case you need a tip or two.

Haunted Hallways, Witch scenes, Lab scenes, Dungons, Next to a coffin, Near an entrance, Next to an exit, Next to something you want people to read, Next to signs, in a graveyard.





Candles

When I got my flicker generators, I wanted to make my own fake candles instead of buying some. So, here are how I made mine. You could also use these with flicker bulbs without using flicker generators!! When finished with your candles place a lamp socket with plug-in (string of c-7 or c-9 christmas lights), in the center, make sure if you have tall candles to screw in your light bulb of your choice of color into the socket before you hot glue the light base and cardboard to the candle part!, secure with hot glue. Place either a flicker bulb or a small night light bulb(c-7, or c-9 replacement x-mas bulb)into lamp.

Ok, first of all let me say, This is only for adults to make, if you ARE NOT a ADULT, have one make these for you! SAFTEY FIRST!!

Using wax....
What you'll need....
-large empty coffee can
-single stove burner unit
-one large block of wax
-wax candle coloring
-2 inch pvc cut into sections as tall or short as you want your candles
-wax paper
-tongs

OK, melt the wax in the coffee can on top of the burner unit. Then add coloring. Take one piece of pvc and securely hold with tongs, dip into wax (a couple of times may be necessary to get darker colors)then place on waxed paper to harden.

Using glue sticks....
Ok, first of all let me say, This is only for adults to make, if you ARE NOT a ADULT, have one make these for you! SAFTEY FIRST!!
What you'll need....
-large empty coffee can
-single stove burner unit
-one large bag of glue sticks
-wax candle coloring
-2 inch pvc cut into sections as tall or short as you want your candles
-wax paper
-old knife or fork

Now, using a unit with a single stove top burner, place an old coffee can on top and add one large package of glue sticks and melt, the temperature must be hot in order to melt them, please use caution! You can add wax candle coloring to it (you can buy the colors at craft stores) Once the glue sticks are melted can you have the color mixed in, using the knife or fork, spread the melted glue mixture quickly onto the pvc and in a "frosting" method coat the pvc, moving quickly. Then place on waxed paper to harden.





Candlabras

To begin you will need these items....
A old chandelier
1/2" pvc 5 foot long
Liquid Nails
a 2" x 4" cut into 2, 12" long pieces
Flicker Bulbs (as many as your chandelier needs)
Gold or Brass spray paint
A new 6' extension cord
Solder Gun

To see the ones I have made scroll to the bottom of the page.



First take the the two 12" pieces of 2 x 4's. take one piece and cut the center of it out to fit the other piece in it to make an x shape, see picture below.


Next with a drill and a 1 1/2 to 2 inch bit (depending on the outside width of your pvc) cut into the center of the x you just made. Go all the way through (Also make a indentation from the center out to the outside of the x for your cord to run out-so it won't wobble) Squirt some "Liquid Nails" onto one end of the pve and around the inside of the hole in your x, slowly push the pvc into the x and let it sit for an hour or so to let the glue set and dry some. Then set aside till later.



Now take your old chandelier and take it apart you will need to make the wires come out of the bottom instead of the top. See picute below.
When you have this done take the new extension cord and cut off the end you plug stuff into, NOT THE END YOU PLUG INTO THE WALL, then twist the correct wires together and solder and tape.
Next put the extension cord throught the pvc and out the other end, set the chandelier carefully on top and lift up to squirt a massive amount of "Liquid Nails" into the pvc and around the bottom of the chandelier that will be sitting in the pvc, hold steady for awhile for the glue to set, then let sit for a day or two undisturbed for the glue to cure.



When your glue is completely dry then spray paint the whole thing with gold or brass paint (you can get this at a craft store) then put the flicker bulbs into the sockets, add some spiderwebs and spiders - THAT'S IT!



There are tow different sized flicker bulbs, one will fit into c-7 or c-9 (large xmas lights)$.99 to $1.99 and the other into a regular light bulb socket $1.99 to $2.99, you can get these at a hardware store, menards, or home depot.


To add the effect of dripping wax to your candleabras take a hot glue gun (make sure to buy alot of glue sticks for this)and squirt the hot glue on the edge of the candle base and let it drip down, this will take many times of doing this to get "thicker drips". I have found that the best time to do this is either when you have the air conditioner on with fans going in the room and fanning the hot glue "drip" as it is dripping by hand with a piece of cardboard to slow it down. Or do outside when it is cold out. Make sure to put down news paper on what ever floor you are working on so you don't get glue on it!
You can also make the look of spiderwebs on your candleabra by quickly squirting a small amount of glue out of the glue gun and quickly touching different places of the candleabra.



These are the ones I have made.....



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Haunted Lamp

    These are awesome for desks or tables in your entry way, lab, by your guest book, in a bedroom, in your office everyday!!



Here is what you'll need....
-one desk lamp with 1 or as many lights as you wish
-black paint
-hot glue gun and sticks
*optional, flicker bulbs or clear regular light bulbs with a flicker generator.

To get started take off the lamp shade if any. Remove any metal rods you don't want. Then paint black. When dry, take your glue gun and sticks and slowly drip the hot glue down from the top of the light bulb socket, being carefull not to get any glue into the socket! Let the glue oooze down, fan with cardboard or something to cool faster as it drips. This WILL take awhile for it takes MANY, MANY layers to get a nice look but, practice makes perfect.