Palm and Moon Candle Holder

Before the last days of summer are gone, I wanted to create a Palm and Moon Candle Holder to set on my vanity. We bought a beach pass this year and spent more than a few socially distanced days reading, eating, and swimming at Hunting Island Beach. It was a great place to hang out because we didn’t have to worry about catching the coronavirus or wearing a mask. I placed a red tealight inside my candle holder to give it a fuzzy pink glow when lit. I plan to gaze at it all winter long and dream of the beach while I’m putting on my makeup and scrunching my hair.

Why is this design called the Palm and Moon?

The palmetto tree and crescent moon are symbols on South Carolina’s flag. According to Wikipedia:

The flag of South Carolina is a symbol of the U.S. state of South Carolina consisting of a blue field with a white palmetto tree and white crescent. A version of the design has existed in some form since 1775 and is based on one of the first Revolutionary War flags.

Materials for the Palm and Moon Candle Holder

• glass candle holder
• aquarium rocks or sand
• tealight or small candle
• paints- Apple Barrel Gloss 20424E Real Blue, 20408E White, Apple Barrel Multisurface 44845E Light Yellow, 44848E Milk Chocolate, 21968E True Green
• brushes- 1″ sponge, 1/8 flat, liner brush
• Rustoleum 2X Ultra Cover Clear Gloss Spray
• jute string is optional

Paint the Basecoat

When I paint on glass, I use either Apple Barrel Gloss paints or Apple Barrel Multisurface. Make sure each layer dries before adding another. You can use a hair dryer to speed things along.

Put one hand inside of the candle holder and paint the basecoat with the 1″ sponge brush and Real Blue with your dominant hand. Paint the very bottom with the same sponge brush and True Green.

Paint the Palm and Moon

Use the 1/8 flat brush to paint the trunk of the palmetto Milk Chocolate. I painted four palmetto trunks. Think of the bottom of the candle holder as a clock. Paint trunks at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock or just paint one in the front, back, and one on each side.

Add Milk Chocolate and White (mixed together) palmetto bark at the top of each trunk in a crosshatch pattern. Swish on leaves with the liner brush and True Green, then Yellow. Add a few Real Brown leaves at the end of some of the branches.

Make the moon to the top left of each tree with Real Blue and the liner brush.

Finish the Project

Paint edging along the top edge with the liner brush and a mixtire of Real Blue and White. Sign the piece with your initials and the last two digits of the year on one of the trunks with the liner brush and White. Tie a jute string in a bow around the rim, if desired.

Take the Palm and Moon Candle Holder outside and spray it with several coats of Rustoleum 2X Ultra Cover Clear Gloss Spray.

You’re all done. Wasn’t that easy? I hope you enjoyed my Palm and Moon Candle Holder tutorial.

Goodbye Summer,

Kristie

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