Today’s project, my DIY birch bark candle is a simple fall decor project that you can easily make with your own birch bark collected from a tree. No worries if you don’t have access to birch bark, I found an inexpensive resource to buy it online and list the link below.
I love birch bark with its rich earthy mixes of neutral whites, browns and textures. So you can imagine I was over the moon excited to find birch trees everywhere when I visited VT a few weeks ago.
There were many things I fell in love with in VT. One of my favorites was the morning walks with my good friend who opened her home and shared her fabulous VT lifestyle with me.
Every turn in the path brought more beauty, and you guessed it more birch bark! It’s so pretty. I used it to create these Birch Bark Pumpkins.
All that goodness, just waiting for me!
Trees of it in fact 🙂
You know I couldn’t resist the temptation to pack some up and bring it home. In case you find yourself wanting to travel with birch bark too, here’s an easy way. It travels fine in a suitcase if you lay it between sheets of newspaper and put it in a large plastic bag 😉
If you’re looking for bark, be sure to use only what’s naturally shedding on a live tree or what you find on a tree that has already died 🙂
How To Make A DIY Birch Bark Candle
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Supplies
- fall scented candle in glass jar with straight sides – this is a link to one of my favorite scent brands
- birch bark – grab your own or do the easy DIY route and purchase a roll of it.
- jute twine
- wood beads or acorns
- scissors
- glue
- 2 QT drinking pitcher
- drill if you use acorns
Making a DIY birch bark candle is pretty easy. Begin by measuring the height and the circumference of the glass on your candle and choosing a good piece of birch bark that isn’t too thick.
Soak it in water overnight, then roll it loosely and fit it inside of a round cylinder or drinking pitcher. Let it sit again for several more hours or overnight.
Take out the birch bark and use a paper towel to gently absorb the water. Trim your birch bark to fit the height leaving a few inches to overlap on the width. Plain old scissors work fine. You also may want to peel any extra thin bark layers off the inside (back) at this time.
Cut several lengths of jute string long enough to wrap each around the glass of your DIY birch bark candle holder. Tie each string snugly to hold the bark in place. Set aside and wait for the bark to dry.
When the bark is dry, slide the bark off your glass candle, add some glue and slide the birch candle jacket back over the glass.
Tie with a string again and let the glue dry. Use a quick dry glue and press the edges down. I used a little hot glue at the outer edge of where the bark overlapped to hold it in place while the glue dried.
Use a small drill and gently drill a pilot hole in your acorns, followed by a larger bit to open up the hole a bit more. Take some tape and wind it on the end of the jute string and string through the holes. Or, string a few beads onto the jute string and be done with it 🙂
Tie the jute onto your birch bark candle holder with an acorn at each end. I added a little color from a faux berry sprig I had at the last minute. A simple knot at the end of the jute will hold the acorn on the string.
There you have it. A simple and subtle home decor piece you can start enjoying now and it will look beautiful for the fall season.
Possibly the best part of this little DIY birch bark candle project is that when you light the fall scented candle, it not only looks beautiful, it smells good too. Filling the room with your favorite scents of the fall season.
Since we don’t get fall colors here in Florida, my favorite part of fall is the scents. I love deep earthy scents. What’s your favorite scent for the fall season? Share with me in the comment section below!
Pin my Birch Bark Candle Holder to Pinterest!
You may like this Simple transfer bench project I worked on while I was in Vermont.
Or it maybe you’re ready to think of updating your front door for the season. I made this Easy Monogram Doormat project a few years ago and still love it!
Kippi says
Beautiful candle cover. I love the added touch with the acorns. Happy Fall, Kippi
Wendi says
Hi Kippi and Thank you! This candle is still one of my favorite fall decor projects. It makes me smile every year when I pull it out and find a new place for it. Thanks so much for your note and visit!
Richella J Parham says
Wendi, these are gorgeous! I’ve wrapped birch bark around pillar candles before, but I like these even better.
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!
Wendi says
Hi Richella, and thank you so very much! I love the way this candle turned out too. It’s one of my favorite fall decor items, especially with a fall scented candle. Thank you so much for featuring my project!
Sam - Raggedy Bits says
This is such a neat idea! The perfect way to add a nice warm Fall feel to your decor and make it all nice and cosy!
