Candle Surface Protectors

Doilies are almost a thing of the past. They used to be tatted by women and set under d?cor pieces to prevent scratching tables or to keep moisture from drinking glasses away from the table surface. You can still purchase doilies but youll rarely see them in anyones home. Now youll find modern coasters, table runners and other things which have taken the place of most doilies. Doilies were useful because they offered protection. Even today one needs to protect certain surfaces from other things, like a candle. Wax dripping from a burning candle can certainly mar or ruin a table or other surface.

When you use a simple technique to make a surface protector for a candle you not only keep wax from damaging furniture you also create a lovely d?cor piece that coodinates with the candle. Since these can be made from many different materials you can easily make ones that have holiday themes, seasonal themes or other images.

A table or surface protector is almost like a place mat. You lay it on any flat surface, set the candle in the center, then worry no more. Theyre made by simply using clear contact paper and other supplies to create the design you want. Some things you can use include fabric, decorative paper, glitter, confetti, cutouts, foil pieces, ribbon and stickers. Cut a piece of contact paper so that its twice the size you need it to be. Arrange most any flat object(s) on one half of the contact paper. After youve created the design you want simply fold the other side of the paper over to trap the items between the contact paper sheets. The surface protector can be cut into nearly any shape you want. Lay paper cutouts of poinsettias on the contact paper, for example, then after folding the other piece over, cut out around the poinsettia leaves to create that particular shape. Or, simply cut the contact paper design into a circle, oval, triangle, square or other simplistic shape. Never set a burning candle directly onto the surface protectors. Instead, place the candle on a candle holder before setting it on the table protector. If youre not burning the candle, however, it looks really nice setting in the center of one. If wax does drip onto the table protector, simply wait until it dries, then scrape it off. Should you get a burn mark on the surface protector you can always throw it away and make another. Theyre so inexpensive and easy to create that youll be happy to make a few more!