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
This post contains affiliate links, as an Amazon affiliate I earn a fee from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting H2OBungalow!
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!
handmade by amalia says
A brilliant idea. I’ve not seen this before.
Amalia
xo
Wendi says
Hi Amalia and thank you! I had to make something with the fabulous birch bark. A candle looks so much prettier like this:) Thanks so much for your visit!
Pili says
Wendi, your birch bark candle holder is adorable!! I can’t find any here because of our mild climate but it’s great it can be bought online.
This is my pick for tomorrow’s party, congratulations!! I hope you enjoy the rest of the week!
Wendi says
Hi Pili! Thanks so much for featuring my Birch bark Candle! It’s too hot here where we live too, I was just lucky enough to be visiting a friend up north. Thanks again & hope your week is awesome as well!
Erin Dietrich says
I love this idea and am definitely adding it to my autumn decor.
Can you please add a nice warning to your original post that if you are harvesting bark from a living tree not to peal the bark the entire circumference of the tree – as this WILL kill the tree. The tree uses the bark as a transport system and if there is a break in the bark without a detour the tree is s.o.l. Thanks!
Wendi says
Hi Erin, That’s a good point & I sure will add it. All the bark I found was on the ground or on a tree that had fallen and died. Birch sheds a lot so it was easy find, everywhere in the woods. Thanks so much for your visit & sharing your tree info:)
FLORENCE L SALMER says
Hi Wendi…visiting your birch bark candle submitted for Debra’s hostess gift round-up. I love the look of birch bark too! How wonderful that you were able to find a good natural supply of it up there in VT! I love your candle gift. I would love a thoughtful gift like that, and you have decorated it so nicely with the acorns! I wonder if I could get the same effect with River Birch? I might try it.
Wendi says
Hi Florence & thank you! There was so much birch bark everywhere I couldn’t resist making something with it. I sy=till have a large piece that I plan on making another project with. I’m not familiar with river birch but if the bark looks like the one I found, I’m sure it would work! I think this would be a lovey hostess gift too. Thanks so much for your visit:)
Angie @ ambient wares says
This is so awesome! I would never have thought to do anything like this so thanks for the wonderful idea!
Wendi says
Hi Angie! Thank you. I knew as soon as I saw all that awesome birch bark I had to make something special wit it. It’s a fabulous easy project. I hope you make one!
Andrea says
Very pretty!
Wendi says
Hi Andrea and thank you! I love how this easy project turned out. Thanks so much for your visit:)
Amy says
Wendi this is such a cool project! I love the look of that birch bark wrap.
Wendi says
Hi Amy & thank you! It is a cool project and easy to make too. I’m loving it this year and may need to make a bunch more! Thanks so much for stopping over and your note. I know you’re busy!
Patty says
I love your idea with the birch bark. Now when I’m walking through the woods I
going to be on the lookout for a birch tree!
My favorite scent is for fall would be pumpkin pie. It just brings back so many good memories. Happy Fall!
Wendi says
Hi Patty! Thank you, I’v always loved birch bark projects and this one was so easy and beautiful way to doll up a plain glass candleholder. Pumpkin pie is one of my favorite fall scents too! Thanks so much for your visit & very sweet comment:)
Nicole says
I suddenly want to go out and find a birch tree so I can peel it! I love the rustic look of your birch bark candles. Great tutorial. Thank you for sharing it with us at the #HomeMattersParty this week.
Wendi says
Hi Nicole and thank you! I’m loving this candle too. I need to make more, they’d make terrific gifts. Thanks so much for your visit!
Kristen says
I love birch used in home decor! so very simple to do. And love the little acorns! Great idea!
Wendi says
Hi Kristen & thank you! I love birch bark projects too, As soon as I saw all that awesome birch just waiting to be picked up I was in heaven. Thanks so much for your visit!
Crystal Green says
This is beautiful! I love that you were able to get bark like that. I’m jealous because I have never seen any trees allow us to get it’s bark like that around here.
Thank you for sharing this with us on the #HomeMattersParty. We hope to see you again when we open our doors on Friday at 12 AM EST.
Wendi says
Hi Crystal and thank you! We don’t have birch like this in Fl so it was a special treat to find in while I was traveling in VT. I had to bring some home & knew it would be fabulous for a project. Thank so much for your visit!
Liz says
I love the candle! What a great idea! Your little bench is also beautiful!
Wendi says
Hi Liz and thank you! I love birch and bark projects, they are so much fun to decorate with in the fall. So glad you like the bench too. It’s an easy project! Thanks so much for your visit:)
Dee says
This is so unique and perfect for fall! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Wendi says
Thanks Dee! I love this one so much I may make several more. I think they’d be awesome gifts.
Katie says
I love Birch Bark too. This turned out so cute! Love it.
Katie
-button-jar.com/blog
Katy SkipTheBag says
That candle is so beautiful and perfectly fall! Posts like this are perfect for Waste Less Wednesday blog hop! skipthebag.com/2016/08/waste-less-wednesday-blog-hop-3.html Thanks!
Wendi says
Hi Katy and thank you. I love this project and birch always says fall to me. Thanks so much for your visit!
Brenda says
What a great project. I will have to look out for some birch bark! Have a great week 🙂
Wendi says
Hi Brenda & thank you! I love birch bark and was determined to make something “fall” with my new stash 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting!
Vanessa says
My goodness, I was just looking online to buy birch bark. LOL, you got it the natural and free way. I love VT, it’s a gorgeous state. You made me miss living up north. Thank you for sharing this fall project.
Wendi says
Wow, Vanessa, I didn’t know you were from up north, I am originally too. G=Funny, birch bark projects are so fall to me. Looking forward to seeing what you do with your birch bark! Thanks so much for your visit!
gail says
beautiful job on the birch bark candle Wendi! I had no idea you could do this. 🙂
pinned!
gail
Wendi says
Hi Gail! Thank you! I loved the texture in the bark as soon as I saw it. You know I had to find a way to make a project with it. I’m just glad it traveled OK in my suitcase! Thanks so much for your visit!
Cindy says
Wendi, loving your birch tree candle holder you made! So adorable for fall and I love birch! Thanks for sharing. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Wendi says
Hi Cindy! Thank you. It turned out really cute. I had to have some of that gorgeous bark in my house…somewhere! I love the easy projects that turn out so beautiful I’d buy them. This project was one of those! As always, I appreciate you stopping by & leaving a note. Have an awesome weekend!
Patty says
I love birch trees, I think they have the prettiest bark, I used to have some beautiful birch logs I kept in my fireplace in Florida (never had a fire in it) those logs were gorgeous, but somehow they didn’t make the move with us.
I absolutely love your candles wrapped in birch bark, they are so pretty and around here we always have a bumper crop of acorns and the little red and orange Autumn sweet berry’s (not the proper name), so I could do this, but this is probably the dumbest question ever, how do you hold the acorns to drill a hole thru them? Small vice grips or don’t tell me superwoman that you are you held it with your fingers, I need to know! haha, really!!
Wendi says
Hi Patti, I completely agree with you. Birch is the prettiest bark, and even more that it sheds! Of course you can do this 🙂 …and I know it will be pretty too!Lucky you with the acorn crop. I had mine from last year when I was in Dallas with my daughter last fall. Yes I did hold them with my fingers. It wasn’t too hard. Because they are delicate I went very slow. The first bit I used for the pilot hole was smaller than a toothpick, the second just big enough to fit the string. Now you have me picturing acorns in vice grips! LOL…Have a great day!