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful Birch Candle Holder with us over on Waste Not Wednesday!
Wendi says
Hi Sam and thank you! This is one of my favorite fall projects and so easy to make!
Julie Briones says
I’m so glad you shared this on FB today, Wendi! Just beautiful and so smart!
Wendi says
Hi Julie! Thank you, I’m so happy you liked my birch bark candle! I love these kind of projects for fall, especially when they are so inexpensive to make! Thanks so much for your visit and super sweet note 🙂
Paula says
Last year when we were in Vermont I picked up some Birch Bark to take home. The hotel maid must have thrown it out and I didn’t notice until we were home. I love what you made!
Wendi says
Hi Paula! I think of you every time I do a project that could be woodsy since you have that gorgeous lake house! That’s such a shame on the birch bark! I took a hike while I was in VT and collected the bark for this project. I’ve just collected another batch for a project for this year and I can’t wait to make fall decor. I suppose there aren’t birch trees in VA? Thanks so much for your note!
Linda at Mixed Kreations says
Wendi your birch bark candle turned out beautiful. We don’t have birch trees in Texas, at least I haven’t seen any. But I did order some once for a project I was working on, I think that I need to dig it out and make me one. We do have plenty of acorns. 😉
Wendi says
Hi Linda and thank you! Oh…we used to live in TX too and I never saw a birch tree either. Buying the bark is definitely an easy work-around to not having any locally! I’m sure your project would look awesome!
Robin says
Love this. So glad you put a link where I could find birch. Looking forward to making a candle with birch.
Thanks.
Robin
Wendi says
Hi Robin! We don’t get birch bark in the south, at least in FL… but birch bark projects are so fun for fall so I figured it would help to share a resource for others who np to make a few fall projects too 🙂 Thanks so much for your visit and note!
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
What a great find and a great project. Thanks for sharing it at #HomeMattersParty
Wendi says
Hi Donna and thank you! I loved this project as soon as I thought of the idea. I just picked up more birch bark for another one. Thanks so much for your visit!
Emily says
Birch Bark gets me every time! It’s such a perfect texture for fall and winter. Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday – I’ll be featuring your candle holder at our upcoming party 🙂
Wendi says
Thanks so much Emily! I’m a birch bark lover too. I picked up more just last week and can’t wait to make something with it. Thanks so much for sharing my project! It’s one of my favorites!!
Laurie Harris says
You and I think alike. I first fell in love with birch trees when I visited Russia. A handcrafted item that you find in Russia are birch boxes that are wonderful detailed works of art. (do and image search for birch boxes Russia) Interestingly enough, Russia can be known for its stacking dolls but I fell in love with the boxes instead. Last fall I visited Vermont for the first time and I thoroughly enjoyed my nature walks among the birch trees there. I too collected a lot of birch bark with the intent to use it in an artistic manner. I did think of making a candle but decided I wanted to try and make a cylinder container instead. I still haven’t taken on that endeavor but your post has motivated me to go there soon. I just smiled and smiled at our similar thinking in putting that wonderful wood to use. Your candle holder came out beautiful.
Wendi says
Hi Laurie and thank you! I’ll have to look up Russian birch bark boxes, they sound beautiful. I’m back in VT and just picked up some bark for a new project. I’m not sure what I’ll create yet, but I couldn’t resist. VT is a beautiful place to visit and walking in the woods is one of my favorite things to do. I hope you make your project and I’m glad I’ve made you remember your trip and start thinking of a creating a birch project!
Sophie Wailes says
I really love this, it’s so pretty! We don’t really get birch trees around here but I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for any loose bark anyway! Found you at the inspiration Link up x
Wendi says
Hi Sophie and thank you! Birch is such a pretty material to work with for fall. I think there are several good online places to get variations of birch and birch bark if you can’t find any locally. We don’t have it in FL either:) Thanks so much for your visit and sweet comment!
Linda at Mixed Kreations says
Oh how pretty! We don’t have birch tree here in Texas, at least I’ve never seen any. But I did buy some awhile back, and I do have plenty of acorns. Pinning!
Wendi says
Hi Linda and thank you! I don’t remember seeing birch trees in TX when we lived. I do remember plenty of acorns though! I love birch bark for projects, I’m so glad you found some…even if you did have to buy it! Thanks so much for your visit and taking the time to leave a comment!