Although Halloween is a time for the downright spooky, it’s also nice to have some decorations around the house that are more grown up than the flattened witch I know my kids will want to hang on the front door. A little more Practical Magic and a little less Hocus Pocus (not that that isn’t a funny movie!) So this year I think I’ll start with some elegant, but no less Halloween-y, candles for our shelves.

Before I had kids, I had candles everywhere, I loved their flickering light, the soft waxy smell and the sense of homeliness they always bring. These days I tend to keep my candles up on shelves and out of reach tables and light them less frequently, but they are still wonderful to have around. And this project can be done using any color of candle, so rather than trying to work orange and yellow into your French blue decor, start with the candles or colors you already have and embellish them so they are trick or treating ready.

Things you need:
Pillar Candles
Black Vinyl Stickers, flur de lis, lace or other intricate patterned stickers
Black Ribbon
Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Things to do:
1. Gather up your pillar candles and give them a good wipe down to make sure they aren’t dusty.

2. Center one of your black stickers on one side of each candle, smoothing down well and working out any bubbles.

3. Wrap the top and bottom of the candle with ribbon, trimming to fit and securing with a few dots of glue so the seam is to the back of the candle.
4. Group them on shelves, along side pumpkins or as part of your October centerpiece!